Info about Trailmakers: Airborne Expansion: Official game description: In the Trailmakers: Airborne Expansion you will take to the skies in an epic campaign to save the peaceful Chirpos from the pesky Robot Pirate invasion. Campaign -------- In this mission-based campaign you will navigate a brand new Trailmakers-world with deserts, mountains, and beautiful floating islands. The local Chirpo population will grant you increasingly challenging quests as you progress deeper into the dangerous Robot Pirate territory. As you complete their quests you will receive blocks, parts, engines, wings, thrusters and so much more — giving you all the tools you need to soar the skies majestically like an eagle. Friendly- and enemy NPCs ------------------------ The Chirpos are friendly, fuzzy and flightless birds. They hold up in villages scattered across the land — the lucky ones anyway. The less fortunates ones are held in Robot Pirate captivity and the Chirpo Mayor of each village will kindly ask that you bring them home safely. The Robot Pirates are evil, ruthless and quite agile dog fighters. They will defend their newly invaded territory with fighter planes, flak cannons, blimps, hot air balloons and ground speeders. They are a “shoot first, ask later” kind of people so we advise you to implement the same strategy. Sandbox map ----------- The new map is a big one — and it’s open for you to explore as you please. You choose your own path but beware: Some areas are more dangerous than others and it’s wise to make sure you are geared up properly before heading into certain areas. Cleared for take-off -------------------- Without revealing too much we would rather let you see it for yourself. So put on your aviators, start your engines and look to the skies in Trailmakers: Airborne. Release date: Apr 27, 2023 Categories: Vehicle Customization, Sandbox Creation, Action-Adventure, Aerial Combat, Campaign Mode, Cooperative Multiplayer, Exploration, Crafting Feature scans: - MTX: score 20; verdict: Mixed Reception with Pricing Concerns; summary: The user reviews for the DLC indicate a mixed reception. While many players find the DLC content enjoyable and worth the purchase, there are significant concerns about the pricing and the necessity of the DLC for the full game experience. Several users recommend waiting for a sale to purchase the DLC, suggesting a perception of it being overpriced. Additionally, there are mentions of financial constraints affecting the decision to buy the DLC, highlighting the importance of cost considerations for potential buyers. - Hardware Profile: No data Feature extractions: - Community Price: - Community fair range: $8.00 - $12.00 - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that users find the current price of $14.99 slightly high and recommend waiting for a sale. The mention of 7-8 Euro (approximately $8-$9.50) as a fair price provides a direct reference point. Additionally, multiple reviews indicate that the game is worth the money but should be purchased on sale, implying that the current price is higher than what the community considers fair. - Playtime Metrics: - Game completion: 7.5h - Story completion: 6.0h - Session length: N/A - Endgame: N/A - Reasoning: The evidence provides specific playtime metrics for completing the Airborne Expansion DLC. The quotes indicate varying completion times for the campaign, which helps in estimating the typical playtime for game completion and story completion. There is no direct evidence for session length or endgame playtime, so those fields are marked as null. - Time-to-fun: - Summary: The game starts with repetitive and boring missions that involve slow progression, but it becomes more enjoyable once players unlock more varied vehicle parts and engage in dynamic activities. - Stance: Fun then drops - Anchor: Unlocking varied vehicle parts and engaging in dynamic activities - Time to anchor: 1h 30m - Friction: Repetitive missions; Slow progression; Boring early tasks; Slow and uncapable airships - Unlock drivers: Unlocking new vehicle parts; Engaging in dynamic activities like flying and combat - Conditions: Multiplayer co-op; Sandbox mode - Player Archetypes: - Campaign Enthusiast (buy) - Motivation: Enjoyment of campaign and PvE content - Playstyle: Solo player focused on campaign missions - Experience: familiar - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: campaign lover; PvE player - Reference games: Trailmakers - Sandbox Multiplayer (buy) - Motivation: Enjoyment of sandbox and multiplayer modes - Playstyle: Multiplayer focused on sandbox and PvP - Experience: veteran - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: sandbox lover; multiplayer enthusiast - Reference games: Trailmakers - Casual Newcomer (sale) - Motivation: Seeking fun and casual gameplay - Playstyle: Casual play focused on fun and exploration - Experience: newcomer - Purchase stance: sale - Labels: new player; casual gamer - Reference games: Trailmakers Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category. Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews. What players like: - Airborne DLC praised for fun (weight 0.45): Players consistently describe the Airborne DLC as a very fun and enjoyable experience. - Enemy variety appreciated (weight 0.44): Reviewers highlight the variety in enemy types and behaviors, noting it as a positive aspect of the game. - Interesting and large map (weight 0.42): The map is noted for being interesting, cool, and very large, providing a lot of space for exploration and activities. - Good gameplay and graphics (weight 0.36): The gameplay and graphics are frequently mentioned as strong points, contributing to the game's overall quality. - New functional blocks added (weight 0.28): The addition of new functional blocks through the DLC is seen as a positive enhancement to the game. - Great story and expansion (weight 0.28): The story and overall expansion are praised for being great and visually appealing. - Worth the price on sale (weight 0.2): Players feel that the game is worth the price, especially when purchased on sale. - Character customization options (weight 0.2): The game offers character customization, which is noted as a positive feature. - Exciting new campaign (weight 0.2): The new campaign is described as exciting and adds to the overall enjoyment of the game. - Variety of airplanes and airships (weight 0.2): The variety of airplanes and the ability to build airships are highlighted as enjoyable features. - Interesting new weapons (weight 0.18): New weapons and interesting additions are appreciated by the players. - Good expansion content (weight 0.18): The expansion is generally considered pretty good and really good by reviewers. - New thrusters and wing modules (weight 0.17): The addition of new thrusters and wing modules is noted as a positive feature. - DLC adds needed content (weight 0.17): The DLC is appreciated for adding a lot of content and functions that were needed. Common complaints: - Short campaign duration (weight 0.52): Many players noted that the campaign is relatively short and can be finished quickly, reducing the overall gameplay experience. - Excessive DLC requirements (weight 0.44): The game is heavily reliant on DLCs, which many players find off-putting and expensive. - Price concerns (weight 0.42): The price of the game and its DLCs is a common concern among players, who find it overpriced. - Explosion knock-back issues (weight 0.29): The explosion knock-back mechanics are criticized for being too strong, causing frustration among players. - Auto-aiming mechanics criticized (weight 0.29): The auto-aiming feature is disliked by many players as it detracts from the enjoyment of dogfighting. - Unresolved physics and aerodynamic bugs (weight 0.2): There are several unresolved issues related to physics and aerodynamics, affecting the gameplay experience. - Repetitive gameplay cycle (weight 0.2): The game features a repetitious cycle of finding birds and building seats, which can become boring. - Limited control over tail fins (weight 0.2): Players have expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of yaw control on tail fins, which limits maneuverability. - Slow and boring airships (weight 0.12): Airships are criticized for being slow, boring, and incapable, making them less enjoyable to use. - Business practice criticism (weight 0.12): The business practice of requiring payment for DLCs is criticized as gross and unfair. - Game feels unfinished (weight 0.12): The game feels unfinished without investing in paid updates, which can be frustrating for players. - Bug with repair tokens (weight 0.11): There is a bug that keeps players at max repair tokens, which can affect gameplay balance. - Difficulty in building airships (weight 0.11): Players find the process of building their own airships to be frustrating and not enjoyable. - Deviation from expected gameplay (weight 0.11): The game deviated from the expected 'stranded in space' gameplay objectives, disappointing some players. - PvP-centric fun (weight 0.11): The enjoyment of the game is heavily centered around PvP, which may not appeal to all players. - Lack of interest in story mode (weight 0.11): Many players do not care about the story mode, finding it unengaging. - Rushed