Recent reviews by Omni Actual

Well, the sad thing is I really love this game, but I can't play it anymore due to UE4 crashes. Played the campaign nearly all the way through and put it down the first time to play a different game. Upgraded the PC before I came back and apparently having better gear means I don't get to play anymore. It's not an isolated issue either as the same error I'm getting is all over reddit and the steam community forums as well. Getting the same as others with UE4 PenDriverPro_Win64_Shipping error pretty much every time I get more than a few minutes in.

EDIT - Welp, I've spent another 8 hours over the past 4 days trying to figure out what is going on and trying every fix I can find on the interwebs. No luck and zero response to my support "ticket" on the developer site.

I've updated every driver imaginable, updated chipset and bios, clean GPU driver install, killed both process lasso and steamVR (yeah that's a thing). Tried every single combination of graphics settings possible, low, high medium medium lowlow lwowowhfihighiaodfhpjaoisfjpa. It's been a blast. I give up.

Rog Strix Z790 F
13900k
3080 Ti
64 gb ram
lots and lots of tears

At first I thought this game was going to be very good. It did enough in the beginning to separate itself from its predecessor *cough civ cough* and even felt better in certain ways, but as you get further into the game you'll start to notice how absolutely dreadful the AI is, especially on the normal difficulties.

You'll find full stacks of military vessels built by the AI factions inside of 4 hex grid lakes with no access to any other part of the map. You'll also find that for whatever reason naval vessels they've actually built in the ocean refuse to attack you 95% of the time no matter how much the odds are in their favor. They all seem to have the exact same behaviors when it comes to diplomacy and really the only variable is your religions and/or proximity to their borders. The barbarians have literally no goal other than to attack your city regardless of how hopeless that endeavor may be or how late the game is. Got a 400 rated 6 stack sitting next to a unit that has 10% of that strength? Yep, its gonna attack you. The enemy AI is just as bad but for the opposite reasons when it comes to seafaring.

I wish it didn't take me 40+ hours to figure this out.

I was very close to giving this game a negative review and uninstalling due to some interface issues and lack of some common sense QoL items when I first started, but I'm glad I stuck with it a little longer. The engine is incredible and the depth is very good. Don't get me wrong, there's definitely room for improvement in several areas of the UI and some of help file verbiage but it really is worth pressing through and getting accustomed to it.

An Unparalleled Experience in Automation and Exploration

As someone who's spent hours fine-tuning conveyor belts, optimizing production lines, and tweaking factory designs in Satisfactory, I often wish there were more hours in the day to dedicate to it. But in the spirit of the game’s emphasis on automation, I decided to take a page from its book and let automation help me here as well. With the assistance of GPT-4 and a few prompts, I’ve streamlined the process of writing this review so that I can get back to Satisfactory.

Satisfactory is, without question, a masterpiece in the world of factory-building simulation games. The developers at Coffee Stain Studios have crafted an experience that is not only highly polished but also deeply addictive. At its core, Satisfactory is a game about efficiency, creativity, and exploration, and it manages to balance these elements in a way that few games can. It's not just a game about building factories; it's about shaping an entire ecosystem of production, innovation, and discovery.

The Visual and World Design: Awe-Inspiring and Immersive

One of the standout aspects of Satisfactory is the sheer beauty of its world. From lush forests to arid deserts and towering mountains, every biome feels meticulously designed, each with its own unique challenges and resources. The game’s use of verticality is particularly impressive, offering sprawling landscapes that stretch across both the horizontal and vertical planes. The world isn't just a backdrop for your factories—it's an integral part of the experience, constantly pushing you to adapt and optimize your building strategies.

The visual presentation is complemented by a serene yet epic soundtrack that never intrudes but instead enhances the feeling of progress and discovery. Whether you’re mining for iron ore on a cliffside or building a massive network of conveyors through a dense jungle, the sights and sounds create an atmosphere of calm determination and futuristic ambition.

Gameplay Depth: Perfecting the Art of Efficiency

At its heart, Satisfactory is about optimization, and this is where the game truly shines. The sense of progression is incredibly satisfying as you go from manually gathering resources to constructing vast, automated systems that span kilometers. The way you start with simple conveyor belts and smelters, only to eventually reach a level of complexity involving trains, drones, and nuclear power plants, is nothing short of exhilarating.

The building system is intuitive yet offers an astonishing depth. You can spend hours tweaking your factories to find the most efficient layouts, eliminating bottlenecks, and maximizing production. And it’s not just about functionality; there’s a strong aesthetic component as well. The ability to create not only efficient but also visually impressive factory layouts is a delight for anyone with a penchant for design.

