M.A.S.S. Builder
- March 21, 2019
- Vermillion Digital
- 9h median play time
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Get on itch.io StoreM.A.S.S. Builder is a 3D space action game where you design, build, and command your own Modular Agile Space System . Fight enemies, navigate through asteroid fields, and upgrade your M.A.S.S. with collected resources. Experience intense space combat in a procedurally generated universe with dynamic campaigns.
Reviews
- Incredible customization options for mechs and weapons, allowing for unique designs.
- Fast-paced and engaging combat, especially with melee builds.
- Active development with frequent updates and community engagement.
- Combat can feel repetitive and lacks depth, with many enemies being bullet sponges.
- The story and dialogue are poorly translated and often uninteresting.
- Grind-heavy mechanics for unlocking parts and upgrades can be tedious.
- story905 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it generic and lacking depth, often comparing it unfavorably to established mecha anime narratives. While some appreciate the visual novel format and the potential for character development, others criticize the translation quality and the overwhelming amount of text that detracts from engagement. Overall, the story serves more as a backdrop to the extensive mech customization and gameplay, which many players find more compelling than the narrative itself.
“The story is compelling, but the translation could use work, though it is early access so maybe they'll do another pass before full release, maybe get a native English speaker to tweak things.”
“The story is decent and the action is fun, especially after you begin fighting other mechs.”
“The story is fairly deep with some interesting characters and plot points here and there just to tie everything together and make you feel like a real anime protagonist.”
“I don't know if it's a bug, or if it wasn't translated right because let's be honest, the game has translation errors all over the place in the story, but this is an inexcusable thing to happen for a game that's been out for 2 or 3 years and I refuse to change my review from negative until it's been fixed.”
“The story is generic and its presentation is so awful, it is unbearable, which is rare even in bad games.”
“The story is forgettable; I skipped through all the cutscenes since none of it matters.”
- gameplay552 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the mech customization is extensive and enjoyable, the actual combat mechanics feel clunky and repetitive. Critics highlight issues such as unbalanced enemy health, simplistic combat systems, and a lack of engaging gameplay variety, leading to a grindy experience. Overall, while the game shows potential for improvement, especially in its gameplay mechanics, it currently serves more as a platform for customization rather than delivering a robust gaming experience.
“The gameplay is satisfying; I can't believe this game is still in its beta. I'd bet on seeing the game further develop to be a great experience with multiplayer in the future.”
“The gameplay is genuinely fun, having a more fast-paced style, hacking, slashing, pummeling, shooting, and exploding your way through waves of enemies while completing tasks.”
“The gameplay is incredibly solid. The actual battle mechanics are the best I've ever experienced in a mech fighting game.”
“The gameplay is quite clunky still while it's still being polished out.”
“The gameplay is pretty boring unfortunately and since you have to play the game to unlock more customization... it kinda sucks...”
“Gameplay is bad and needs to be reworked, especially if you're using a gamepad; the lock-on system is really bad, you can only switch targets moving the stick left or right and the system won't actually target what's nearest to you.”
- grinding158 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and repetitive, particularly due to the need to farm for blueprints and resources. While some appreciate the depth of customization and the satisfaction of upgrading their mechs, others feel that the grind detracts from the overall enjoyment, making combat feel monotonous and the gameplay loop less rewarding. Overall, the game is seen as heavily grind-oriented, which may appeal to dedicated players but could frustrate those seeking a more balanced experience.
“If you're not grinding for armor and weapon blueprints, you are stacking up materials and credits to buy mods.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding process and the combat are repetitive and boring.”
“Uninspired enemies, weak sound design, and dull combat mixed together in a grindy repetitive mission structure and it's just not a good time.”
“The gameplay, which can already feel repetitive at times, becomes incredibly tedious due to the insane grinding you have to do to unlock the cooler parts for building.”
- graphics152 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their stylized aesthetic, vibrant designs, and high level of customization, making the mechs visually appealing. While some users noted that the visuals can be overly bright or taxing on hardware, the overall presentation is considered solid, with smooth animations and a pleasing art style reminiscent of anime. Many reviewers appreciate the balance between aesthetics and gameplay, highlighting the game's ability to deliver impressive visuals without compromising performance.
“The graphics are easy on the eyes.”
