The Marshall Plan: The Game
WW2 Rebuilder is a refreshing and unique entry into the simulator genre. Its relaxing gameplay along with narrative-driven storytelling combine for an amazing experience for simulator and history lovers alike. The crazy part is the full game isn’t even out yet. Thanks to the developers, I was able to partake in playing the Germany Prologue. For context, it took me about three hours to get through.
I‘ll Gladly Pay You Tuesday for a Hamburg Today
Immediately I was greeted with something I did not expect, a cutscene. I know sometimes simulation games have some sort of story, but not a ton of effort is put into it because the emphasis is more on the simulation gameplay rather than a story. But there seems to have been equal amounts of care taken for both the story and gameplay by Madnetic Games.
What can cause many video games across genres to succeed or fail is buying into the setting. If players can’t engulf themselves in what they are doing in-game, they will not stay for long. But what WW2 Rebuilder is able to do early is give personal reasons for why the player is doing what they are doing.
From what I could deduce from the prologue, players will take control of multiple characters across Europe in an effort to rebuild after the most destructive war in human history. The tutorial has you play as a young man in the United Kingdom. Too young to fight in the war but still wanting to help his country, he volunteers as a builder. For the prologue set in Hamburg, you play as a woman whose husband served in the Wehrmacht (German army) and who also wants to help those displaced by the war. France is locked during the prologue but I’m sure will be in the full game.
I know I’ve spent a lot of time talking about narrative, but this is really the core of what makes WW2 Rebuilder stand out from the rest of the building simulators. You’re not flipping random houses to sell for fake profit. You’re helping restore civilization and aiding others in recovering from one of the worst calamities to befall Europe in centuries. It’s when you buy into the narrative that the tedious gameplay common with simulators becomes a bit more bearable.
Gameplay
The gameplay follows the basic principles of any simulator. You help destroyed buildings on their way, collect and store resources in bins, and either craft or directly use resources to finish your building projects. There are construction zones, where you are free to choose what type of building is built. It’s a fun feature that helps add a bit of customization to the map. For me, I decided to put down a riverfront cafe to bring citizens a small escape from reality with a small park off to the side.
Players are able to construct or buy numerous objects that can be used to decorate and bring the map to life. You can plant trees that bring much-needed color to the dull, grey, war-torn background of Hamburg. Small things like a clock, trash bins, and a freshly painted building with a new awning make the area look livable again. I added a small statue of a saint with candles by the church so people could stop by and pray. Again, buying into the setting makes the entire experience much more enjoyable and makes you believe that once you finish a level, you have made a positive impact on someone’s life.
Even with just three hours of exposure, I can confidently say that WW2 Rebuilder brings a narrative breath of fresh air to a genre that can be lacking in that department. The gameplay is familiar to anyone who has played building simulators in the past. Gameplay is easy enough for new players into the simulating world to pick up. If you are a fan of simulators or a massive history buff, then you should look into picking up WW2 Rebuilder when it officially releases on Aug. 31.
Prologue Verdict: 8.5
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