The Brew Barons
- March 1, 2024
- Lifetap Studios
- 18h median play time
In "The Brew Barons," players must build a brewery, assemble a seaplane, and recruit fellow pilots to overthrow a corrupt pirate organization imposing a brewing monopoly. The game allows players to customize their plane and choose pilots with unique strengths, explore the world for ingredients, craft various brews, and design their own bar to sell creations and gain fame. Special delivery orders from other bars become available as fame increases.
Reviews
- The game features a charming art style reminiscent of Studio Ghibli's Porco Rosso, creating a delightful atmosphere.
- The flight mechanics are enjoyable and accessible, allowing players to easily navigate the skies and engage in resource gathering.
- The brewing and bar management aspects add depth to the gameplay, providing a unique twist on traditional flight simulation.
- The use of AI-generated voice acting detracts from the overall experience, as it lacks emotion and can feel unnatural.
- The game suffers from bugs and performance issues, including clunky controls and UI navigation problems, which can hinder gameplay.
- Progression can feel slow and tedious, with a lack of clear guidance on objectives and resource gathering, leading to frustration.
- gameplay157 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a charming aesthetic and a unique blend of mechanics, including flying, brewing, and combat, which can be both relaxing and engaging. However, many players note issues with pacing, repetitive tasks, and a lack of depth in certain systems, leading to a gameplay loop that can feel tedious at times. While the core mechanics are enjoyable and the art style is praised, the overall execution suffers from bugs and clunky controls, leaving room for improvement in future updates.
“The gameplay is fun and keeps me coming back, even though the lack of a story sucks a bit.”
“The core gameplay loop is perfect for that 'winding down after a long day of work' kind of itch.”
“The gameplay revolves around flying to islands to collect brewing material and then occasionally fighting with pirates, at least in the early game.”
“But the systems that should support gameplay actively detract from it and everything is weighed down by minutes of monotonous travel between bouts of actually playing the game.”
“Gameplay is extremely limited due to lack of content; orders themselves are too quick to reappear and while there is time to collect some of the items, it feels like it's this way in order to keep you busy rather than enjoy the game or scenery.”
“The main concern most people tend to have with the game is its slowness, pacifism, and gameplay loops.”
- story130 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally perceived as shallow and lacking depth, with many players expressing a desire for more substantial narrative elements and character development. While there are enjoyable side missions and character backstories, the overall storytelling is hampered by poor writing and the use of AI-generated voice acting, which detracts from immersion. Despite these shortcomings, some players appreciate the lighthearted premise and the potential for future expansions to enhance the narrative experience.
“It has pretty good voice overs, and a great story to go along with it!”
“The characters all have different missions that add some variety to the basic gameplay loop, and different traits that make different builds for different missions worthwhile to explore.”
“The story, shallow while so far, is easy to follow; pirates are running a monopoly and bullying the peaceful archipelago we call home, thus we step in to bust up the monopoly with quality brews!”
“The story is shallow while so far, is easy to follow, pirates are running a monopoly and bullying the peaceful archipelago we call home, thus we step in to bust up the monopoly with quality brews!”
“The 'main story' of the game does not exist.”
“But the writing and way the story is presented feels like... someone didn't actually write it.”
- graphics100 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their charming and whimsical art style, reminiscent of works like "Porco Rosso" and "Valkyria Chronicles." Players appreciate the vibrant visuals, detailed plane designs, and the overall aesthetic that creates an engaging and relaxing atmosphere. However, some critiques mention issues with rendering and shading that can detract from the experience, alongside concerns about AI-generated voice acting that contrasts with the otherwise beautiful presentation.
“But in all seriousness, this is easily one of the most graphically beautiful games I've ever seen with the seaplanes and flying boats of the golden age of flight just giving this game such a cool feel.”
“The art style is beautiful, fun gameplay, and the price of the game is justified for the entertainment value.”
“The game's portrayal of its world is absolutely beautiful, the models in locations, animations of the planes, the art style, there's this sense of Hayao Miyazaki art in it, it's beautiful!”
“Regardless of your opinion on the many controversies and societal problems surrounding AI, it's just a fact that the AI-generated 'acting' in this game feels like very bad actors phoned in their worst performance, and that the AI (or AI-assisted at least) character portraits have a pretty boring art style, which lacks personality and impact.”
“The game often seems somewhat cheap or as if relying on pre-made shaders that really do not serve it well, either oversaturating and blinding you with washed out light effects cranked up to 11 or understating so hard, the nights tend to seem dull and way too bright at the same time, this sadly also hampers the gameplay-loop as oftentimes underwater ingredients are almost impossible to spot or so indistinctly rendered/drawn that they outright disappear.”
“While the graphics are very pretty, I don't feel like they should make my computer get quite so loud either.”
- music44 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its joyful, relaxing, and immersive qualities that complement the art direction beautifully. While some players found certain tracks repetitive, the overall soundtrack is considered well-crafted and fitting for the game's aesthetic, contributing to a cozy and engaging experience. However, there are mixed feelings about the AI-generated voice acting, which detracts from the otherwise strong audio experience.
“The art direction and music are on point, contributing to the great atmosphere of the game.”
“The music is great too, never repetitive, always fitting.”
“The soundtrack wonderfully complements the package.”
“The main flight music theme...it needs to be thrown away.”
“I had to turn the music off.”
“Taking to the skies, or to the sea, fishing, the music- it all blends together very well as a vibe or experience, with the exception of the game's performance and some decisions that warrant more desirable outcomes... albeit a team of two, their title definitely had room for improvement before release and I really hope they take their time with the smaller tweaks and fixes before genuinely considering paying a person to voice the characters that are not voiced by one.”