“The graphics are nice, the mecha look amazing and the customization is surprisingly involved with how much you can mix and match.”
“Absolute amazing graphics, lots of customization options with more to come.”
“Okay graphics, albeit it makes my GPU run way hotter than it has any right to.”
“I have a pretty powerful laptop, but even at the lowest graphic settings, I'm still getting poor frames.”
“It seems to tax my RTX 2060 way harder than other games with similar levels of graphical detail and it's not obvious why.”
- optimization67 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 82 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues, particularly during customization and certain missions, leading to low frame rates and crashes. Others report smooth gameplay and commend the deep customization options that allow for aesthetic freedom without impacting performance. Overall, while some users appreciate the game's design and potential, many are awaiting further optimization updates to enhance stability and performance.
“Mech stats/performance are affected by tuning the 'frame', 'os', and 'architect' where each has additional 'slots' for upgrading specific stats, so tune your mechs depending on your combat style.”
“The customization is wonderful in this game, with lots of options on both looks and performance to play your own style.”
“The amount of customization options are nothing short of amazing, and I really like how you can make the mech your own with no penalty to performance.”
“Poorly optimized, I'd say. My rig can run AC6 on high at FOS, but on anything other than the lowest, this game chugs.”
“The latest update has a critical game-crashing bug, and I can't play any missions. I can definitely see the performance of the game drop significantly, judging by the photograph feature because it takes much longer to load the mech.”
“There is constant FPS drops and performance issues, and something about the gameplay feels very stale.”
- music39 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it catchy and suitable for the gameplay, while others describe it as generic and forgettable. Although there are moments of well-composed tracks, many users suggest that the soundtrack lacks variety and can become repetitive over time. Overall, while the music serves its purpose, it may not leave a lasting impression, leading some players to prefer listening to their own music instead.
“However, the soundtrack is pretty damn awesome; I just wish we could get it separately from the game.”
“The character customization is top-notch, the music is sweet (especially in the mech setup screens), and the combat is solid.”
“Although not the most memorable thing I've ever listened to, the music can be quite catchy... some fields have some really well-done tunes that I might add to my music collection.”
“Sound and music - abhorrent.”
“Music is... what's there is okay, enough to fill the void, but you're better off playing your own music in the background.”
“The music in the menus also comes across as rather generic, stylistically 'techy', but otherwise lacking in substance.”
- stability16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 69 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag, with some players reporting minor glitches and bugs, particularly with certain attacks and animations, while others have experienced a smooth and playable experience without significant issues. As it is still in early access, players should expect some instability, but many find it to be relatively solid and improving with updates. Performance varies based on individual hardware, with some users noting no problems at all.
“It's already very playable and not very buggy at all, and it's only getting better with every update.”
“I have had no buggy issues playing solo during this early access.”
“It does run very well and I encountered no glitches, so there is that.”
“The first boss seems to have a buggy interaction with the laser shoulder attack (the weapon's high-pitched shooting sound kept playing) and after a ground pound hit me, I was stuck to the floor and flying wouldn't let me move.”
“I like mechas, but the UI is sometimes buggy where I can't click/select anything.”
“Since it's early access, expect a lot of bugs and weird glitches that occur while playing in all the different maps.”
- monetization13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 54 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the absence of microtransactions, allowing all content to be unlocked through regular gameplay. However, concerns have been raised about manipulative mechanics reminiscent of mobile games, as well as deceptive advertising that suggests a more polished experience than what is delivered. Overall, while the lack of microtransactions is a significant positive, players feel the game may still exhibit signs of a cash grab through its design and mechanics.
“Endless customization and it seems to not have microtransactions.”
“There are no microtransactions in the game; everything can be unlocked through normal gameplay. Though I would suggest one thing to the devs for the hunting missions: you could randomize the enemies in the missions as players unlock new enemies as they play, to keep things interesting when replaying the hunting missions.”
“No microtransactions is a huge plus for what the game offers.”
“Why this is even a feature seems to be rooted in adopting manipulative loot mechanics from microtransaction-based mobile games without understanding why they were even there to begin with.”
“The advertising is, in my opinion, deceptive.”
“I put about 5 hours into this game and had a blast putting together my own mech, but there are soooo many unfinished/lazy elements that make this look like a quick cash grab.”
- replayability13 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is generally praised, with players enjoying the ability to tackle higher difficulty missions and extensive customization options that keep gameplay fresh and engaging. While some find the story mode forgettable, the fun combat and grinding mechanics contribute to a satisfying experience, with many players eager for the upcoming multiplayer features. Overall, the replay value is rated positively, with some reviews giving it as high as 10/10, though a few players express concerns about balance and the need for more rewarding challenges.
“Very much worth your time; the fighting is smooth and the game offers loads of fun blasting and cleaving enemies with weapons I created. The customization options are extensive, and I can't wait for the multiplayer to come out, as I hope there is lots to do that enhances replayability.”
“Whilst the story is about average, the gameplay is fun and highly replayable. The overall customization alone can keep one's attention for hours on end and leave one feeling very satisfied.”
“It's fast, fun, and has excellent replayability.”
“So, the game's replayability is designed around a bit of grinding, enabling you to tackle the higher difficulty versions of each mission and gain greater rewards.”
“I was sitting in the boss fight for like 15 minutes and I'm basically stuck until I get better weapons, which doesn't really motivate replayability. There should be more payoff for challenges.”
“At the time of this review, there are 10 replayable missions in the 'full' game (including the tutorial), 3 levels of tech upgrades (with different paths), and dozens of cosmetic blueprints to unlock; the demo has 2 missions and more limited upgrades.”
- character development9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the unique and appealing character designs, particularly in the anime style, while others criticize the dialogue and depth of the characters. Although there are improvements noted in character design, the overall execution of character interactions and development feels lacking to some players, leading to a perception of superficiality.
“The gameplay, combat, sound, story, character design, and progression is ambitious.”
“They also really improved the character designs.”
“The art style and character design is somewhat unique and pleasing to look at, from the NPCs to the main characters.”
“How is the dialogue and character design still this bad?”
“There are clearly some cheesy dialogue elements that point toward some of the girls liking the commander, and with the somewhat generically done character designs, you'd be hard pressed to say they weren't eye candy.”
“The gameplay, combat, sound, story, character design, and progression is... ambitious.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 86 % positive mentions
- -29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Players express a lack of emotional investment in the game's story and characters, feeling that it falls short of the depth typically found in anime. While the customization options for mechs are praised, the emotional impact is diminished by confusing mechanics and a need for more cutscenes to enhance narrative engagement and showcase player designs. Overall, the game could benefit from improved storytelling and musical elements to elevate its emotional resonance.
“Story: still in the works, but so far I'm not getting the emotional investment that most anime types have.”
“More varied and memorable enemies and better musical scores to highlight tense situations and increase emotional impact.”
“While the customization of the mechs/weapons is fantastic, it's a bit confusing and should be simplified. More cut scenes are needed to give more emotional content to the game levels and allow individual player designs for their mechs to be seen more often during gameplay.”
“The story felt incredibly dull and uninspired, lacking any emotional depth.”
“Conversations in the game were so boring that I couldn't connect with the characters at all.”
“I found the narrative to be unengaging, which made it hard to feel any emotional investment.”
- humor7 mentions
- 86 % positive mentions
- -29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some character interactions and absurd elements provide genuine laughs, others feel nonsensical or poorly executed, leading to moments of confusion. The overall comedic tone is hit-or-miss, with some players appreciating the quirky details and absurdities, while others find certain aspects, like the over-the-top anime elements, to be unnecessarily distracting.
“Oh, the gameplay is fun too! The funny robot goo woosh with a big sword makes me feel like Gundam.”
“I find the character interactions quite funny at times, though it is hard to tell what is trying to be said sometimes.”
“That's hilarious since ranged weapons are really the only thing you can build that actually changes how the game is played.”
“The humor falls flat and often feels forced, lacking the cleverness that would make it enjoyable.”
“Many of the jokes miss the mark, leaving me more confused than amused.”
“The attempts at humor feel outdated and fail to resonate with the current audience.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is characterized by limitations on mobility, as even heavily equipped units like Gundams are unable to function effectively within planetary atmospheres, adding a layer of realism and challenge to gameplay.
“The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, making it hard to immerse myself in the game.”
“Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is flat and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
“The environments lack detail and depth, resulting in an overall dull atmosphere.”
