Terra Firma
- June 27, 2021
- Working as Intended
Get on SteamPlay god and create your own world in this complex simulation. Plate tectonics, wind and water erosion and plant life all develop and interact to produce a world that is viewable from a single tree to kilometres across.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and engaging simulation of erosion and tectonic activity, making it a fun tool for geography enthusiasts.
- It has a lot of potential for future updates, with players expressing excitement for additional features like weather systems and more complex geological interactions.
- The game is free to play, making it accessible for anyone interested in experimenting with landscape creation and erosion.
- Currently, the game feels more like a tech demo than a fully developed game, with limited functionality and content.
- There are several bugs and performance issues, particularly on certain systems, which can detract from the overall experience.
- Many players feel that the user interface is clunky and lacks necessary features, making it difficult to navigate and fully utilize the game's potential.
- gameplay10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay is currently limited, primarily revolving around basic terrain manipulation without significant interactive loops or depth. Users express a desire for more complex mechanics, such as varied volcanic eruptions and seasonal changes in water dynamics, to enhance the simulation experience. While the game effectively showcases erosion-based mechanics, it lacks engaging gameplay elements that would sustain long-term interest.
“I'd love to see additional mechanics and content added to the simulation.”
“If you like erosion-based mechanics, this game will scratch that itch you never thought you had.”
“There are no gameplay loops, and the user's interaction with this software is limited to an initial collision between two tectonic plates, and then a bit of MS Paint with your two tools, terrain raising and lowering.”
“It's very good at what it does, no doubt there, but what it does isn't providing any gameplay loops to gamers.”
“Fun for a little bit of messing around currently, and seeing how the mechanics interact, but that's about it.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally described as simplistic, yet surprisingly effective for a small game size, with the ability to render extensive landscapes. Users express a desire for more dynamic visuals, such as seasonal changes and animal domestication effects, to enhance the overall aesthetic experience. While some find the graphics satisfactory, others feel they could benefit from additional detail and features.
“Graphics, you can see on the top-right, what season it currently is, but adding visuals for it, for example, glaciers on top of mountains or frozen lakes, would be a great addition.”
“For a 4 megabyte game, the graphics are surprisingly good, and it is able to render a lot of trees over a wide area.”
“Quite simple but I was seeing how much I could push it to follow real geographic formations.”
“The graphics are very simplistic and there's no sound.”
“Graphics are quite simple, but it would be great to see more detailed visuals, like glaciers on top of mountains or frozen lakes, to represent the current season.”
“I think it'd be pretty cool to see humans domesticate animals like wolves to dogs as cavemen and see the wolves' aesthetics change over generations.”
- music10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, players feel that the game lacks sufficient music and sound effects, which contributes to a monotonous experience. Many suggest that the music should dynamically respond to in-game events, with peaceful melodies for calm moments and dramatic scores for catastrophic events. A more engaging and varied soundtrack is seen as essential to enhance the overall atmosphere and player immersion.
“Music and sound effects should be able to respond to the player's actions on the map.”
“If it's in a 'peaceful state,' the music would be a mix of angelic and relaxing tones, giving the player a 'god-like' feeling.”
“Bombastic music should be used when the player's actions result in a major catastrophe, like a volcano eruption, great flood, asteroid impact, war, or other forms of the apocalypse.”
“I just think it needs background music and sound effects.”
“Very bland, no music/sounds or effects, nothing.”
“Music and sound effects - music should be able to respond to the player's actions on the map.”
- story2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game lacks a narrative, with users noting that there is no story present.
“There is no story to speak of.”
“The game lacks any meaningful narrative.”
“The storyline is completely absent.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
“I spent hours grinding for minimal rewards.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers suggest that the game's atmosphere would benefit from a climatology system that simulates ocean and atmospheric currents based on the geography created during the tectonics phase, enhancing the realism and depth of the planetary climate.
