The console edition of Construction Simulator 3 has been released for all to enjoy. The known formula hasn’t changed much but the execution and conversion seem to be streamlined this time around.
Jack of all trades
Construction Simulator 3 takes us to Neustein in Europe as you and a buddy have taken over a run-down construction company. It’s your job to make the business thriving again by managing all aspects of the business in the best possible way. Money management, vehicle maintenance, transport, buying and selling supplies, and much more will all become a part of your daily routine. Handling the big machinery yourself is still the biggest part of the Construction Simulator experience.
Licensed vehicles
You’ll start out small with just a construction truck equipped with a crane and tipper. Not long into the game, you’ll need to invest in other vehicles in order to successfully complete jobs. Buying vehicles can be expensive for a freshly started company. Renting is also an option if the funds aren’t quite there. I started out by buying an excavator and renting an asphalt roller. With over 50 licensed vehicles available in the game, any fan of all things construction will surely find what they need. Each vehicle offers a tutorial so you can immediately get used to the controls and work efficiently.
Improved handling
Construction Simulator is not a big-budget title and it used to show. Previous entries in the series felt rushed for the console market. With Construction Simulator 3 I feel the developers took the criticism seriously and upped their game. It sure felt way less frustrating to handle the different machines. I chose the arcade option for handling which is less demanding as opposed to the other industry standard options. I just wanted to have fun but connaisseurs of the trade might want that little bit extra and go straight for the iso standard handling option. Nice to know the community has been heard with the addition of cab view.
Jobs and Campaigns
Once the tutorial is over, you can start taking on jobs and campaigns. The jobs are smaller contracts with fewer steps needed to complete. These are ideal to start with because they also demand fewer assets of you as a company. Once you’ve built up your vehicle lot and improved your technique, you can take on campaigns. These are essentially bigger jobs which will really test your skills. The reward for campaigns is obviously a lot bigger. Removing a fallen tree is nowhere near as complicated as building a whole house, so the reward will be adjusted correspondingly.
Loading times
My experience with Construction Simulator 3 was much smoother than before. The frustration level wasn’t quite as high as before. There were a few strange things that bothered me during my playing time. The loading times to immediately name the biggest one. With a press of a button, I could take a look at the map to pinpoint my next location. Once I exited the map view I get a loading screen… Why does the game need to load something that was already loaded 5 seconds before I looked at the map is beyond me…
Triggering the “task complete” message was also painstakingly slow. I once rented a Roller to complete a job and wanted to return it as soon as possible to save on rent. I used the initiative menu to do this as efficiently as possible but since the “task complete” message hadn’t shown, the game didn’t register my actions. I had to rent the roller again and return it yet again to complete the task. I’m not aware if this is a bug also present in the PC/tablet versions but I feel like stuff like this shouldn’t be present on release.
Conclusion
Construction Simulator 3 is a much smoother ride than ever before but to say the road is fully paved, is stretching it a bit. Nevertheless, Construction Simulator 3 console edition offers all the necessary tools to fill your construction loving heart with enjoyment.
