Fire Hose Games has delivered an intriguing entry into the PlayStation 5 lineup with Techtonica, a game that combines immersive first-person gameplay with a sci-fi factory automation twist. Let’s delve into what makes this game a captivating experience with our comprehensive review.
As you navigate the otherworldly bioluminescent caves, your objective is to construct a sprawling subterranean factory and uncover the enigmatic secrets of Calyx. This journey is intertwined with a fully voice-acted narrative that adds depth to the game as you leverage your engineering prowess to gather essential resources. And yes, there’s a black hole gun that lets you terraform the environment, offering a unique tool to shape the world around you.
The game provides flexibility with two difficulty settings: Standard and Easy. Opting for Standard gives you the intended experience from Fire Hose Games, while Easy mode offers reduced costs and swifter progression for those focused on exploring the storyline. For players seeking something customized, there’s an option to tweak difficulty elements for a more challenging or relaxed experience.
Once you begin the game, you’ll get hands-on after an initial cinematic introduction. Utilizing the left analog stick to maneuver and the right to look around, you can interact with the environment using the X button, which also helps you gather resources. The console adaptation features a toolbar accessible via the D-Pad, allowing you to choose your tools, such as a basic pickaxe before you wield the impressive black hole gun.
Resource collection is integral to your progression, requiring a variety of components like mechanical and electrical parts, iron and copper products, limestone, and more. These resources are utilized via the crafting menu, opened with the Square button, enabling you to build necessary items such as a mining drill—your starter project needing iron frames and components.
Initial supplies can be found in your starting area’s container, but additional crafting will require resource management. With the iron and copper ingots, you can create the required components to progress. Once sufficient ore has been processed and systems repaired, the blueprint for a molecular scanner becomes available, a crucial tool for data retrieval which aids in unlocking the game’s technology tree.
The technology tree starts with two initially unlocked tiers, giving you access to basic manufacturing. Progressing involves unlocking the Smelter and other technologies, which enable advanced production and logistics enhancements across various categories like synthesis, transportation, and energy.
For trophy hunters, Techtonica offers a full set of achievements with a Platinum up for grabs. Tasks include placing your first Assembler, setting up multiple machinery components, and exploring all game zones.
Techtonica is a visually and narratively engaging experience, drawing players into its rich, subterranean world full of engineering challenges and mysteries to solve. With a reasonable price point of $29.99 on PlayStation 5, it’s certainly a game worth exploring.
Techtonica is reviewed here based on a PlayStation 5 copy provided by Fire Hose Games.
