ClusterTruck

It’s the simple things in life that are the most enjoyable if you ask me. This message can also imply into Game Design rather well as a collective of simple mechanics and objectives can make the most entertaining games. Ok, so you need something dynamic about the concept to make it gripping. How about jumping from the top of trucks as they race down a track? When it comes to Tiny Build, they usually don’t disappoint.

Cluster-Truck is an extremely fast paced, parkour style FPS where the objective is to jump across moving trucks and reach the finish line in one piece. So the concept is your classic “race to the finish line” but instead of running along the ground or across scenery, you have to traverse the tops of trucks in motion as they drive across various and challenging tracks.

The mechanics are very simple but the gameplay is highly energetic and gripping which makes it so much fun. Each truck has a life of its own and with each race their behaviours alter. Meaning each race is never feels truly the same and your success are depending on your reflexes and quick thinking. At first it’s plain and simple, jumping across the tops of trucks as they go in a straight forward line. Then the game introduces new elements with the level design including avalanches, massive leaps for the trucks to make and large obstacles in the path for you to avoid. As you progress the game is always inventing new and challenging aspects to each race and each new world you unlock.

This is a Trial and Error format of gameplay where multiple play-throughs of a single level are guaranteed in some instances. This may not go down well with those who don’t like trial and error style gameplay, but the game is quick enough to move past any failures and get you back on track. It doesn’t discourage players for their failures and will ensure you there’s always a way to overcome any problems at hand.

It doesn’t implement new mechanics for the PC through progression, but rather you can unlock new perks to help you traverse the trucks and tracks. You can purchase perks such as double jumps and jetpacks with style points earned during the campaign. These style points are earned by completing tracks quickly, pulling off tricks such as jumping off trucks which have crashed and gaining impressive airtime (flying through the air for a set time). I will say that some levels are designed poorly for this format of play, as the trial and error format does become a drag in larger, more complex levels. This goes more so for those trying to save points for big purchases and don’t have any perks to help them out. Of course you can gain points fairly easily to buy the simple modifications and these don’t make the game a walk in the park but rather a gentle aid for more complex levels.

But if you want the bigger prizes, you’re going to have to save those points big time. This does effect progression as players can’t skip levels and so if you’re stuck, you might be well and truly stuffed until you buy a perk or just grind relentlessly. Most times I was fine but on certain levels it became apparent I needed a perk to progress. It may not be the case for most players but there are some major spikes in the difficulty or the level designs are just too big and complex for players without perks.

None the less ClusterTruck is massively enjoyable for everyone! For the racers, lateral gamers and those who want something fast paced and dynamic. There’s a level editor which is great for those creative types out there and you can download new/custom maps from the steam store as well. So you’ll have plenty of reasons to go back and play more of this wondrously insane FPS platformer. Cluster-Truck may is one of the engaging and refreshing indie games on the market at the moment. Even with some issues with difficulty and progression it's overall one of the best Clustertrucking games of the year.

+ Fast, dynamic and highly engaging
+ Plenty of perks and upgrades to keep gameplay feeling fresh
+ Lots of extras and replay value

- Some difficulty issues with larger maps
- Saving style points does take time and effort

A Steam key of ClusterTruck was provided by tinyBuild for the purpose of this review