Roadcraft on PS5 falls into a weird place for me. A long time ago, Saber Interactive sent me a copy of SnowRunner (PS4 Review) and was kind enough to ask if I needed an extra copy to check out the multiplayer. I said sure and gave it to my brother, the one person I knew would play it with me. We spent probably 40 hours playing before the release. The day Roadcraft went up for preorder, we did so. Fast forward to release day, and Saber sends me a copy and makes the same offer. I always appreciate working with them. This time, I was playing alongside my brother at the same time as you guys, and experienced the changes from 1.0 and then the first update, which I believe is 1.5.
First, if you go into this expecting another Snowrunner, you will be disappointed. This isn’t about beating the terrain in the same way Snowrunner was, and I don’t know why so many people expected it to be. The game follows you on your journey to help a group of areas recover after a massive storm hits them. You will be fixing pipes, clearing and repaving roads, cutting down trees, you name it, you will need to deal with it.
The game starts you off simple enough. Preparing for the storm. This is where you learn the basics. How to drive a scout vehicle, how to get from one place to another, to turn sand into a basic road using a dump truck and a bulldozer. Then it’s on to how to use different things, such as how to send convoys or the crane to move objects. Personally, I hate the crane, but that’s a personal preference. I am getting better with it, but it is still annoying.
Graphically, the game is beautiful. I love watching the water ripple as I hit it and seeing trees wave in the breeze, or as I hit them with any number of machines because I drive like I have the extra insurance on a stolen rental car. I also love the sounds of the game. The sound of metal on metal when things collide, the individual engines of different machines and vehicles. It reminds me of being on a real construction site.
I do have some issues, however. One of the major ones is the damn pavers. Even after the update the damn things are hard to use. They get stuck on just about anything, even if you can’t see it. Loading them on trailers is hit and miss because, again, sometimes they get stuck on pretty much anything. Another issue I have, while not major, the multiplayer pretty much requires you to reinvite people any time you switch maps instead of just bringing people with you. I am sure there is probably a behind-the-scenes reason for this, but it is still annoying. I do love that I have the option to keep my previous progress or keep the multiplayer progress I have made with the money and experience staying regardless.
So the big question is, is Roadcraft worth it? Absolutely. This is the best construction game I have ever played. Do not, however, go into this expecting Snowrunner; it was never promised to you as that, and you shouldn’t expect it. This is an 8/10 experience, best wishes and may the gaming gods bring you glory.
Savior Gaming 