Border Force
- February 7, 2019
- Spire Interactive
Get on Steam"Border Force: US/Mexico Edition" is a free expansion for Border Force, where you are tasked with securing a remote section of the US-Mexico border wall. This edition features a new campaign on a larger map, night-time contraband operations, driving, and a new multiplayer map. In the original game, "Border Force," you protect the UK border from potential threats as the Brexit deadline approaches. Your duties include checking the nationality of incoming individuals and ensuring the safety of the UK.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a nice art style and a humorous take on border control, reminiscent of 'Papers Please'.
- It offers a light-hearted and simplified gameplay experience that can be enjoyable in short bursts.
- Multiplayer mode adds a fun element, allowing for cooperative or competitive play with friends.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, making it frustrating to play.
- Gameplay becomes repetitive and boring quickly, with a lack of engaging content.
- The tutorial and controls are poorly designed, leading to confusion and difficulty in gameplay.
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the unique art style reminiscent of Borderlands and a comic aesthetic, others criticize the overall quality as subpar, likening it to a low-budget Unity game. Additionally, issues such as glitches and buggy controls detract from the visual experience, leaving some players disappointed.
“The positive thing I can say about it is that I like the art style; it has a Borderlands/comic vibe to it.”
“A nice little game with a good art style, although it is a bit glitchy at times, particularly with the scanning device.”
“It's a simplified 'Papers, Please' and a bit more graphical perhaps, but far less complicated yet not easy.”
“Moving past the poor graphics and buggy controls, you are left with a very short game.”
“The graphic quality is what you would expect from a cheap Unity game (crappy); even the soundtrack is complete garbage as it's only royalty-free music and the UK or EU anthem.”
“The icing on the bullshit cake was that artwork contest for a billboard in the game; have you ever heard of hiring artists?”
- story5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's story has been criticized for being shallow and lacking depth, with some reviewers expressing frustration over its failure to meaningfully engage with its themes, such as Brexit. While a few players appreciated the humor and scenarios presented, many felt that the narrative was underdeveloped and not worth the investment. Overall, the story appears to be a weak point, failing to deliver a compelling or coherent experience.
“This is a very nice game with a little humor and good story scenarios you get put in.”
“It contains only 5 days but with a little more story and you actually have to spend some more time completing the scenarios and you don't just get one extra thing to look out for every day like in the UK campaign.”
“If you're the type of person who enjoys queuing at the post office and believes that you're going to get a 'To Kill a Mockingbird'-esque story from a game that costs £7, you may find that this game is not for you.”
“The story is nonexistent and has absolutely no points to make about Brexit despite being all about it, just making the game about it because it's trending (or should I say it used to), not to mention the 'jokes' that sound like they were written by a middle school kid.”
“It contains only 5 days, but with a little more story, you actually have to spend some more time completing the scenarios, and you don't just get one extra thing to look out for every day like in the UK campaign.”
- humor5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as inconsistent; while some players find it amusing and engaging, others feel it falls flat or is poorly executed. Overall, the comedic elements contribute to a mixed experience, with some enjoying the lighthearted scenarios while others find the gameplay lacking and unfunny.
“I was not expecting much when I first booted this up; however, I am now writing this realizing that this game has taken my weekend... a hilarious experience being a border-guarding dude.”
“This is a very nice game with a little humor and good story scenarios you get put in.”
“It's funny but not that funny.”
“Super empty gameplay, very boring, not funny.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it repetitive and frustrating due to random elements that complicate the experience, while others appreciate its solid mechanics and effective tutorial. Overall, the game seems to struggle with bugs and a lack of engaging content, leading to a generally negative perception.
“The game has very good gameplay and a very good tutorial.”
“The gameplay is all the same; as you progress, there are more things you have to keep track of, like random boxes that can contain bombs, which makes the game more challenging or really just more annoying.”
“It's very bad; drivers drop passports out of the car, and there's no gameplay—it's not fun at all.”
“Got it in a bundle for free, but the gameplay is non-existent, and it makes no sense to waste any money on this.”
- stability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some users report it being largely bug-free at present, others highlight significant issues with buggy gameplay and controls, particularly in the US version. Minor graphical inconsistencies have been noted, but developers are actively addressing these concerns.
“The game is currently bug-free, with only minor issues such as the doors on a van being a different color than the chassis. These have already been reported and are being addressed by the developers.”
“I appreciate the stability of the game; it runs smoothly without crashing or major glitches.”
“The developers have done a great job ensuring a stable experience, allowing me to enjoy the game without interruptions.”
“Nice idea, buggy gameplay.”
“Moving past the poor graphics and buggy controls, you are left with a very short game.”
“The UK version, while having a disappointing finish, was slightly less buggy than the extremely unenjoyable US version.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect to be somewhat tedious, yet enjoyable due to its relatively short duration, making it less of a chore compared to other games.
“The grinding feels endless and becomes a chore rather than a fun challenge.”
“I find the grinding to be repetitive and draining, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The amount of grinding required to progress is overwhelming and takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been criticized for being subpar, featuring only royalty-free tracks and national anthems, which detracts from the overall experience. Reviewers find the soundtrack lacking in quality and originality, aligning with the game's overall low production values.
“The graphic quality is what you would expect from a cheap Unity game, and the soundtrack is equally disappointing as it's just royalty-free music and the UK or EU anthem.”
