I've played the mixed reality version of Bridge Constructor and it's excellent
I thought building bridges would be easy. The successful mixed reality game Bridge Constructor Studio proved me wrong and made me laugh along the way.
The Bridge Constructor series of simulation games has been around for almost 15 years now.
Two months ago, the first VR version of the physics puzzle game was released for Meta Quest. Unfortunately, it got lost a bit in the flood of new pre-Christmas releases. I noticed it again while browsing the Horizon Store and took the time to check out Bridge Constructor Studio this week.
Whether the VR implementation is convincing and the virtual bridge building is fun, you can find out in the following paragraphs. Since this is my first time playing Bridge Constructor, I can give you an unbiased first impression.
An accessible game
First things first: Bridge Constructor Studio is an easy-to-learn game that teaches the basics of bridge building in a fun way without requiring you to learn physics again.
The first task is to build a simple bridge over a chasm using wooden pillars and slabs. Once the construction is complete, you can turn on the physics simulation and watch a vehicle drive over the bridge. If the vehicle arrives safely on the other side, you have won and can move on to the next construction scenario.
Another optional challenge is to stay within the construction budget. There are many ways to build a bridge, and since each component costs money, you have a big impact on the cost. You can always remove components and undo your steps without losing any money. The game invites you to experiment and doesn't penalize you for trying something unconventional. Unlike real construction projects, there is no time pressure.
Bridge Constructor Studio offers a campaign of 70 scenarios with different landscapes, building materials, obstacles, and vehicles that provide variety and new challenges. If you just want to experiment, you can let your imagination run wild and create your own construction scenarios in the Scenario Creation Mode.
A natural fit for VR
So much for the principle of the game. But how does Bridge Constructor Studio play in VR? As with Lego Bricktales, Clockstone Studio delivers a flawless VR implementation.
Bridge Constructor benefits from the spatial nature of VR in several ways. Not only do the landscapes look more vivid, but the tracked controllers make building intuitive and precise. In addition, the landscapes can be freely moved and rotated in space using hand motions, so you can always keep an overview. If I didn't know better, I'd call Bridge Constructor a VR-native game.
You can switch between the passthrough and VR view at any time without having to open a separate menu. In mixed reality mode, your architect's office disappears and you can see your own surroundings. Bridge Constructor can also be played with hand tracking, but I didn't try it.
The fun of physicality
Because the VR component works so well, I was able to fully concentrate on building bridges, which was much more challenging and fun than I expected.
The discrepancy between my expectations and the physical reality often made me laugh. For example, when I thought a structure was stable, but it collapsed before the vehicle even reached the bridge. Other constructions lasted as long as the vehicle was on the bridge, but collapsed shortly after reaching the safe side. Bridge Constructor Studio has been a real challenge to my architectural confidence, but always provides excitement and laughter with such unpredictable situations. Another advantage of the VR game is that it can be played in a seated position, making it ideal for relaxing rounds of bridge building.
The graphics have a simple but pleasing stylized look, and if you have a Quest 3(S) and the Quest Games Optimizer, you can increase the resolution considerably for a much sharper image.
Bridge Constructor Studio can be purchased from the Horizon Store. It is currently discounted.
Have you played Bridge Constructor Studio? Join the conversation on Facebook, Bluesky or X or share your opinion in the comments below.
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