rymdkapsel Review
Price: $3.99
Version: 2.0.0
App Reviewed on: iPhone 5
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Complexity can be a difficult thing to balance in a game, but so can simplicity. Distilling an idea or genre down to its more basic elements is no easy task, especially when trying to do it well, and for that reason alone I think rymdkapsel is worth celebrating. It's a strategy/sim-lite without any of the typical blandness one would associate with so much fat trimming. Of course that's not the only reason; it's also a pretty great game all-around.
There's a simple sort of elegance to rymdkapsel's design. The graphics are extremely abstract but still make visual sense. It's also incredibly easy to control. The workers can be assigned to any available post (construction, idle, defense, etc) just by dragging a finger from one category to another. The game automatically assigns the first one that isn't currently carrying something to the task. Placing and orienting rooms is also deceptively simple, but as I've mentioned it's very important to try and plan out construction projects in advance (i.e. keep gardens and kitchens close, sell off extractors that run out of materials to harvest, etc).
I still absolutely love rymdkapsel and consider it a fantastic go-to strategy game that can be great for extended play sessions or short bursts. The simple visuals and interface belie a rather complex and difficult game that's certainly worth a look. It just loses a little of its luster after wave 20 or so.