Developer: Dry Cactus
Publisher: Dry Cactus
Platform: PC
Tested on: PC
Poly Bridge 2 – Review
Back in 2015 our site took a look at Poly Bridge, which was a cute looking game that involved the creation of bridges. Of course, building bridges might sound easy when having to do it on a digital piece of paper, but the situations presented in Poly Bridge proved to be a challenge. More than once we saw our bridges shatter into small bits as it all got flushed away by the ocean or river(s) we had to traverse. This time, without that much notice in advance, we got our hands on a copy of the second Poly Bridge, which was more of the same, but what’s already good doesn’t need to be fixed.
Story
There is no bigger picture to be found in your creative adventure in Poly Bridge 2. You can pick stages from four different worlds, each having their own set of levels. These have different themes and different objectives, but in the end, it’s all about building a bridge from point A to B, with point C and D occasionally thrown in the mix. A game such as this requires no overarching plot to be interesting.
Graphics
Poly Bridge 2 adheres to the low poly style of the first game. On the one hand you’ll have the simple editor screen in which you design your bridge, which is somewhat like a technical blueprint. On the other hand, there’s the simulation screen, which has a cute visual style that includes a vehicle, a possible obstacle, and a backdrop in accordance with the set of levels you’ve chosen. The simplistic style works perfectly for a game such as this, as it’s pretty much all about the gameplay, and sometimes seeing a cute bridge and vehicle tumble down into the liquid abyss.
It seems the developers did opt for a different graphical style for the level selection. Now you can just choose whatever level you fancy from a list of levels from each of the different worlds. In the old game it had a smartphone-like format where you had to clear each level in succession.
Sound
The soundtrack is pretty much on the same simplistic level as the game’s graphical prowess. You’ll be treated to very tranquil and soothing music, which is certainly appreciated when your design breaks into a million pieces for the umpteenth time. The sound effects are also basic, but they suffice and give proper feedback on what is going on.
Gameplay
Poly Bridge 2 is, like its predecessor, a difficult puzzle game in which you’ll have to build bridges to get vehicles to the other side. The offset is simple, as well as the editor in which you create your bridges, but the overall execution proves to be tricky. At the beginning of the game you’ll have to create fairly simple constructions, but after some time you’ll have to create drawbridges, suspension bridges, bridges with springs for impact bracing, or even multiple layered bridges to allow crossing vehicles to pass.
The controls and execution of the game are fairly simple. You’ll have to connect the pieces of road to one another in a way you see fit. You’ll also have to construct the foundation of the bridge you’re building, taking into account the obstacles and support points of the map you’re currently on. At times you’ll be able to construct ropes to suspend your bridge from above, or have support from below, but at other times you’ll also have to find a way to build a drawbridge and so on. This creates a certain difficulty to overcome, and we have to be honest that the mechanics of a draw bridge, or working with springs, isn’t always that straightforward. These levels can really crunch your gray matter to work overtime. The latter isn’t of course a flaw of the game, but it makes the game less casual than it seems at first glance.
Those who plow through the content quickly, or simply want to create their own content, will certainly enjoy the Sandbox mode, which lets your creative juices run freely. Here you can create your own obstacle courses for other players to complete. The workshop portion of the game also offers new challenges for you to play through. Also still included in this version are small clips that can be shared to show how well your bridge held up, or how quickly it was destroyed.
Conclusion
Poly Bridge 2 is more of the same, albeit with a few new options, mechanics and challenges. The game proves to be a very interesting puzzle experience that has a simple execution while throwing hard to master puzzles at you. If you loved the first game, this cute low poly experience will certainly entice you from start to finish.
Poly Bridge 2 - Review,
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