Preview: Main Assembly (Steam Early Access)

by Jim Smale · June 25, 2020

Pros:

Bright colorful graphics.
2186mb Download size.
Steam achievements.
Controller support.
Optional tutorial section with 12 lessons on how to build.
The tutorial has collectible scrolls attached to optional tasks to get unlocks.
You play as a little robot drone that can fly around and mount onto robots to take control.
Can Dock and undock from robots/creations at will.
Graphics-Resolution, quality preset, motion blur, fullscreen, and v-sync.
Drone-customizable and you can get complete costume sets.
Builder sandbox gameplay.
Robot wars vibes.
Play how you want.
Powerful yet surprisingly easy, straightforward and you are able to grasp the mechanics quickly.
Invert mouse.
Can rebind controls.
Challenges-a roadmap of unlocks you move along as you complete the level challenges.
3 modes-tutorial, challenges, and sandbox.
Challenge mode is as you would expect, you have to build a robot for specific tasks.
Sandbox-everything is unlocked and you can go nuts.
Seven locations-Flatland, frozen river Mokkjoki, Lake Fikaviken, Lammelunda lower C, Buretop Raceway, Holmendolmen Skijum, and Islanda airstrip.
Snap together construction.
Variety of shortcuts for button presses.
Can drag and stretch robot parts.
Steam workshop support allowing to share/download other people’s creations.
Use preset kits to start off a creation.
In-game you can adjust the building grid size, show boundaries, weld icons, display mass and mass location.
Feels polished.
A whole lot of fun to play.
8 part categories -motor’s, wheels, thrust, chassis, mechanical, electronics, miscellaneous, and weapons. 3 weight categories-light, medium and heavy. Colour wheel where you can save your own blends/mixes.
Four-player multiplayer with an invite system.
Full robot destruction model.

Cons:

The controller is missing some functions and the pop-ups are for the keyboard.
A bit intimidating at first.
Closing the current tutorial task means it won’t recognize you doing challenges meaning you have to restart.
Can’t create levels.
Multiplayer is an invite-only affair at the moment.