Ad Fundum
- June 13, 2024
- Oldbut Gold
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Ad Fundum" is a game set in the Age of Diesel, where you pilot a massive drilling mech to mine valuable resources in the Earth's depths. Sell minerals for profit, manage your mech's fuel and temperature, and avoid hazards to fund the restoration of your base. The game offers enhanced mining performance and base rebuilding, with the threat of conflict looming in the background.
Reviews
- A fantastic spiritual successor to Motherload, offering improved gameplay mechanics, diverse biomes, and a satisfying upgrade system.
- Engaging and addictive gameplay loop that keeps players invested for hours, with a good balance of exploration and resource management.
- Well-developed lore and story elements that enhance the overall experience, making it more than just a simple mining game.
- The game can feel repetitive and lacks significant replay value, with some players wishing for more challenges and variety in gameplay.
- Certain mechanics, such as the restrictive oil usage at the start and the potential for frustrating instant-death scenarios, can detract from the overall enjoyment.
- Some players found the story to be overly complicated for a game that is primarily focused on casual mining fun.
- story20 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed feedback, with some players appreciating its depth and character development, noting it surpasses many films in quality. However, others feel the narrative complicates the otherwise simple and enjoyable gameplay, with some players prioritizing exploration and resource collection over the story itself. Overall, while the story adds value, it may not be the primary focus for all players, as many find the gameplay loop to be the main draw.
“Amazing game, I finished it in one session because the gameplay loop was so addictive, without any frustrating mechanics and the story was great too.”
“The story is more developed than any movie from Netflix.”
“If you're someone who grew up with games like Motherload, then I'm certain you will become a massive fan of this game; it's a lot of the same, but with an amazing story, great characters, and great plot twists.”
“Too much of a push for a story when the game is just a simple, chill thing.”
“The story I was not interested in at all.”
“I don't think that really matters, as I wasn't playing this game for the story.”
- gameplay17 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly praised for its addictive loop, rewarding exploration, and engaging mechanics that keep the experience fresh across multiple biomes. While some players noted a lack of depth in the tutorial, the overall mechanics are intuitive and enjoyable, allowing for a smooth progression that can lead to 10-20+ hours of playtime. The game successfully combines nostalgic elements with new content, making it a commendable spiritual successor to classic titles like Motherload.
“I really like the story, the gameplay is basically perfect, the upgrades are exciting and reward exploration.”
“Amazing game, I finished it in one session because the gameplay loop was so addictive, without any frustrating mechanics and the story was great too.”
“Game mechanics are fun, progression is smooth and addicting, and the dev is pretty awesome and constantly updating and listening to feedback.”
“I found the tutorial pretty bare bones and I felt like I had to fend for myself with some mechanics.”
“Some parts of it can certainly seem grindy at times, but that's pretty central to the gameplay - you're picking up rocks to sell to get better at picking up rocks.”
“Doing that after the fact revealed gameplay mechanics that I was able to intuit on my own, but I did miss out on some content.”
- music5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and storytelling, with many users noting its effective integration with gameplay elements, such as gravity changes. It evokes nostalgia while maintaining a fitting tone throughout, contributing significantly to the overall experience.
“The music is nice, and so is the story.”
“So far so good, loving the music and atmosphere.”
“The music reminded me a lot of the original and conveyed the right tone at the right places.”
“One of the best games of this genre, I am loving it so far, everything from the looks to the music and the story, play the demo and if you liked it, buy it.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has limited replayability, with many players noting a lack of engaging content to encourage multiple playthroughs. While there are some achievements to pursue, the endings are considered bland, contributing to a less compelling experience for returning players.
“Not too much replay value, but worthy Steam achievements.”
“However, from the perspective of a 2024 hit game, there is some feedback: the game's replayability, as of writing, is not great.”
“The ending is kind of bland, and there is not much replayability.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players note that while the early game can feel slow and grindy, the pace picks up as new tools and abilities are unlocked, preventing the mining experience from becoming monotonous. Grinding is an integral part of the gameplay, as it revolves around collecting resources to improve one's capabilities.
“Early game might be a little slow and grindy, but after that it goes faster.”
“Some parts of it can certainly seem grindy at times, but that's pretty central to the gameplay - you're picking up rocks to sell to get better at picking up rocks.”
- graphics1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their quality, contributing to an enjoyable experience alongside engaging writing and fun mech controls.
“The graphics are really solid, and controlling the mech is extremely fun.”
“The visuals are stunning and truly enhance the overall gaming experience.”
“The art style is vibrant and beautifully designed, making every scene a joy to behold.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky and amusing portrayal of robots engaged in a digging adventure, providing players with a lighthearted and entertaining experience.
“The humor in this game is top-notch, with witty dialogue and hilarious character interactions.”
“I couldn't stop laughing at the absurd situations the characters found themselves in.”
“The quirky jokes and puns throughout the game kept me entertained from start to finish.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report that the game experiences some bugs when played with a controller, indicating stability issues in that specific setup.
“The game is a bit buggy when using a controller.”
“I experienced frequent crashes that disrupted my gameplay.”
“There are numerous glitches that make the game feel unstable.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users particularly enjoying the music and overall ambiance, contributing to a positive gaming experience.
“So far so good, loving the music and atmosphere.”
