Will the Second Video Game in this Saga Live Up to Players’ Expectations with 93% Positive Reviews for the First?

A game that blows hot and cold

If the original Frostpunk was human-centered and renowned for the various dilemmas it offered during the game, this new opus clearly seems to abandon this mechanic in favor of a concept city ​​builder more classic. Gone are the Cornelian choices of whether or not to send children to work and the fate of the remains of the community, either buried or used to fuel the oven. Being a direct sequel to the first title, Frostpunk 2 takes place in the next stage of survival, organizing itself more around the reconstruction and development of society.

Discover Frostpunk 2 on Xbox Series X from July 25, 2024

Humans are no longer at the center of concerns here, replaced by the management of neighborhoods and industries. The central oven and the development around it then take a back seat, in favor of a sprawling expansion, requiring the construction of various major roads connecting the said districts, which are sometimes very far from each other. The intimate aspect of the constructions is therefore neglected, as is the difficulty apparently reduced. Although we do not know if this is simply specific to the beta or will be the same in the final game, it is much easier to develop its different industries and its population here than in the original opus.

Keep a cool head

If already, in Frostpunk first of the name, it was possible to pass different laws as a major decision-maker, its sequel is truly built around this concept. However, this time it will be necessary to reconcile your decisions with the demands of two parties chosen in each new game. The player is therefore asked to flirt with these groups to obtain maximum support for his laws, when these directly influence your technological developments, asking you to choose between the way of doing things of one of the two groups, each bringing different bonuses and penalties.

The political aspect of the title is by extension extremely developed. For example, during law voting sessions, the player may have the opportunity to make compromises and promises to certain members of the council in exchange for votes. It can also impose itself by force, at the risk of gradually losing their support and generate instability. Favoring a group can also lead to the blocking of certain industries by its opponents or even lead to riots. This mechanic therefore promises strong replayability of the title, an aspect criticized for the first opus in its time. Still in beta, the title will perhaps include other interesting new mechanics and/or correct some of them. To learn more about Frostpunk 2feel free to consult our column at the top of the page!