Construction For The Console Masses
HIGH Numerous vehicles and construction equipment to choose from.
LOW Having to toggle the camera controls on and off.
WTF No penalty for destroying a random person’s van??
When I think of simulations, my first thought is always PC. I spent many a late night during my youth plopped in front of a computer monitor playing sims, mostly of the city variety. Sure, simulations can be ported to consoles, but they always leave me wanting the control and freedom of a mouse and keyboard. Construction Simulator 2: Console Edition is no different.
Construction Simulator 2 is a true-to-form simulator that asks players to use various pieces of equipment to complete construction jobs. Players will be earn access to dozens of massive machines like backhoes, flatbed trucks, mini-loaders, and even cement mixers and cranes. These vehicles sport brand names as well, so players will be able to get behind the wheel of machines from Caterpillar, Kenworth, and Mack, just to name a few.
While I did not operate every vehicle, the ones I did performed how I would expect. Shovels dug, winches lifted, and driving larger machines required a wider turning radius. Fortunately, CS2 provides step-by-step directions, and when I wasn’t paying close enough attention, the foreman was kind enough to repeat them as many times as needed!
As for the jobs, there are many to keep players busy like fixing broken water mains, filling in large holes, transporting equipment, constructing various buildings, and completing road repairs. There’s a wide variety of options and it’s all player friendly — walking me through each project with tips on how to complete the task.
Construction Simulator 2 also provides side challenges that allow players to become familiar with different machines without having to purchase them first. This is a great option since most of these vehicles can’t be purchased immediately and have steep in-game price tags.
Much has been included with the console version of Construction Simulator 2, but at the same time, the experience is hindered by the limits of console controls. Most vehicles have complex requirements to accurately simulate machines with so many moving parts. For the console version, this means having to regularly click the right control stick to open and close different sets of menus.
Since the standard controller has a finite number of buttons, each unique in-game command is unable to have its own dedicated button. This results in confusion and frustration, especially with the camera.
While working a job, I often had to turn the camera controls off in order to operate a vehicle’s boom or shovel. I would then proceed to forget about this change, try to rotate the camera, accidently move my equipment and mess up the job. Numerous tasks had to be restarted! I could only imagine how much better this would be on a PC where I could map each button to its own unique control.
Another control issue was with in-game menu confirmations. Most menu selections require players to press the A button to confirm, but certain vehicle options required me to press the X button to select. Having multiple buttons for in-game confirmations is a frustrating design decision that had me silently swearing.
It’s unfortunate to have these control issues, because I appreciate what Construction Simulator 2: Console Edition has achieved. The developers have delivered a decent port of a game type not often seen on consoles, but if PC gaming is an option, I recommend playing that version instead.
Disclosures: This game is developed and published by Astragon Entertainment. The console version is currently available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher and reviewed on the Switch. Approximately 2 hours of play were devoted to the single-player mode, and all objectives were not completed. There are no multiplayer modes.
Parents: According to the ESRB, this game is rated E. Nothing here to worry about for parents, just be aware that the game requires a large amount of reading. The youngest of gamers may need assistance with text while playing.
Colorblind Modes: There no colorblind modes available in the options.
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: All jobs and goals are provided through text and there does not appear to be any audio-only cues. Information is clearly displayed in text bubbles on screen. However, text size cannot be changed. This game is fully accessible.
Remappable Controls: No, this game’s controls are not remappable.
When he does find time to play, Brian’s preferred games of choice are platformers, beat-‘em-ups, or a good adventure game.He still enjoys the retro gaming scene, could talk about the Nintendo 64 more than he might like to admit, and misses playing in actual arcades. Brian also gets to pass on his love of gaming, as his oldest son is just now starting to join the fun.
As for that GameBoy - it’s sitting in Brian’s nightstand, waiting patiently for four AA batteries.
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