Bridge Constructor Medieval Review

Bridge Constructor Medieval is the latest title in the Bridge Constructor series by Headup Games. In this game, players must construct bridges to transport medieval troops and supplies in and out of a kingdom to survive. Despite my having seen flashier presentations of bridge building games (see my Bridgy Jones review), Bridge Constructor Medieval provides a solid set of tools, a helpful graphic style, and an unexpectedly detailed story to make it worth checking out in its own right.

For the uninitiated, games like Bridge Constructor Medieval are essentially video game versions of the perennial science class bridge building contest in which contestants seek to build the strongest bridge possible using a specific set of materials. In Bridge Constructor Medieval, this challenge is nested within a medieval theme, meaning players have to build these bridges to send letters to nearby allies, repair passages damaged by siege weapons, etc. Most of these challenges ask players to build bridges strong enough to at least transport a portion of the total goods safely across, though there are additional challenges that push players to spend as few resources as possible while maintaining perfect structural integrity.

While playing Bridge Constructor Medieval, players alternate between two modes. In the build mode all action is paused, a grid overlay appears in the level, and it is here that players select materials and lay them out for bridge construction. Once this is done, players can switch to the real time mode in which troops and carriages attempt to cross the bridge. At any time players can pause the action or restart to make adjustments to their bridge, which is a nice touch for anyone looking to make the perfect bridge each and every time.

If there was a thing to complain about with Bridge Constructor Medieval, it is the game's relative lack of polish. Despite having unexpected story hooks and a very handy way of highlighting areas of bridge weakness, the game unfortunately doesn't look as good as it could and its controls can definitely take some getting used to. These are relatively minor knocks in the grand scheme of things, but they are worth noting considering there are other games out there that have provided a similar experience without falling short in these departments.

Overall though, Bridge Constructor Medieval is still a very solid experience. Fans of bridge building games should definitely check this one out.