The Mims Beginning

прикольная spore похоже

Poor control over the Mims, lack of information in the UI (what's draining all my power?) and some seemingly luck-based objectives ruin the fun.

The Mims Beginning is a game I ended up enjoying because it mixes colony management with a proper god game system and then throws in a weird sci fi fantasy setting on top. I am looking after the Mims as they travel between strange floating islands, building up their settlements while trying to keep everyone alive. I like that the game does not just make me manage resources from a distance because the Mims have their own behaviour and I have to actually keep an eye on what they are doing. Building the colony is probably the part I enjoyed most. I can create and upgrade structures, grow different types of plants, raise livestock and research new technology as the settlement develops. There is a nice feeling of starting with something small and gradually turning it into a much more organised colony. I also like that the Mims can gain skills themselves, which makes them feel more like actual little characters rather than just workers that exist to gather resources. The god game side gives it something extra. I can use divine PSI powers to help my colony, deal with problems and influence what is happening around me. There are also natural disasters like meteor showers, acid rain and infections, as well as predators and other creatures that can cause trouble. I enjoyed having to react to these problems because they stop the colony from becoming completely predictable. Even when things are going well, I still have to be ready for something to go wrong. I also liked the different modes because they give me more freedom in how I want to play. There is a story mode, survival mode and sandbox mode where I can create my own rules. The floating islands are also varied enough to make exploration feel worthwhile, and there are secrets and unique monsters to discover along the way. The real time physics system is another nice touch because things in the environment can actually affect what is happening rather than everything feeling completely static. The biggest weakness for me is that there is a lot going on and the game can take some time to properly understand. I found myself having to keep track of buildings, resources, Mims, technology, threats and the different systems that can affect the colony. That depth is a strength once I get comfortable, but it can also make the early experience feel a little overwhelming. Some of the systems also feel less polished than the main colony management, and I think the game could have done a better job of explaining certain things. The presentation is one of the things that makes the game more enjoyable for me. The colourful floating islands and strange creatures give it a lot of personality, while the mixture of fantasy and science fiction makes the world feel different from a normal colony simulator. I also like the humour because it stops the constant management from becoming too serious. There are 35 Steam achievements as well, so I have plenty of extra goals if I want to keep playing after getting through the main progression. Overall, The Mims Beginning is a surprisingly ambitious god game that gives me a lot to work with. I enjoyed building the colonies, looking after the Mims and using divine powers to deal with disasters and enemies. It can be overwhelming at first and some of the systems could have been explained better, but once I understood how everything connected I found the management side quite addictive. The combination of colony building, god powers, exploration and the strange floating island setting gives it a lot of character, and because it is now completely free I think it is well worth trying if I enjoy this type of strategy game. Rating: 7.5/10