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Bridge Constructor Review

 
Bridge Constructor Review
Bridge Constructor Review
Bridge Constructor Review

 
At a Glance...
 

Formats: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android 2.2 Devices, PC
 
Genre:
 
Year:
 
Publisher:
 
Developer:
 
Final Score
6.0
6/ 10


User Rating
no ratings yet

 

We liked?


  • You'll feel smart when you succeed
  • Fun to build bridges (and watch them collapse)
  • Great educational tool

Not so much?


  • No tutorial to explain basic engineering concepts
  • Difficulty ramps up quickly
  • No true sandbox mode?


Final Fiendish Findings?

As an educational tool, Bridge Constructor is fantastic, but as a game it really lacks design, polish, and personality.

0
Posted September 27, 2012 by

 
Full Fiendish Findings...
 
 

In the aptly named Bridge Constructor, you will be tasked with constructing bridges connecting Points A to Points B without a collapse, using real physics and engineering concepts.

The world of Bridge Constructor is separated into five regions, each with a unique theme and complexity.  Each region consists of multiple stages where you must construct a bridge.  Once you complete all of the required stages, the next region will unlock.

Each stage offers a unique scenario where you must use the specifically given construction materials and complete the bridge, while staying within a budget.  The amount you’ll spend per construction materials depends on its type (wood, steel, concrete, and steel cable) and the amount you use.  Some materials can only be “stretched out” so far, like wood, while others, like cable, can be literally stretched across the entirety of the bridge’s span.

Bridge Constructor Review

While in engineering mode, you will use a grid overlay to add and connect your materials together.  Left-clicking the mouse will set the start and end points, and if you make a mistake you can remove material by either highlighting a junction point, or by “mousing-over” a specific material, and performing a right-click.

To complete a stage, your bridge must be able to stand without falling and hold the weight of a pair of trucks.  However, the effort that it takes to successfully construct a bridge will likely vary wildly depending on how “engineering-savvy” you are.

Bridge Constructor Review

My biggest problem with Bridge Constructor is that the game lacks presentation and personality.  It’s almost as if the developer threw you in a room with a bunch of materials, and told you to “figure it out” without giving any sort of direction.  In other words, Bridge Constructor needs a tutorial to ease players into the game.

It’s quite obvious that connecting horizontal segments of wood, across a large span, without additional support, will collapse under the weight of travelers’ vehicles, but receiving tips or learning why the design isn’t working would have been extremely helpful.

If you don’t know what you’re doing wrong, you can’t learn from your mistakes.

By the third level, in the first region, I found myself stuck.  I mean really stuck.  After at least my 10th attempt, I reluctantly went to Google for the answer.  I felt that this step could have been avoided if Bridge Constructor was more accessible and offered a little more hand-holding.  I would have also liked a gradual increase in complexity and difficulty, especially in the game’s first region — an optional tutorial region would resolve this! – that really took its time introducing new situations and engineering concepts through baby steps, rather than the enormous strides that the game currently offers.

And even when some tips are given at the beginning of a new level, they’re explained using construction terminology.  For example: “Cables can be spanned over long distances and can endure more tensile load than wood.  However, they do not withstand compressive load.”  HUH?  Tensile load? Compressive load? *eyes glaze over* *brain explodes* *dies*

I believe that those with a knack for engineering will find the difficulty satisfying, and will see my complaints to be petty, but everybody else will like feel like this:

Bridge Constructor Review

That being said, when I solved consecutive levels without assistance, I felt smart.  Although I feel that I accidentally fell into the solutions rather than being able to apply and building upon any gained knowledge.

I also feel that Bridge Constructor would benefited by including a sandbox mode, where you could construct a bridge using unlimited resources.

As an educational tool, Bridge Constructor is fantastic, but as a game it really lacks design, polish and personality.  If the developer took more time explaining concepts, through a tutorial, I would have enjoyed playing it so much more.

Bridge Constructor is available for and was reviewed on a PC, but you can also find mobile versions for the Apple iOS and Android OS devices.


Troy Benedict

 


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