Exploration and Adventure: More Than Just a Factory Simulator

Satisfactory doesn’t just trap you in the confines of a factory complex. It encourages exploration, and every time you venture out into the world, there’s a palpable sense of adventure. The alien fauna, the hidden resource deposits, and the breathtaking vistas are constantly inviting you to go further. The rewards for exploration are tangible—you’ll discover new resources, unlock powerful equipment, and find rare artifacts that can enhance your production.

The pacing of Satisfactory is perfect. It never feels overwhelming, yet it continuously challenges you to push the boundaries of what you can create. Each new milestone feels earned, and the rewards for unlocking higher tiers of technology are significant enough to keep you constantly engaged.

Multiplayer: Collaboration and Creativity at Its Best

While Satisfactory can be played solo, the multiplayer experience is where the game reaches new heights. Collaborating with friends to build massive, interconnected factories introduces a new layer of complexity and fun. Working together to solve logistical challenges, allocate resources, and divide labor creates a unique sense of teamwork. The joy of seeing a complex system that you’ve built with friends come to life is unparalleled.

A Constantly Evolving Game: The Promise of More to Come

One of the most impressive aspects of Satisfactory is its ongoing development. The game is still in early access, and yet it already feels like a complete, polished experience. The developers are continually adding new features, improving performance, and expanding the game’s content. The roadmap is ambitious, and each update brings exciting new challenges and tools to experiment with.

Conclusion: A Must-Play for Any Fan of Automation or Strategy

Satisfactory is more than just a game; it’s a passion project that oozes with attention to detail, creativity, and ambition. Whether you’re a fan of factory-building, exploration, or just love the feeling of seeing a plan come together, Satisfactory delivers an experience that is as rewarding as it is engrossing. Few games manage to evoke the same level of satisfaction that comes from perfecting a production line or exploring a new alien world. It’s a game that captivates your mind, sparks your creativity, and keeps you coming back for more.

In short, Satisfactory is a genre-defining game that deserves to be experienced by anyone with a love for innovation, exploration, and efficiency. It’s a masterpiece in every sense of the word.

Great game, probably upgrading the purchased edition. Think DayZ meets Tarkov and is more casual than both, yet still challenging.
I've experienced no performance issues other than pretty standard high load server issues mixed in with maybe 2 crashes in 8 hours of playing. For an EA game on launch day that's probably got half of Tarkov's population in it because they're pissed off at Nikita I think its running great. Oh, and they already have raid protection so you don't lose your stuff when you crash, or at least I've loaded into the same spot and gear each raid.

Great game and a unique spin on the city builder genre. There definitely is not much content there but still worth the price currently for a few days of fun. Look forward to checking back in 6 months to see where it is at!

I know a lot of the backers are upset that this is similar to the "demo" they had but coming in after the early release I can say that this game is definitely worth the $ if you're into the genre. Its certainly a little rough around the edges. Some of the tanks don't have engine sounds, the physics in the test drive area are odd for certain tanks and there's plenty things that need polish. At its core though, this is going to be a very good game when some additional content is added and some time is spent on addressing some minor issues.

I was pretty confused when the game had a mostly negative review score at launch. People cited things like optimization and several other things that I was having no issues with at the time. Things ran smoothly and the small city stuff seemed smooth. Nearly 40 hours into the game later the issues are becoming VERY clear.

Bugged harbors? Check.
Irritating at best snap to system? Check.
Bugged trains? Check.
Magic up-hill traveling water that will destroy your city? Check.
Darkness so complete at night you can't build? Check.
Inability to tell the difference between your densities? Check.
Disasters being completely and utterly meaningless? Check.
Developers paying too much attention to what Sim City did well and not what they did well in CS1? Check.
Paid $50 and feel cheated? Check.

Do not pay for this game on Steam, get it with the game pass instead, and even then its probably not worth in current state.

EDIT: Came back and played another 100+ hours. Most of the major performance issues are fixed for me. There are occasional crashes, which is frustrating when you're in the middle of a project but it's pretty rare. Still some minor ridiculous things like it being nearly impossible to put a rail bridge over a sea lane but all in all it looks like it is shaping up to be a deliverable product. Better late than never I suppose.

Vaporware - Developer promised updates and never delivered or updated. Did the same thing with their previous title. Super unfortunate considering how much potential this game had. Imagine Mount and Blade with AK47s and M4s.

Game had promise, but it's been abandoned with the last Devlog being from June of 2022.