- grinding35 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly when it comes to gathering ingredients for brewing and managing resources. While some appreciate the unique farming mechanics and the blend of flying and crafting, many express dissatisfaction with the repetitive nature of tasks, the lack of quality-of-life features like manual saves, and the slow pace of travel between islands. Overall, the grinding can detract from the enjoyment of the game, despite its charming art style and engaging brewing system.
“Overall, the brewing and mission management are enjoyable, not too tedious, though occasionally hindered by quality of life issues.”
“The game feels very grindy when gathering ingredients for the brewery, but I will admit that I like the idea of gathering materials for brewing and selling.”
“Gathering ingredients can be hit or miss, with those you shoot taking no time at all while those on farms you have to bomb or scythe are pure, tedious frustration.”
“The game world is a little bit too big without auto-pilot or cruise control; you can spend almost 5 minutes flying from one island to another, which gets boring or tedious.”
- stability22 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- -9 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The game is currently plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, leading to a frustrating experience for players. Issues range from controller support problems to significant gameplay disruptions, such as characters and objects behaving erratically. While the core concept is intriguing, the overall stability is lacking, making it feel more like an early access title than a polished release.
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes.”
“I haven't encountered any bugs during my playthrough.”
“The performance is stable, allowing for an enjoyable gaming experience.”
“Unfortunately, this game is a buggy, buggy mess in its current launch version.”
“Leisure game turned frustrating bug mess all because they really want you to play the buggy boss fights.”
“Can't recommend because the 'full controller support' is buggy at best, and the dialog has a generative AI feel.”
- atmosphere17 mentions
- 76 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its lovely visuals, engaging art direction, and relaxing music, creating a cozy and immersive experience reminiscent of Nintendo's style but with a more mature twist. Players appreciate the vibrant environments, particularly the ability to explore islands, which enhances the overall enjoyment and engagement with the game. Despite some minor flaws, the atmosphere remains a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“The art direction and music are on point, contributing to the great atmosphere of the game.”
“The atmosphere is amazing, being able to fly to different islands and spread your influence as an up-and-coming brew master; it's next to none in how it makes you feel.”
“And oh boy, should I say this game has such a nice and cozy atmosphere with a warm palette of colors and wonderful music!”
“The atmosphere feels bland and uninspired, lacking any real depth or engagement.”
“Despite the fun gameplay, the atmosphere fails to immerse you in the world.”
“The overall atmosphere is forgettable, making it hard to stay invested in the game.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some users note that it is well-optimized with a good UI, many express frustration with shaky performance, frequent bugs, and awkward controls. The AI-generated elements, including voices and character portraits, detract from the experience, leading to a desire for further improvements and refinements. Despite its potential and engaging gameplay, the current optimization issues hinder full enjoyment of the game.
“Definitely worth doing the side missions with the characters you like as that will greatly increase their performance.”
“A game with multiple available flight schemes, a high degree of aircraft customization, and a large, well-designed world; all packed into an immensely optimized and low-storage package.”
“The game has a great UI and is also well optimized.”
“Some optimization wouldn't hurt to make the game experience much smoother, and I hope the devs will point their attention to this matter.”
“Eager to play more, but so far poor optimization doesn't help to enjoy the game at its full.”
“The shaky performance, frequent bugs, awkward controls, slapdash UI, and most egregiously the blatantly AI-generated voices and portraits prevent me from enjoying the lovely visual style and music.”
- emotional9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game "Brew Barons" to be a relaxing and wholesome experience, evoking nostalgic vibes reminiscent of classic flight sims and Studio Ghibli aesthetics. While the gameplay can be challenging, particularly with pilot skill requirements, the overall atmosphere is described as charming and enjoyable. However, some users feel that the emotional depth of the story and RPG elements is lacking, which detracts from immersion.
“A very fun game - I got some serious Crimson Skies vibes from it - but with a wholesome atmosphere!”
“The game is very wholesome and has a classic feel.”
“To me, 'The Brew Barons' is a kind of casual, wholesome, nice and relaxing game all in all.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding the physics engine and unexpected glitches—like bosses spawning in odd locations—hilarious. While the writing may be generally bland, it occasionally delivers laugh-out-loud moments, particularly through random pedestrian comments about the player's plane. Overall, the humor adds a quirky charm, though it can sometimes feel excessive.
“Also, the slightest rough landing breaks your orders, so if you have to deliver 30 bottles of booze and you fly halfway across the map for 10 minutes and land funny, oops -- you have 29 now.”
“Once you wrap your head around the simulation/physics engine, you're away laughing.”
“I thought the random comments from pedestrians (you can't see) dissing the condition of my plane were funny, but excessive.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the game's thoughtful design and development, contrasting it with the prevalent trend of low-effort asset flips and cash grabs in the industry, indicating a positive reception towards its monetization approach.
“The monetization model feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
“I feel like I'm constantly being pushed to buy in-game currency just to keep up with the content.”
“It's frustrating that the best items are locked behind a paywall, making it feel like a pay-to-win scenario.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is currently perceived as somewhat bland, indicating a need for further refinement and depth. However, there is optimism among players that the developers will enhance this aspect, building on a solid foundation for future improvements.
“The game still needs some polishing here and there, and the story as well as character development is a bit bland, but I am really hoping the devs will build upon what they have here: a really solid foundation for things to come.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's excellent customization options, which significantly enhance its replayability. Many anticipate spending long, enjoyable hours engaging in activities like flying around and crafting, contributing to a rich and varied gameplay experience.
“The customization is excellent; I can see the replayability being quite high. I can envision myself having long, relaxing hours in this game just flying around, shooting apple trees to make more cider to stock my bar with.”