ending (weight 0.11): The ending of the game feels rushed, leaving players unsatisfied. - Mediocre story (weight 0.11): The story is criticized for being mediocre and not engaging enough. - Limited replayability (weight 0.11): The game is considered simple and short with far less replayability than the base game. - Dogfighting camera issues (weight 0.11): Dogfighting is often about fighting the camera or playing in first-person mode, which can be frustrating. - Campaign requires no effort (weight 0.11): The campaign is criticized for requiring no effort, making it too easy and less enjoyable. - Limited long-term enjoyment (weight 0.11): The game offers limited long-term enjoyment, reducing its overall value. - Hard-to-control planes (weight 0.11): Planes are often hard to control, which can be frustrating for players. - PvP imbalance (weight 0.11): There is a notable imbalance in PvP, which can affect the enjoyment of multiplayer modes. - Dislike for campaign design (weight 0.11): Players are not fans of any campaign the game has made, indicating a general dissatisfaction with campaign design. - Easy collection of building parts (weight 0.1): Collecting building parts is considered too easy, which can reduce the challenge and enjoyment of the game. - Cross-play limitations (weight 0.1): There are limitations on cross-play with Xbox unless the game is purchased from the Windows Store. - Error messages (weight 0.1): Players have encountered various error messages, which can disrupt the gameplay experience. - Weak enemies (weight 0.1): Enemies in the game are considered weak, reducing the challenge and excitement. - Lack of plane boss (weight 0.1): There is a notable absence of a plane boss, which some players find disappointing. - Shallow learning curve (weight 0.1): The learning curve is shallow, especially for those familiar with the base game, reducing the challenge. - Lack of proper HUD (weight 0.1): There is a lack of a proper HUD in first-person mode, which can make gameplay more difficult. - Refunds due to financial reasons (weight 0.1): Some players have requested refunds due to financial reasons, indicating dissatisfaction with the game's value. - Fetch quest criticism (weight 0.1): The Sea DLC is criticized for feeling like a fetch quest, which can be tedious. - Crashes on Steam Deck (weight 0.1): There are reports of random crashes on the Steam Deck, affecting the gameplay experience. - Map mesh alignment issues (weight 0.1): There are issues with meshes in the map sometimes not aligning properly, which can affect gameplay. - Rough map design (weight 0.1): The map is described as very rough, which can detract from the overall gameplay experience. - Story criticism (weight 0.1): The story, particularly involving weird birds, is criticized as stupid and unengaging. - Multiplayer crew issues (weight 0.1): Multiplayer crews have found issues with Airborne due to mission-based experience, affecting gameplay. - Solo player mission design (weight 0.1): Missions designed for solo players make it too easy with more than 2 players, leading to imbalance. - Boredom in multiplayer (weight 0.1): The majority of the team ends up bored following each other around, reducing enjoyment. - Glitchy quests (weight 0.1): Quests can be glitchy when joining someone else's quest, affecting the gameplay experience. - Monotonous floating-around (weight 0.1): There are hours of floating-around monotony, which can make the game feel tedious. - Awful rock hitboxes (weight 0.1): Some biomes have awful rock hitboxes, which can affect gameplay negatively. - Opposition to DLC pieces (weight 0.1): Players are against pieces being included in DLCs, finding it unfair. - Difficulty in making functional planes (weight 0.1): Players have expressed frustration with not knowing how to make a plane that can fly for at least 5 seconds. - Inability to shoot enemies (weight 0.1): Players have reported being unable to shoot the enemy shooting said explosives, which can be frustrating. - Guided system issues (weight 0.1): There are issues with the guided system, affecting gameplay mechanics. - Lack of countermeasures (weight 0.1): The game lacks countermeasures, which can make certain situations more difficult than necessary. - Lack of defensive tactics (weight 0.1): There is a lack of defensive tactics, reducing the strategic depth of the game. - Access to new map requires campaign completion (weight 0.1): Access to the new map on sandbox mode requires completion of the Airborne campaign, which can be limiting. - Large jet engine lacks reverse thrust (weight 0.1): The large jet engine does not have reverse