Before We Leave - A Delightfully Relaxing City Builder That Reaches for the Stars
Discover "Before We Leave," where peaceful city-building meets interplanetary exploration. Guide your civilization from underground shelters to the stars in this charming strategy game that perfectly blends planning, creativity, and relaxation.
TL;DR:
By Josh Bailey
Hey there, fellow gamers! It's time to dive into another gaming review, and today we're looking at "Before We Leave," a city builder that combines the cozy charm of traditional town management with interplanetary exploration. After spending a solid chunk of time with this title, I've got to say - it's definitely earned its place among the more unique entries in the genre.
Let's break this down waffle-style and see what makes this game tick!
The Basics
Before We Leave puts you in charge of a civilization emerging from underground shelters, tasking you with rebuilding society one hexagonal tile at a time. What starts as a simple village-building exercise eventually expands into an interplanetary adventure, complete with spaceships and multiple worlds to colonize. It's like SimCity met Civilization and decided to have a chill gaming baby together.
Gameplay Mechanics
The core gameplay loop centers around traditional city-builder elements - managing resources, expanding your settlement, and researching new technologies. However, what sets Before We Leave apart is its thoughtful approach to progression and its unique road-based building system.
Speaking of roads - this is where some players might find their first stumbling block. The game requires all buildings to connect to roads, which some reviews have criticized as restrictive. However, I'd argue this actually adds an interesting layer of strategy to your city planning. You can't just plop buildings wherever you want; you need to think several steps ahead about your layout and resource management. It's not a bug, it's a feature, folks!
The resource management system is robust without being overwhelming. You'll juggle basics like wood and stone in the early game, eventually expanding to more complex production chains as you advance through the tech tree. The game does an excellent job of introducing new elements gradually, never overwhelming you with too many options at once.
Research and Progression
The tech tree in Before We Leave is well-structured and intuitive. Starting with basic necessities like mining and construction, you'll eventually unlock more advanced technologies that allow for interplanetary travel. What I particularly appreciate is how each advancement feels meaningful - there's no filler research here, folks. Every unlock opens up new possibilities for your civilization.
Graphics and Art Style
Visually, Before We Leave is a treat. The hexagonal-based world design gives everything a clean, organized look while maintaining charm and character. The attention to detail is impressive - from the tiny "peeps" (as the game calls your citizens) going about their daily routines to the environmental effects like chimney smoke and firefly lights.
The zoom levels are particularly well-implemented, allowing you to get right down to street level to watch your little peeps scurrying about, or pull back for a grand view of your expanding civilization. While the graphics aren't pushing any technical boundaries, they serve the game's style perfectly and create an inviting, cozy atmosphere.
Audio and Soundtrack
The audio design takes a minimalist approach that works surprisingly well. The soundtrack features peaceful, ambient tracks interspersed with periods of calm silence. While some might wish for more musical variety, the spacing between tracks actually helps maintain the game's relaxed atmosphere. It's like the game is giving you breathing room to think and plan without constant musical accompaniment.
Extra Features
One of the game's standout features is its robust planet editor and Steam Workshop integration. While you can't currently share scenarios (which is a bit of a bummer), players can create and share custom planets through the Workshop. From recreations of Jupiter to D20-shaped worlds, the community has already shown impressive creativity with this tool.
The game also includes four pre-built scenarios that add interesting twists to the formula. The "Apocalypse Soon" scenario, for instance, has you racing against time to escape a massive space whale. These scenarios add welcome variety to the base game experience.
The Good
- Relaxing, engaging gameplay loop
- Well-implemented progression system
- Charming visual style
- Robust planet editor
- Strong community features through Steam Workshop
- Excellent tutorial system
The Could-Be-Better
- Limited scenario options
- Somewhat repetitive soundtrack
- Road system might feel restrictive to some players
Final Verdict
After spending quality time with Before We Leave, I can confidently say it's earned itself a solid 4 out of 5 waffles. While it might not revolutionize the city-builder genre, it delivers a thoroughly enjoyable experience that combines traditional elements with unique twists.
The game shines brightest when you're lost in the flow of expanding your civilization, planning new districts, and eventually reaching for the stars. It's the kind of game where you'll start playing "just for a few minutes" and suddenly realize it's 3 AM (trust me, I've been there).
If you're a fan of city builders or just looking for a relaxing strategy game that doesn't pressure you with constant threats or time limits, Before We Leave is definitely worth your time. It's like a warm cup of coffee on a lazy Sunday morning - comfortable, satisfying, and just what you need to unwind.
That's all for this review, folks! If you want to join the discussion about Before We Leave or share your own city-builder recommendations, head over to our community at twotonewaffle.com. Until next time, keep building those cities, and remember - everything's better with waffles!
FAQ:
Q1: Is there any combat in the game?
A: No, Before We Leave is a completely peaceful city builder with no combat mechanics.
Q2: How long does it take to reach space travel?
A: Typically 3-4 hours of gameplay, depending on your efficiency and familiarity with the mechanics.
Q3: Can I play with a controller?
A: No, the game requires mouse and keyboard controls for optimal gameplay.
Q4: How many planets can I have in a single game?
A: Up to seven planets can be generated in a single game.
Q5: Does the game have multiplayer?
A: No, Before We Leave is strictly single-player.
Q6: Are there different difficulty settings?
A: Yes, ranging from Very Easy to more challenging settings that affect resource availability and management complexity.
Q7: How long is the tutorial?
A: The basic tutorial takes about 30-45 minutes to complete and covers all essential mechanics.
Q8: Can I mod the game?
A: While full modding isn't supported, you can create and share custom planets through Steam Workshop.
Q9: Are there any game-breaking disasters or events?
A: Besides scenario-specific events (like the space whale), the base game doesn't feature disasters or random events that can destroy your civilization.
Q10: Does the game have an endpoint or victory condition?
A: The base game is open-ended with no specific victory conditions, though scenarios have specific goals to achieve.
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