High score or ho-hum?
How the heck do you reviewDwarf Fortress?
Its like being asked to review Lord of the Rings.
Thing is, I never really got very far.
Id find a good tutorial, lose a few fortresses to horrible mistakes and then really get established.
Then the cycle would start again.
Here are the basics.
First is the absolutely staggering level of detail.
There are wheels within wheels that mesh with mind-boggling intricacy, generating memorable moments galore.
Thankfully, this new Steam release of Dwarf Fortress is far more approachable.
Your dwarves are going to need food, beds, places to meet and work.
Making the game so much more accessible also reveals what an odd beast it is.
It doesnt help that this is where the games complexity and frequent obtuseness really hits you, even now.
This is going to be the make or break moment for most players, I feel.
And that’s fair enough.
Dwarf Fortress isn’t going to be everyone’s goblet of tea.
During one of my runs, for example, I was suddenly hit by several waves of migration.
I went from around 30 residents to over 100 in no time at all.
I suddenly had demands placed upon me.
Dwarves wanted temples and guildhalls.
Survival is easy; the challenge is in achieving prosperity.
Im still a long way from getting there, but Im excited to try.
Dwarf Fortress is a long-term investment.
Playing it is a skill that you should probably hone, it requires research and planning.
Its almost a hobby in itself, demanding time and effort.
