Developer:
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Platform: PS4, PS5, Switch, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Tested on: Switch
Startup Company Console Edition – Review
The market for simulation games has been expanding in the past years, which is why a lot of companies try to stand out by tackling unique themes, ranging from mowing the lawn to being an actual goat. Startup Company Console Edition takes the genre back to its roots by making you the head of a small tech company trying to make a name for itself.
Story
Like most games of its genre, Startup Company doesn’t feature much of a story. It goes with the classic narrative of you starting up your own small company and building out a tech empire by creating a website and trying to maintain a steady user base and income. Most of the talking is done by your assistant who gives you objectives in the form of milestones.
There are a lot of customization options, ranging from choosing what type of content your website focuses on to what pages will be displayed. None of these choices have a big impact on the gameplay, but they give some unique personality to your playthrough.
Although there isn’t much of a narrative, it isn’t really missed due to the game’s focus on gameplay.
Graphics
Startup Company is created by a small team and it shows. There is no unique art style and the game features simplistic graphics similar to many indie games. Everything looks like it should but there are not many details to be found. The NPCs are a bit bland, as they are just the same two models with different colors. Aside from these graphics, the game features clear menus and web pages. This is an important feat since you’ll be spending quite some time here.
Sound
The sound of the game fits the graphics perfectly. A generic soundtrack and basic sound effects make the experience pretty forgettable. This, combined with the graphics, deliver a basic presentation. While this isn’t a big problem in a smaller game like this, it does leave a lot to be desired. We would have loved a bit more attention to detail in the game’s overall soundscape.
Gameplay
Just like in other simulation games, the biggest focus is on the gameplay, and this is where Startup Company Console Edition delivers. You begin the game with a small budget and big dreams of creating the number one website in the world. This is done by constantly upgrading the software, hardware, and monetization of your original platform.
Each employee of your company has a specific role. Most of these jobs produce resources needed to upgrade web pages and produce other elements. Aside from these employees, there are other jobs like headhunters who search for new people, or researchers that can unlock new features over time. This gameplay loop of development and upgrading is where most of your time will be spent.
To fund all of these features and pay your employees, you’ll need some income. This is where marketing comes into play. There are numerous ways to make your website profitable, from advertisements to subscription services. But the more you push these monetizations, the less pleased your visitors will be.
All of these gameplay features are, while fun, pretty basic. There are two ways, however, how Startup Company tries to stand out. The first one is that the game doesn’t only focus on you managing software, but also hardware. You have a second location where the server of the website is located and it needs to be upgraded to better fit the needs of your company. While the management of this aspect features the same gameplay as the website, the change of location and resources feature a breath of fresh air. The second unique element is the focus on the well-being of the employees. While this is present in a lot of simulation games, Startup Company takes it a step further by introducing ‘needs’ to better the mood of your people as well as an HR representative to adjust the work schedules. None of these features are game changers, but they are a rather nice touch that set the experience apart from many different games.
All these elements make for a fun simulator. There aren’t any big elements that set it aside from other games in the genre, but what it does, it does well. Balancing resources and finances becomes a fulfilling activity once you get the hang of all the gameplay mechanics. That being said, the lack of variety in gameplay can become repetitive and doesn’t promote many playthroughs. The simple gameplay loop makes for a fun experience in between bigger games.
Initially made for PC, Startup Company Console Edition makes the transition to consoles perfectly. All controls feel natural and accessible. While the game isn’t the most taxing game on the Switch, it is nice to know that it runs perfectly in both docked and handheld modes. This makes it a good time on the couch or on the road.
Conclusion
Startup Company Console Edition delivers exactly what it promises: an indie simulator game where you build a company and try to be number one. While the game itself is a fun and fulfilling experience, the lackluster presentation and repetitive gameplay can prove to be a turn-off for those interested in this title. As a whole, it is a fun experience, but you’ll probably play this one in-between bigger titles.
Startup Company Console Edition - Review,
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