Mudcraft Demo

Almost all real-time strategy games can be resumed to a single equation: gather resources, train an army, and defeat the enemy forces. Violence is a given, so the consensus is that you need armies and warriors in order to make a successful RTS. However, with enough imagination and determination, conflict can be eliminated from the equation altogether.

Mudcraft is quite basic at a first glance, but things get a bit more complicated once you learn how to handle the controls and understand the purpose of the gameplay. As such, the primary concern is to help the so-called ‘mud people’ multiply and avoid the destructive rain clouds, while building shelters and gathering resources to fuel the expansion.

The mud creatures need water and clay in order to form themselves, which means that you must transport them from nearby spots and drop them all into the mud pit. Once enough resources are gathered, more units are created, which provide you with additional workers. Huts and various other buildings can be erected, but don’t expect too much variety either.

The game comes with a bunch of scenarios you have to complete in a predefined order, although they also have the purpose of easing you into the gameplay. Things get increasingly more difficult as you manage to handle the challenges. However, the missions are not exceedingly hard to complete either, which makes it perfect for all kinds of gamers, casual or not.

Visually, don’t expect too much from it, because the resolution is quite low and everything appears to be hand drawn. However, a lot of work went into the whimsical animations of the mud people, which carry the water from the pond by keeping it in their stomachs. The music is pretty relaxing and it goes well with the action on the screen.

In the end, Mudcraft is a different kind of experience from most of the other strategy games out there, which is definitely a good thing to hear. However, it is also quite simple and straightforward, so it may not manage to keep more experienced gamers interested for too long.