thrust, which can limit its functionality. - Respawn points cause death loops (weight 0.1): Respawn points can cause death loops, which can be frustrating for players. - Invisible walls (weight 0.1): There are invisible walls that stop or destroy vehicles, which can be frustrating. - Simple flying machine beats campaign (weight 0.1): A simple flying machine can beat the entire campaign without trying, indicating a lack of challenge. - Mechanism malfunction (weight 0.1): Certain mechanisms do not work as they should, affecting gameplay. - Machine gun effectiveness reduced (weight 0.1): Machine guns can no longer destroy 2x1 blocks with one shot, reducing their effectiveness. - Trigger-based combat vehicles no longer work (weight 0.1): Previously built trigger-based combat vehicles no longer work, which can be frustrating for players. - Dry and repetitive dialogue (weight 0.1): The dialogue is criticized for being dry and repetitive, reducing immersion. - Linear gameplay (weight 0.1): The game is criticized for being too linear, limiting player freedom. - Pirate's Peak too easy (weight 0.1): Pirate's Peak is considered too easy, reducing the challenge and enjoyment. - Too many Chirpos to carry (weight 0.1): Players are not fans of how many Chirpos they have to carry at once, finding it tedious. Gameplay feedback: - Character and Vehicle Customization (weight 0.79): Players appreciate the extensive customization options available for characters and vehicles, allowing for personalized gameplay experiences. - Vehicle Building and Customization (weight 0.68): The main gameplay loop focuses on building and customizing vehicles for transport and combat, offering a creative and engaging experience. - Mission Variety (weight 0.6): The game offers a variety of missions, providing diverse objectives and experiences that keep the gameplay fresh and engaging. - Campaign and Adventure Modes (weight 0.51): The game features a variety of modes including a PvE campaign and adventure mode, offering a structured single-player experience. - Building and Flying Mechanics (weight 0.48): The game features robust building and flying mechanics, allowing players to create and control various types of vehicles. - Aerial Combat (weight 0.41): Combat in the air, including enemy fighter planes, adds an exciting dimension to the gameplay. - New Parts and Mechanics (weight 0.4): The introduction of new parts and mechanics, such as thrusters and wing modules, adds fresh and exciting elements to the gameplay. - Large Map Size (weight 0.34): The map is noted for being gigantic, offering a vast area for players to explore and interact with. - NPC Interactions and Combat (weight 0.34): Interactions and combat with NPCs add depth to the gameplay, providing additional challenges and experiences. - Cooperative and Multiplayer Mechanics (weight 0.28): The game features cooperative gameplay and multiplayer mechanics, allowing players to team up and enjoy the game together. - Progression and Unlockable Blocks (weight 0.28): The progression system includes unlockable blocks, providing incentives and rewards for players as they advance through the game. - Introduction of AI Enemies (weight 0.27): The introduction of AI enemies adds a new layer of challenge and excitement to the gameplay. - Transporting Chirpos (weight 0.26): Transporting cute Chirpos is a unique and enjoyable aspect of the gameplay, adding a fun and engaging element. - Map Design and Biomes (weight 0.26): The map design features different biomes, offering a variety of landscapes and environments for players to explore. - Fun Combat and PvP (weight 0.22): Players enjoy the combat system, particularly in PvP-centric scenarios, which adds a competitive and fun element to the gameplay. - Sandbox Gameplay (weight 0.21): The game offers a sandbox-style experience with physics-based building mechanics, allowing for creative construction and experimentation. - Flight and Dog-fighting Mechanics (weight 0.2): The flight mechanics and dog-fighting add exciting and dynamic elements to the gameplay, particularly in aerial combat scenarios. - Collecting Resources (weight 0.2): Collecting gold chests, power cores, and block pickups is a key aspect of the gameplay, providing resources for building and customization. - Crafting and Progression Systems (weight 0.2): The crafting system and vehicle progression system provide depth and incentives for players to continue engaging with the game. - Action Elements (weight 0.19): The game includes various action elements, adding excitement and intensity to the gameplay. - Easy Difficulty and Grind (weight 0.18): The game is noted