Review: Art Of Horology (Steam)
This is and educational game that simulates the process of making a wristwatch and teaches facts about the history of watch-making.
Pros:
- Detailed graphics.
- 277mb download size.
- 3 difficulties- Beginner, advanced and pro.
- The gameplay is you build a watch piece by piece.
- Timer.
- Local records.
- Drag and drop controls.
- Help button (costs some of your score to use).
- Change to a side view.
- General knowledge questions on loading screens.
- Brief history section.
- Magnifying glass tool.
Cons:
- Only resolution and graphics quality preset.
- No steam achievements.
- Main play button gets obscured by the 3d models.
- No tutorial.
- Score means nothing.
- Requires you to know an in-depth knowledge of horology.
- The timer is pointless and cannot be turned off.
- No controller support.
- Very basic looking.
- No sense of punishment for just using the help button over and over.
- Minimal Replayability.
- No guidance.
- Basic sound effects.
- Models and text constantly overlap each other.
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Graphics - 6/106/10
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Sound - 5/105/10
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Accessibility - 4/104/10
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Length - 5/105/10
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Fun Factor - 4/104/10
Summary
I am not the games main audience here I get that. Me and watches don’t get on thanks to my puny wrist girth. Despite this, I still maintain that you cannot dismiss a game or genre without at least trying it. I believe that bit I also believe I shouldn’t have taken my own advice. For the art of horology is first and foremost experience with very slight game mechanics sprinkled on top. You get no help from the game at all except for a few beeps and red marks when you inevitably fuck up your cog placement. This is something that you play/buy if you are really into horology and get your kicks from building watches. I mean the game looks great and I guess all the pieces are there but the game will just not let you and newcomers in. You may be treated to some trivia from time to time but that’s it. The only game part is a score and timer with a local best score saved thing. I don’t give a shit about scores so I just flat out used the help button and even then I grew more confused. Let’s be honest once again, this has done nothing to convince me that a) we need a) horology game and b) I should wear watches again.
