Like so many before it, the Dragon Quest series has taken a detour into the realm of Minecraft-style collecting and crafting – no points are given if you predicted that turn of events. Mucho points, however, if you called that it would execute the premise so seamlessly, and embrace its own signature traits while delivering a single-player RPG adventure that alludes to the Dragon Quest classics. To be clear, unlike Minecraft and others in the building and crafting frame, this is a solo pursuit not a social enterprise.

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“ As Minecraft has taught an entire generation to expect, it’s pretty much all destructible.

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“ Builders tiptoes across the chasm between “kids game” and “adult friendly.”

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“ It never bogs down in overcomplicated combat mechanics.

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Ready to make a mark with my lightly personalized character I was immediately shocked to be told that I was not – repeat NOT – a hero. But the gameplay informed me differently, because right out of the gate the NPCs in this simplistic RPG tale knew I was special and treated me accordingly. Tragically, it wasn’t until way past character creation did I discover I was known to them as the “Builder” because I desperately wanted to go back and rename myself Bob.Building or, more specifically, creating, is your unique talent in a world where people have been stripped of the fundamentals of creation. They literally don’t know how anymore. It’s a strange but convenient conceit to hand you the keys to leadership through your ability to architect a town and manage conflicting functions, but most crucially protect a small but steadily growing population reemerging from their background-story wilderness. Some characters need rescuing, others come to visit, enthralled by your abilities that had inexplicably been lost to the world in some conflict possibly stemming from the Dragonlord.While mining resources and collecting plants and metals alongside an occasional flurry of combat is all- too familiar, the pace and dexterity of progression is initially refreshing and, crucially, keenly aware of itself. It reveals your abilities in this world quickly, but without overbearing you with process. Given that it involves building a town from ruins, scavenging for a wide variety of useful resources, and fighting both fauna and the geography of this cubed world, it’s an impressive balance.So you harvest the resources of the land and parlay that into the ability to build machinery or functions around your town that encourage growth. By growth, it really means from a couple of people to a handful – barely a village – but the purpose is clear and persuasive. These guys and gals will even pitch in to help while you’re off fighting the good fight. Once they have a campfire for cooking they will fill a chest with the food they make so you can snag it whenever you want. I appreciated the thoughtful assistance (and the fact I didn’t have to micromanage absolutely every element, since you do have to manage your hunger as well as your health while out in the wilderness).When random skeletons attack your fledgling town, knock down walls, and undo your careful deliberations it’s a shame, but you’re not overly punished, and that’s so much to Builders’ credit. Sure, you have to spend time rebuilding, but the door, armoire, or furnace is still there to be picked up and replaced instead of needing to be recrafted. It’s also refreshing to see your townsfolk pitch in here, too, joining in the fight and offering their own defense. Since the town is where you need to sleep—because staying out when the lights go down at night is dangerous due to an increase in wandering creatures—it pays to keep it well stocked with beds.Similarly, Builders doesn’t punish you for dying, for failing, or for taking your time. Though the rewards for completing the soft “quests” are almost worthless, the point is that you will be scavenging for yourself through the portals you discover that provide instant access to new islands. But when you win the battles, be it via building structures according to a provided blueprint or from your own defenses, the people still demand more. Never, though, are their suggestions pure busywork. They all have a purpose in progressing at a steady pace towards a satisfying conclusion. Well balanced and well presented, I can’t get over the fact that Dragon Quest Builders