Signals

I wanted to like it, and it has some fun ideas. But the whole user experience feels very indistinct and vague. Half of the resources look the same on the map or with slight recolours, and feel like random mcguffins required for the plot rather than purposeful and different; the need to the put the trade post first isn't intuitive (maybe the first planet should start with one?) and the sense of base building or progression from extraction to research isn't there; and research buildings don't indicate the need for adjacency or build limits. There are just things and mechanics that exist in the game without being explained, and it doesn't make a lot of sense nor make for gameplay I found enjoyable. It all made for a rather confusing experience, and even after watching the campaign playthrough I didn't find it as fun as I expected from the description.

Signals started in an interesting fashion; dig materials to rebuild the device and move to the next sector; then the second and third levels bring on a time limit, and no further game mechanics are added. This leaves the game feeling shallow and empty, nothing to change stakes; in fact the stakes even lower once the second half of the game has no time limit. While this makes the game relaxing, it also leaves there not a lot there. There is a daily level you can play, but personally it takes too long for the enjoyment factor, as it encourages you to visit every single planet to try and gain the high score; which could take hours to do optimally. I have to not recommend from the lack of depth.