Crest - an indirect god sim

Crest is an indirect god simulation game where players communicate with followers solely through issuing commandments composed of pictographic words. The game offers a unique and fresh concept that sets it apart from traditional god games, emphasizing indirect control and interpretation by AI followers. Players appreciate the beautiful low-poly graphics, relaxing music, and the philosophical, anthropological tone of the game.

However, many players find the gameplay limited and sometimes frustrating. The commandments system, while innovative, often results in misinterpretations that can have negative effects, and the influence mechanic to control these changes is slow and sometimes ineffective. The tech tree is randomized and can hinder progression, and the game lacks meaningful long-term goals or endgame content. Performance issues, UI clutter, and bugs further impact the experience. Overall, Crest is praised for its originality and aesthetic but criticized for shallow gameplay and lack of depth in its current state.

Highlights

Players praise Crest's unique gameplay mechanic of issuing commandments interpreted variably by followers, which adds unpredictability and humor. The graphics receive positive remarks for their charming low-poly style and smooth animations. The soundtrack is described as relaxing and fitting the game's atmosphere. The concept of indirect god control and emergent storytelling through AI behavior is highly valued. The game is recognized as a novel approach within the god sim genre, offering a sandbox experience that encourages experimentation and observation.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include the lack of meaningful goals or endgame content, making long-term engagement difficult. The commandments system can feel tedious due to frequent misinterpretations, short command durations, and limited vocabulary. The randomized tech tree sometimes locks players out of desired progression paths. Performance issues such as framerate drops and long save times frustrate players. The UI is often described as cluttered and unintuitive, with important information hard to track. Bugs and lack of polish, including save issues and overlapping popups, detract from the experience. Many feel the player’s role is too passive, reducing the sense of impact and control.