for having an easy difficulty level and an average grind, making it accessible to a wide range of players. - Massive New Map (weight 0.12): The new map is massive, offering plenty of room for various modes of transportation including planes, cars, and hovercrafts. - New Campaign Map with NPCs (weight 0.12): The new campaign map includes NPCs and a storyline, providing a fresh and engaging experience for players. - DLC Adds New Features (weight 0.12): The DLC adds new features such as plane blocks, UI, new guns, and a camera block, enhancing and expanding the gameplay experience. - Unique Areas and Challenges (weight 0.12): The game features several unique areas with their own landscapes and challenges, providing a diverse and engaging gameplay experience. - Quest System (weight 0.11): The quest system involves finding birds and building seats, adding a unique and engaging aspect to the gameplay. - Vehicle Transformation Mechanics (weight 0.11): Vehicle transformation mechanics add a unique and innovative aspect to the gameplay, allowing for versatile and adaptive gameplay experiences. - Aerial Movement Focus (weight 0.11): The new map is 100% focused on aerial movement, offering a unique and exciting gameplay experience centered around flying. - DLC with New Enemies (weight 0.11): The DLC introduces new enemies to fight against, adding fresh and exciting challenges to the gameplay. - Improved Aerodynamics (weight 0.11): The aerodynamics are noticeably better, enhancing the flying mechanics and overall gameplay experience. - Fun Weapon System (weight 0.11): The new weapons system is a lot of fun, adding exciting and engaging elements to combat and gameplay. - Replayability Mechanics (weight 0.11): The game includes replayability mechanics, providing incentives and reasons for players to revisit and continue playing the game. - Scaling Enemies (weight 0.11): Enemies scale as you progress, providing a consistent and increasing challenge throughout the gameplay. - Main Storyline (weight 0.11): The main storyline provides a narrative context for the gameplay, adding depth and engagement to the overall experience. - PVE Experience (weight 0.11): The PVE experience offers a cooperative and engaging gameplay mode, allowing players to team up and face challenges together. - DLC Adds AI Enemies (weight 0.11): The DLC introduces AI enemies, adding new challenges and dynamics to the gameplay. - Satisfying Missions (weight 0.11): The missions are satisfying to complete, providing a sense of achievement and enjoyment for players. - Great New Blocks (weight 0.11): The new blocks are great, adding fresh and exciting elements to building and customization. - Explosion Knock-back (weight 0.11): Explosion knock-back adds a dynamic and realistic element to combat, affecting gameplay and strategy. - Locking Mechanism (weight 0.11): The locking mechanism adds a new layer of strategy and complexity to the gameplay, particularly in building and combat scenarios. - Campaign Completion (weight 0.11): The campaign can be completed with a simple flying machine, making it accessible and achievable for a wide range of players. - New Game Mod with Story (weight 0.11): The new game mod includes a story, adding depth and context to the gameplay experience. - Weapon Mechanics Changes (weight 0.11): Changes to weapon mechanics add new dimensions and strategies to combat, affecting gameplay and player experience. - No Aim-Help Option (weight 0.1): The lack of an aim-help option can be challenging for some players, affecting the accessibility and ease of combat. Performance notes: - Stable performance on Steam Deck (weight 0.13): The game runs at a solid 30 frames per second on the Steam Deck, indicating good optimization for handheld play. - Moderate PC requirements (weight 0.12): The game has decent PC requirements, making it accessible to a wide range of players without needing high-end hardware. - Emulated network device issues (weight 0.12): Some players have encountered errors related to emulated network devices, which could affect gameplay and connectivity. - Occasional crashes (weight 0.12): There are reports of few random crashes, which, while not widespread, can disrupt the gaming experience. - Manageable game size (weight 0.11): The game's size is considered old-fashioned, suggesting it is relatively small and easy to download and install. Recommendations: - Recommend the DLC (weight 0.52): The DLC is highly recommended, especially for those looking for fresh and new content in Trailmakers. It is considered worth the money and more fun than previous expansions like High Seas. - Wait for sale (weight 