Industria is a game that certain people will most assuredly dislike. It’s obtuse, it’s short, it’s slow paced and it’s mechanically simplistic. So if that sounds like a deal-breaker scenario, you’ll likely not enjoy it. However.
Industria is beautiful. Its lonely cityscapes mixed with retro-futuristic details are full of atmosphere. The core gameplay is FPS fare, which is done competentlyIndustria is a game that certain people will most assuredly dislike. It’s obtuse, it’s short, it’s slow paced and it’s mechanically simplistic. So if that sounds like a deal-breaker scenario, you’ll likely not enjoy it. However.
Industria is beautiful. Its lonely cityscapes mixed with retro-futuristic details are full of atmosphere. The core gameplay is FPS fare, which is done competently (if not entirely exceptional) but the engaging bits are the narrative beats, doled out in small bursts. A plot point will bring up a question, a journal entry will elaborate with strange and subtle details, something you see will catch your eye and make you stop dead in your tracks, it’s a drip feed of world building that keeps you enticed. Industria also does not answer all the questions it asks. In some respects it seems purposeful, giving you room to interpret and hypothesize, while at other points it seems it’s perhaps leading towards a sequel. And while I would have preferred some things more fleshed out, I can understand a small team not wanting to tie up every loose end. A lot has clearly gone into this world and story, and one game wouldn’t do it justice (especially on an indie budget). I’m hoping there will be a sequel or perhaps more stories in the same universe.
The voice acting is sparse but wonderfully done. The music, also minimal, is utterly fantastic. At times just popping in quietly during a break in the action, and only sticking around for a short while. Visually it draws from Eastern European influences much like its (very obvious) biggest inspiration, Half-Life 2 (Specifically City 17). All in all, Industria is an enjoyable experience that is engaging and draws you into its world. While it isn’t very long, there is no filler. The pacing is very methodical and the end left me both wanting to know so much more while at the same time feeling perfectly satisfied. Again, if it’s core design sounds “boring”, don’t play it (especially if you’re just going to leave a comment calling it a “walking simulator” or some other useless criticism). But if it sounds intriguing and you enjoy narrative driven games, I implore you. Give Industria your attention. It surely deserves it.… Expand