Developer: Noble Muffins
Publisher: PlayWay S.A.
Platform: Switch, PC, Xbox One
Tested on: Xbox One
Demolish & Build (Xbox One) – Review
Some time ago we had a try with Demolish & Build 2018 for the Switch. If you have seen that review, you will know that the game wasn’t really optimized to run on that platform. This time we have received the Xbox One version of the game. It means we can now play this destructive title on a stronger console and while some things are improved, the general game still isn’t that great. It seems that the developers have dropped 2018 from the title, but don’t be deceived, these games are identical.
Story
The game starts with you creating a character. You can select between a handful of people but there are no customization options. You start working for an Eastern-European boss, who will serve as the tutorial part of the game. After a mishap on a contract, you get fired and you must find a new job. Quickly you get contacted by another ex-employee of the aforementioned contractor, who then wants to start a company with you. The only goal now is to do tasks and level up your construction company so you get more fame and can do jobs all around the place.
Graphics
In direct comparison to the Switch, there are some better parts but some issues remain the same. The general graphical quality isn’t that high, it still is the simple assets from the base games and at first, the frame rate looks more stable, yet when multiple vehicles are on the screen, stuttering will occur. Some small details are also broken, as vehicles behave erratically and the wheels turn strangely. When doing your job, you will notice that the animations are super simple and clunky making Demolish & Build look like an old game.
Sound
One of the first things that you will notice is that suddenly there are radio stations added to the game. This is only the case in vehicles. Sadly, while working on a job there still isn’t any music playing and the sound effects are really bland. But in comparison with the Switch version, you now have four radio stations to listen to while in a vehicle. Smashing through buildings and using your sledgehammer can make for some ok sounds, yet the sound effects will become boring rather fast, as they are very generic.
Gameplay
Demolish & Build is a construction simulator where you have to build up your own company while doing all kinds of contracting work. The game starts with a short tutorial, teaching you how to navigate and how to work with your basic tools. After the introduction, you will be left free to roam the town at your own peril. As the game runs smoother, this will be less of a chore and rather a fun transition between jobs. You need to search for places for tasks to do. Some jobs will give you a payday and others serve as investments for daily payouts.
During your tasks, you will have to use different tools and vehicles. To get access to the new vehicles, you will have to buy them and get your respective licenses. Progressing through the game is pretty slow, you do many jobs and chores to level up your company, yet it doesn’t feel as slow as the Construction Simulator games. This does stretch out the gameplay, yet because you have to search for it on a ‘not so optimized’ map, it could become somewhat frustrating.
The game controls better than the Switch version, but this is mostly because the gameplay is much smoother. In most locations, you won’t feel any stuttering, yet when too many intractable objects are close to each other, it will hamper the performance.
Conclusion
If you have tried the game out on the Switch but the bad performance made it unplayable for you, then you might want to look into the Xbox One version of this game. It isn’t a title to write home about but at least it’s a bit more playable this way. If you don’t care about the shortcomings, then you will find yourself playing a game with plenty of content to enjoy, even if it’s mediocre content.
No Comments