0.44): Many players suggest waiting for a discount or sale before purchasing the game or its DLC to get better value for money. - Great for Trailmakers fans (weight 0.28): The DLC is a great addition for those who already enjoy Trailmakers, providing more content and reasons to continue playing. - More co-op and racing campaigns (weight 0.2): Players are requesting more co-op campaigns and a racing campaign, indicating a desire for more multiplayer and competitive content. - Improve auto-aiming (weight 0.2): Players suggest disabling auto-aiming on sandbox servers and replacing it with a compensating reticle to improve gameplay mechanics. - No Xbox cross-play (weight 0.11): The game does not support cross-play with Xbox, which is a significant drawback for players looking to play with friends on different platforms. - Try Ace Combat (weight 0.1): Players recommend trying Ace Combat for a good air campaign experience, suggesting it might be a better alternative for those interested in aerial gameplay. - Build-only version (weight 0.1): There is a request for a version of the game that caters specifically to players who enjoy building, indicating a desire for more creative and less combat-focused gameplay. Other player notes: - Refunds due to cost (weight 0.1): Some players requested refunds primarily because of financial constraints. - Steam Deck usage (weight 0.09): Several players mentioned using the Steam Deck for their gameplay sessions. Emotions: - Disappointment (weight 0.2): Players feel disappointed due to the game's monetization, where much of the content is locked behind paywalls. Additionally, the DLC did not meet expectations, with criticisms directed at its repetitive nature, poor story quality, and lack of long-term enjoyment. Issues with gameplay mechanics, such as auto-aiming and the requirement to complete the entire campaign before playing, also contributed to this sentiment. - Excitement (weight 0.14): Players are excited about the new gameplay features, including building airships, new propellers, and enjoyable combat mechanics. The addition of new content such as maps, adventurers, AI enemies, and updates has also generated positive reactions. - Frustration (weight 0.12): Frustration stems from issues such as friends being unable to join servers without purchasing the DLC and cross-play limitations. Game balance issues, unresolved bugs, and changes to weapon mechanics have also led to player frustration. Additionally, difficulties in plane construction and operational issues, like the Backspace key operation, have been noted. - Satisfaction (weight 0.12): Players are satisfied with the creative aspects of the game, such as building planes, and appreciate the good gameplay, graphics, and audio. The new map, challenges, and overall expansion have also been well-received, contributing to a positive experience despite some control issues. - Enjoyment (weight 0.07): Enjoyment is derived from the fun story, new building blocks, and interesting new content. The campaign mode and vehicle customization, along with new flight-related blocks and cooperative gameplay, have also been highlighted as enjoyable aspects. - Excited (weight 0.04): Players are excited about the potential of the game, particularly with the flight controls and the enjoyment of the new campaign. The DLC content has also generated excitement among players. - Disappointed (weight 0.04): Disappointment is felt due to the rushed ending of the game and the perception that the DLC is not worth the price. The lack of certain features has also contributed to this sentiment. - Joy (weight 0.04): Joy comes from having fun with the campaign and creating ships. Players also enjoy the base game and the Airborne DLC, appreciating the improvements and content. - Satisfied (weight 0.03): Satisfaction is derived from the enjoyment of the new content and the expansion content, which players find appealing and well-executed. - Frustrated (weight 0.01): Frustration is caused by encountering error messages, which disrupt the gameplay experience and hinder enjoyment. - Anger (weight 0.01): Anger is directed at the business practice of requiring payment for DLCs, which players find unfair and exploitative. - Happiness (weight 0.01): Happiness is derived from the fantastic campaign mode, which players find engaging and well-designed. - Fun (weight 0.01): Players find the campaign mode and the DLC fun, enjoying the overall experience and content provided. - Mixed feelings (weight 0.01): Players have mixed feelings about the DLC, appreciating the added content but not being fans of the campaigns, leading to a divided sentiment.}