Loddlenaut Review (Zosie)
Summary: I don't typically write reviews but I felt that this game warranted one since I basically played it non-stop. Overall, I would recommend this cute, charming, and addictive game but probably not at full price.
Pros:
Gameplay: Simple but fun! This game feels like if you simplified Powerwash Simulator and Slime Rancher and combined them into one game. Great keyboard & mouse controls and satisfying gameplay loop. In true cozy game fashion, this game is not very difficult and doesn't really have any threats or challenges except for "don't run out of oxygen" and even if you do, you just respawn at the homebase and have to pick up so items from where you were.
Style: The artstyle of this game is adorable! Everything is filled to the brim with charm and is the main appeal of this game.
Story/Progression: This game does have an underlying story that's fairly simple and as you would expect. This didn't bother me because I didn't expect a game like this to have a unique or thrilling story anyways. As far as progression, there are objectives that need to be completed in order to unlock upgrades and enter new areas, but the game doesn't prevent you from going off exploring as long as your equipment can handle it.
Music/Sound Design: Ambient, subtle, nice! No complaints here.
Cons:
Short for the price: I 100% completed this game in 11.8 hours including all achievements and fully cleaning the whole map. While I personally think this game being too long would have been a slog, $20 is a lot for a maximum of 12 hours of gameplay with little to no replayability. Definitely wait for a sale and then decide if it's worth your money.
Gameplay Nit-picks: Raising loddles could have been worked more. It's basically impossible to get all the different species without a guide and it's frustrating that breeding occurs automatically when it could have had a simple mechanic like Minecraft to give the player more control. Also, structures are basically useless except for the oxygen recharge and even then, you only need one to take around with you and put down when you need. Instead, decorations or more upgrades would have been better for the player. Also-also, I don't see why we couldn't have a late-game upgrade that gives permanent boost without the stamina, just to make the ending feel less slow.