Beer Factory is a simulation and management game centered around the brewing industry. Players are tasked with managing their own beer factory, overseeing employees, production lines, and the import/export of goods.
Playing Beer Factory brought to mind a scene from The Shawshank Redemption, where Morgan Freeman’s character, Red, describes his method for coping with incarceration. He envisions meticulously painting each fence picket and laying every stone in his dream house’s foundation. There’s a parallel in Beer Factory, where players can experience the satisfaction of virtually tightening each bolt when constructing storage shelves.
Beer Factory falls into the category of simulation games that some might call “job games”. While these titles, which simulate work-like tasks, may not initially appeal to those seeking relaxation, Beer Factory possesses a charm that gradually reveals the engaging nature of its mechanics. As a simulator, Beer Factory is well-executed, providing a sense of what it’s like to operate a forklift, manage finances, hire personnel, and strategically allocate staff. Players manage financial resources and expand their company as profits increase. Initially, the focus is on refining raw materials and selling to other breweries before producing beer for direct sale.
A notable detail is the requirement to consume coffee to sprint, a surprisingly realistic touch. Moreover, there’s a distinct satisfaction derived from cleaning and organizing the virtual factory, leading to the unexpected realization that maintaining a digital brewery can be more appealing than domestic chores. Perhaps simulation games aren’t so bad after all!
Beer Factory is currently exclusive to PC. While gamepad support is present, a keyboard and mouse configuration is strongly recommended. Navigating the numerous menus can become overly complex with a gamepad. The graphics are simple yet detailed, allowing the game to run smoothly on systems with moderate specifications. A configuration with 4GB of RAM and a GeForce 780 or equivalent graphics card should suffice.
Unfortunately, Beer Factory does suffer from some bugs, including issues with the forklift. However, a recent patch addresses several of these problems. Previously, lifting pallets with the forklift was problematic due to the pallets lacking inherent weight, causing them to slide uncontrollably. This issue has been resolved, which is a welcome improvement.
Minor graphical glitches, such as flickering environment elements, detract from the overall polish and can give the impression of a less refined product, which is unfortunate considering the game’s other strengths.
The level of micromanagement can also be inconsistent. While the initial stages involve meticulous control, certain actions are streamlined. For instance, loading pallets onto vehicles involves simply driving the forklift close to the vehicle, at which point the pallet is automatically positioned. This lack of consistency can be jarring, especially after being accustomed to manual intervention for even the smallest tasks.
Despite the aforementioned bugs, Beer Factory is a well-made and realistic simulator. However, there is one element that introduces a bizarre aspect: Francis.
Francis is a homeless individual who resided on the premises prior to the player’s acquisition and factory construction. He sporadically appears to cause disruptions, exhibiting almost ninja-like abilities by disappearing in a puff of smoke and reappearing elsewhere. The only method to deter him is to throw objects until he is temporarily subdued.
While Francis can be disabled, his mere existence within the game feels incongruous, almost as if the developers had considered incorporating weekly zombie attacks.
In conclusion, Beer Factory offers an enjoyable experience, particularly for enthusiasts of the simulation genre. While the game exhibits some bugs and the inclusion of “ninja-homeless man” Francis is an odd choice, the overall experience remains engaging. However, these issues prevent the game from achieving a full recommendation.
CreativeForge Games provided a review code for this evaluation. The provision of materials does not influence our editorial process.
