Welcome back to another tour of tinyBuild’s DUCKSIDE, an open world survival game with crafting, multiplayer, and funny hats. There have been significant changes since our last duck hunt that have left me beakless, so let’s get into it!
The DUCKSIDE Archipelago now includes new biomes from burning hot sands to wintery slopes. It is a wonderful addition of assets that help immerse us in these server worlds with new monuments to boot. We also have new toys that help make the noise: Molotov cocktails, chainsaws, and rocket launchers – just to name a few. Feathered friends can utilize these for deforesting and quarrying as well.
Players can also expect additional crafting options. We can build a larger furnace for smelting ores in bulk, reminding more of ARK crafting, and a distillery for alcohol production. If you ever fantasized building your own speakeasy for ducks, now is your chance. I believe that the furnace is buildable right out of the box when you start base building. I’ve been told that there are some more base building opportunities as well that either exist now or in the near future, such as defensive mines. I like that idea, as you need to fly away from home nest frequently. Speaking of, I am aware of the new night vision feature. I have not tried it for myself, but I like the idea of nighttime raids.
I’ve seen some optimizations here and there as well. For example, there are fewer objects clipping through the air. I also noticed that my computer is not cranking up the heat as quickly, which might be attributed to the general GPU update from the patch update. Though, I have experienced some server connection issues, getting bumped from the server. I also read that the devs are addressing this issue as well.
The gameplay experience is very much like when I previewed the game not long ago, still largely containing a duck eat duck world and fighting NPC would-be hunters. My favorite feature (and an applaud to nature) is the ability to fly and glide around. It feels good to duck around and find out what’s out there, whether you are playing with friends or migrating solo. If you have not already seen my preview, I would recommend it for a general idea of what to expect.
I also wanted to share that I feel optimistic about the title’s development. We should all take a second to appreciate that the project is being consistently patched and updated based on fan feedback. I almost didn’t notice that the ducks have swinging animations now. I respect that the team also is working on making the space more approachable to new players, especially with regards to moderating chat more. We’re seeing incremental progress, and there is a lot more planned on the roadmap. Definitely join the discussions on their Discord, they would be happy to see you.
DUCKSIDE is fun and playful, but there still is some connectivity problems with the servers – nothing that I don’t believe the developers can overcome. I am looking forward to seeing where the title goes from here. For the sales price today of $9.74, it’s something worth quacking about to your friends and trying out.
DUCKSIDE is available for PC via Steam Early Access.
Related: DUCKSIDE Preview for Steam Early Access
I like to think of myself as the average Joe who grew up alongside video games. I have fun playing strategy games, RPGs, shooters, sandboxes, the whole shebang! Every game provides an experience whether it strikes you as profound, mundane, or someplace in between. I'd like to weigh in my two cents before you spend a single penny.
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