| System: Xbox 360, PS3, PC |  |
| Dev: Ubisoft Montpellier | |
| Pub: Ubisoft | |
| Release: July 27, 2011 | |
| Players: 1 | |
| Screen Resolution: 480p-1080p | Mild Violence |
It also sounds as good as it looks with soothing ambient tracks in the background and music that was no doubt inspired by tribal tunes from North and South America and West Africa. It all fits in nicely. It also helps that From Dust uses Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, which actually aids in locating troubled villages or sources of water or fire occasionally.
In addition to the 13 main missions, there is also a Challenge Mode that features 30 levels that players can tackle if they're feeling particularly inspired. Each level features its own set of rules and limitations, such as only being able to use one element, and will pit players against the clock in a race to save the tribe from annihilation. It's a fairly straightforward way to approach a mode like this for a game in this genre, but it's sure to provide hours of replayability. Having already taken a glance at the leaderboards, it's clear that this mode will be sure to attract completionist and competitor alike.
This sort of game is pretty common on the PC, but there hasn't been a console game like From Dust in quite some time. That's part of what makes it unique. It's a game that's pretty, controls well, and offers enough of a challenge to keep most players occupied for a while at a fraction of the cost of a full retail release title. The only real problems are a few minor A.I. issues that can easily be overlooked and a camera that can feel clunky once in a while. It offers believable gameplay (aside from the "Breath of God" bit), easy to learn gameplay mechanics, and loads of replayability via Challenge Mode.
By
Patriel Manning
CCC Contributing Writer
Game Features:
