14 DAY TRIAL // I’m guiding my Surveyor to an island that holds a new stone resource when I spot a ship sailing nearby, so I decide to change course and see what kind of event it triggers. I accept the services of a new captain, which means I can put down another port, and gain some extra wood to use when I want to expand my settlements.
A storm is also nearby, which my advisor mentions might hide an enemy force, so I swoop down to investigate it as well. There’s no one hiding in those dark clouds, and I finally reach the stone resource island and put down a quarry for it. The surveyor also drops a port near shore and I put another down at my main island to ensure the flow of resources.
The overworld map shows another point of interest close by and I maneuver to it, finding a refugee village that I can incorporate. Back on my big island, I upgrade some of the connection towers, create some extra connections between buildings, and check on a unique building I don’t know what to do with.
Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is developed by Tomas Sala and published by Wired Productions. I played a preview of it on the PC using Steam. The title mixes exploration with settlement building and resource management.
Players will revisit the world of Ursee, previously featured in The Falconer, made up of islands in the middle of a massive ocean. Civilizations are rebuilding after a massive conflict and the player is in charge of growing their own political entity while using a unique ship called the Surveyor to explore.
The flying ship can move over the waves, finding the resources that allow the core settlement to develop. Move right over them to drop a wood mill, a quarry, or a mine. Then find a good spot on the side of the island to put down a port and create a supply chain.
Towers can be built, upgraded, and developed, to serve as hubs for workers and industry. There are also unique structures to find on some islands, designed to be dismantled and then rebuilt in the player’s settlement. Tap Tab to have a clear idea of how resources flow through the player’s domain and get an idea of what’s required for further expansion.
The Surveyor in Bulwark will also encounter other characters, which can be recruited. There are a number of political factions on the map and it seems gamers will have to balance their interest to create a strong society.
The game’s control scheme is innovative, making it simple to constantly move between the airship and the ground layer. The focus on nodes and how each can be developed also makes it easy to create interesting settlements.
Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is very good at creating organic city development, with interesting buildings and walkways to connect them. Their look changes as players improve them and add foundations and terraces. I really like moving around my big island, and seeing how it develops as I bring in more resources and add unique towers. The melancholy music and solid sound effects add to the level of immersion.
Conclusion
The game already has a strong tutorial and the pace is gentle enough to draw in even those who might not already be fans of city building and resource management. Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles should add more characters, interactions, and exploration events to make its world feel alive, but exploration and city management already feel good.
A preview key was provided by the publisher
