- Engaging and fun physics-based bridge building
- Promotes creativity and engineering solutions
- Improved physics and graphics
- Extensive content and replayability
- Lack of innovation from previous titles
- Frustrating difficulty spikes
Emotions
Players expressed satisfaction due to the game's high overall quality, including its improved physics system, engaging and challenging puzzle-solving, and the freedom it offers for creative bridge design. The game's educational value, replayability, and the sense of achievement from optimizing solutions also contributed significantly to player contentment.
Disappointment stemmed primarily from the perceived lack of new features and content compared to previous iterations, as well as the removal of certain core gameplay mechanics. Players also expressed dissatisfaction with the game's price point, issues with controls, and a feeling that the fun wore off quickly due to repetitive or uninspired level design in later stages.
Joy was frequently associated with the initial gameplay experience, the freedom to experiment with bridge designs, and the entertainment derived from the game's problem-solving aspects. The ability to create and share levels through the workshop, along with the general fun and relaxing nature of the game, also contributed to players' happiness.
Frustration arose from restrictive level design, particularly in later stages, which often led to repeated failures and a feeling of being forced into specific solutions. Technical issues like freezing during simulation, awkward controls, and significant difficulty spikes, especially in 'jump levels,' also contributed to player annoyance.
Players found enjoyment in the game's balanced challenge, well-designed levels, and the overall engaging puzzle gameplay. The trial-and-error process, often leading to humorous car crashes, and the enhanced experience through external content creators, also contributed to a fun pastime.
Verdict
Mostly positive
Summary
Positive 85% · Negative 15%. Score: 15 / 100
Positives:
- Players consistently praise the game for being fun, relaxing, and highly engaging. Many find it to be an excellent puzzle and engineering simulation that offers both challenge and satisfaction, making it a standout in its genre and the best in the series.
- The game excels in promoting creative problem-solving and engineering skills. Players enjoy the freedom to experiment with diverse solutions, optimize designs for cost and stability, and feel a sense of accomplishment from their creations.
- The game features significantly improved physics and graphics compared to its predecessors. Players appreciate the more realistic and consistent physics engine, along with enhanced visual fidelity, contributing to a more refined experience.
- The game strikes a good balance between challenge and accessibility. While levels can be demanding and require strategic thinking, the difficulty curve is smooth and fair, making it enjoyable for both casual players and those seeking a deeper challenge.
- The game offers substantial content, including a large number of diverse and creative levels in the campaign. The inclusion of a level editor and community content further enhances replayability and provides endless hours of entertainment.
Negatives:
- A significant number of players feel the game lacks originality and innovation compared to its predecessors, particularly Poly Bridge 2. Many perceive it as an update rather than a new title, with similar mechanics and insufficient new features to justify its existence.
- Many players found the game's difficulty curve problematic, especially in later stages. Levels become frustratingly hard, repetitive, and often require precise, trial-and-error solutions rather than creative engineering, leading to a less enjoyable experience.
- Changes to the physics engine and the removal of certain features like reinforced roads, adjustable spring strength, and 'cheese' strategies have negatively impacted the gameplay experience for some long-time fans, breaking previous solutions and altering core mechanics.
- Players expressed dissatisfaction with certain level designs, such as unremovable structures, an abundance of 'bridge-less' levels, and 'janky' gimmick designs. Some missions are considered unrealistic or frustrating, detracting from the core bridge-building experience.
- Several players felt that the game's price was too high, especially considering the perceived lack of new content and innovation compared to previous titles in the series.
Gameplay:
- The game is fundamentally a physics-based puzzle game centered around building bridges. Players must apply principles of statics and engineering to construct stable structures using various materials and tools like hydraulics, springs, and cables. It functions as a 2D physics engine for creative engineering builds.
- The game requires significant critical thinking and problem-solving skills. While easy to learn, the difficulty ramps up considerably, making some levels quite challenging and demanding considerable mental effort from players.
- The game offers a substantial amount of content, including a campaign with over 100 levels across multiple worlds. Levels progressively introduce new mechanics like hydraulics and jumps, increasing in complexity. There's also a level editor and community levels for endless content.
- A core aspect of the game involves optimizing bridge designs, primarily for cost efficiency. Players aim to build the cheapest possible functional bridge, with leaderboards available to compare their optimized designs against others.
- The game provides helpful features to assist players, such as clear tutorials and in-game hints. There's also an accessible 'help' mode that allows players to view solutions from other players, making difficult levels more manageable.
Performance:
- The recent Patch 1.0.16 has successfully addressed and resolved determinism issues within the game. This fix ensures consistent and predictable outcomes, which is crucial for puzzle-solving and competitive play.
- Players have noted a significant improvement in performance with Poly Bridge 3, experiencing less lag compared to its predecessor, Poly Bridge 2. This suggests better optimization and a smoother gameplay experience.
Recommendations:
- Many players find the game to be a worthwhile purchase, especially when on sale. It's considered a good investment and offers enjoyable gameplay, though some suggest waiting for a discount.
- Players have mixed opinions on whether Poly Bridge 3 is the best entry point for new players or if Poly Bridge 2 is superior. Some recommend starting with PB3, while others suggest sticking with PB2, especially given the similarities and potential for future updates to PB3.
- The game strongly appeals to players who enjoy puzzle-solving, engineering concepts, and physics-based challenges. It's recommended for those who like to tinker, build, and use their brain to solve problems.
- Players suggest specific quality-of-life improvements, such as immediate vehicle movement at the start of levels, re-adding reinforced road and adjustable springs, and better curation of workshop levels with leaderboards.
- These are very brief, non-specific recommendations or suggestions, lacking detailed feedback. They indicate a general positive sentiment but offer little actionable insight.
Miscellaneous:
- Players appreciate the game's optimized performance and small footprint, making it accessible on a wide range of PC specifications. This also means quick downloads and less storage consumption.
- The game is recognized for its educational value, being used in engineering firms and influencing players' real-world perception of bridge structures. It's seen as a practical tool for aspiring engineers.
- The game's difficulty curve is noted, with an initial phase serving as an extended tutorial, followed by a significant increase in challenge. Some levels are particularly difficult, sometimes requiring external help.
- Modding is a feature, but player opinions on its utility vary. Some find mods enhance the experience, while others are not interested or find them to alter the game's intended challenge or aesthetic.
- Players find the game offers extensive playtime, suggesting a high level of replayability and content that keeps them engaged for long periods. This indicates good value for money in terms of hours played.
