SugarMill
- December 19, 2019
- aatlantis
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"SugarMill" is a village-building simulation game that challenges players with real-world elements such as food expiration, thirst management, and transportation of goods via horse-drawn carriages. It differentiates itself with its use of real-world measurements and attention to historical accuracy. The demo allows players to explore these unique features for 20 minutes.
Reviews
- The game has potential and offers a relaxing experience for fans of city-building and resource management games.
- The graphics and music are appreciated, with some players noting they are better than expected for an early access title.
- The developer is responsive to feedback and has shown commitment to improving the game with updates.
- The game is plagued by numerous bugs and unfinished features, making it difficult to progress and enjoy.
- Many players feel the game lacks content and originality, often comparing it unfavorably to established titles like Banished and Tropico.
- There are significant issues with gameplay mechanics, such as population management and land purchasing, which detract from the overall experience.
- graphics24 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising their quality and suitability for lower-end PCs, while others criticize them as basic and in need of improvement. Many users note that the visuals are not on par with other indie titles, describing issues like blurriness and improper scaling. Overall, while the graphics are functional and contribute to gameplay, they are seen as a significant area for enhancement, especially given the game's early access status.
“Plus high quality graphics even on low settings, perfect for small gaming laptops.”
“Graphics are superb and the accompanying music fits in very well with the theme of the game.”
“The graphics have improved since I first posted this review.”
“Graphically behind compared to other indie games.”
“The graphics may look okay, but nothing is scaled properly.”
“The graphic compartment is... not acceptable at all, sorry.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players criticizing it for lacking originality and depth, feeling it borrows heavily from existing games without introducing new mechanics. However, others find the intricate chain production system engaging and promising, despite the current limited content. Overall, the game appears to require players to adapt and learn as they progress, with potential for future updates to enhance gameplay depth.
“Looks like a promising game... The gameplay itself is a deep chain production game. Basically, you need nails, so you will need to build and set up a working iron mine. Iron goes to storage, which will need more workers, and you will need to produce more food to feed those new people. Then, the next step in the nail production process is the smeltery. Workers from storage will need to bring iron (just in time ideally) into the smeltery to smelt ingots. After several steps, you finally have nails. I like this game!”
“The gameplay itself is very intriguing so far.”
“I bought the game today, and so far I am impressed with the mechanics.”
“Mechanically dull as it brings absolutely nothing new; it only steals others' ideas and uses them like so many other clones and copies of others' work out there.”
“So the day-night cycle is completely useless and a waste of resources for the company. Even if it is a small thing, that small amount of time could have been used to design an original mechanic instead.”
“As it sits now, the amount of content available in the gameplay department is very limited, and every player interested in this game needs to weigh that fact heavily when considering purchasing this game.”
- music11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews; while some players find it exceptional and well-suited to the game's theme, others describe it as uninspired and lacking in variety. Concerns have been raised about the volume controls and the inconsistency in soundtrack quality, but there is hope that the final product will improve upon the current offerings. Overall, the music is seen as a potential area for enhancement to better distinguish the game from its competitors.
“The music in this game is exceptionally good; I love it.”
“Graphics are superb and the accompanying music fits in very well with the theme of the game.”
“I feel that being small provides a special ability to be flexible with music, and it can really set a game apart from the rest.”
“One objective concern is the soundtrack itself.”
“I feel if this is the music that is going to be used in the final project, it is a missed opportunity for the game to set itself apart from its peers.”
“To be clear, I am not calling the music bad in itself, but rather it is not the best fit for this particular game.”
- story4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is currently hindered by a buggy quest system that prevents players from progressing past the tutorial. However, recent updates have introduced quests that enhance gameplay and make it more enjoyable, suggesting potential for improvement in the narrative experience.
“It's now easier to place a mine, there are now quests in the game which make the game a bit more fun, prices now show up on the dock when hitting export, and the game is becoming more enjoyable.”
“Extremely buggy, cannot get past the first quest of the tutorial.”
“The quest system still needs a bit of tweaking though.”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks depth, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with players reporting numerous bugs that prevent them from progressing beyond the initial tutorial quest.
“Extremely buggy, cannot get past the first quest of the tutorial.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
“I experienced constant lag and glitches that ruined the experience.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy has been criticized as a questionable early access cash grab, suggesting a lack of transparency and fairness in how the game seeks to generate revenue.
“Another shady early access cash grab.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its quirky graphics, particularly the amusingly glowing beaches, which add a lighthearted touch to the overall experience. However, the tutorial is still a work in progress, suggesting that players may encounter some humorous moments due to its incomplete state.
“The tutorial is still in development, but the graphics are fantastic and give the beaches a funny glow.”
“The humor in this game is top-notch, with witty dialogue and hilarious character interactions that keep me laughing.”
“I love how the game incorporates silly puns and playful jokes that make even the most serious moments feel lighthearted.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for performance issues, including a janky appearance and occasional input delays that disrupt the overall experience.
“It's hard to pinpoint the exact performance issues, but the game feels janky and bogged down at times. There's also a noticeable input delay when clicking, which can be quite frustrating.”
“The optimization is severely lacking; the frame rate drops unexpectedly, making the gameplay experience feel choppy and unresponsive.”
“I often encounter stuttering and lag, especially in crowded areas, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
