Battle Mines

The Good
This game is like a morning cup of coffee for me, and addictive in the way caffeine is. Everyone likes the smell of it, if not always the taste, but you only need one or two cups a day to feel right.

I love the aesthetics of this game, a pixelated apocalyptic wonderland. The sound/music is also enjoyable and ambient. There isn't much by way of story but the few characters are lovable and interesting.

This game is multifaceted and deeply interesting with mechanics unlike any game I've come across before. The player can play the game any way they choose and always be presented with challenge and fun.

The Bad
The game is on the more complex side, especially delving into combat mechanics and taking the offensive. Learning the combat system, or anything really, can take a lot of time and re-referencing the Info section that explains the game.

There is one part of this game that is ENDLESSLY frustrating. Land. Exchange.

It's more than a little frustrating to have the land you've named, built, and thrived on stolen out from under your feet (especially along with your monument! Please, not my monument!). Your land becomes your baby that you've nurtured into fruition, only to be cradle-robbed, and not in the fun way.

Now, this isn't all bad. It's just another challenge to overcome. You can win your land back and rebuild your empire, but it takes elbow grease. And maybe $5. (What's a few bucks to help feed a starving indie dev, right?)

There are small annoyances, but what's a game if you're not invested in it enough to weather the little stuff?

The Bottom Line
This game is a post apocalyptic city-builder, but not your average post apocalyptic city-builder. It's a game about politics, war, and progress. Will you beat everyone into submission and rule with an iron fist, become an industrial powerhouse and fuel a booming economy, or sneak your way to the top ranks through espionage and cunning?