12 months later,The Settlers: New Alliesis all the better for it.
One of our biggest focuses was to be absolutely transparent with the players.
Not just on where we were standing, but where we were going.
We’ve been collecting the feedback as we were developing.
Particular attention has been paid to the games economy.
The research tree has been overhauled from the ground up.
Returning buildings, such as the forester, add much-needed depth to settlement management.
This is shaping up to be largely the same settlement management game you remember, but modernised and refreshed.
This was most evident in the games campaign.
Early levels revolve around constructing a functioning settlement, tasking you with setting up efficient production lines.
Panicked, I was thwomped before I even had a chance to respond, and was forced to restart.
Thankfully, the second time around I was more prepared.
This campaign doesnt mess around, and Im excited to see it through to the end.
Across the three available missions I controlled two of the games factions: the Elari and the Jorn.
The Jorn are more adept at certain machinery that leads them to battle faster, Hagerdorn explains.
And the Maru are very adept at their defences.
Instead, the campaign focuses on cooperation, working together to bring down an opposing force that threatens everyone.
It’s about hope.
It’s about finding the common ground.
It’s about working together despite differences and not fighting because of them.
Before we wrapped up, Hagerdorn introduced me to the games recently revealed Hardcore mode.
Each mission has a different goal and a set of modifiers that shake things up significantly.
Defeat the enemy in 45 minutes.
Produce a large amount of a specific item.
Maybe the map doesnt have any coal, forcing you to acquire resources via trading instead.
Missions arent randomised but crafted by hand, and more are set to arrive after the games launch.
Most of [hardcore mode] is about challenging your own decisions," explains Hagerdorn.
“It’s finding out how could I have done this better?
It’s not about how I got beat, it’s how could I have prevented this from happening?
How could I do better next time?
I’m going to do this, this this.
It all works out and you feel much better about yourself.
One detail of hardcore mode raises a small concern.
Theres a feeling of kismet around the multiple delays that have afflicted New Allies.
Now set to launch in 2023, this year marks the 30th anniversary of The Settlers original debut.
Capturing that spirit and bringing it to modern times is a great satisfaction.
Over 1000 current and former Ubisoft employees signed an open letter demanding reform.
