Crush the Industry Preview

Get ready to dive headfirst into the world of game development with Crush the Industry by Cognoggin Games! If you're a fan of roguelike deck-building games like Slay the Spire, then this is going to be a title you will want to keep an eye on. It is challenging and full of humour, along with tonnes of great gaming and work culture references to make you smile and has entered Early Access.

When you begin the game, you're greeted by Gabe, a shining example of gaming success, who has ditched his shirt and is flexing his muscles — everyone who is successful looks like a bodybuilder, apparently — inviting you to join the ranks of the game industry. With his home sauna as proof of his success, he assures you that, with your impressive glutes, you're destined for greatness. To begin your career, you start by choosing which character you want to play. You're about to embark on a journey from the bottom floor of the game company building — the dreaded Toxic Trenches — up to the Management Gallows, where you'll face off against the ultimate boss to prove your worth. Though defeating the boss doesn’t mean this is the end but this is not the case. Once you are successful, the Nine Rings of Hell (also known as the Nine Rings of Management Hell) are unlocked and are available to challenge.

Crush the Industry offers a cast of three characters all having a different gameplay style. Whether you're playing as Jack the Intern, Kingley the Community Manager, or Reina the Game Designer, there's a character for every aspiring game developer out there. Each has a different gameplay style, with some relying on strong attacks and others more strategic; you are sure to find one that suits your type of play. Even if it’s not a perfect match, there is currently one other character to unlock, and there are two more coming soon.

In the beginning, there are 12 different talents to select from, including energy and health boosts, defensive manoeuvres, and timed hit abilities like Bullet Time. The possibilities are endless! Here, you select your level of challenge from three difficulty levels and a selection of mods to customise your experience. There's something for every type of gamer, whether you're a casual player or a hardcore completionist.

Each floor that you visit has a map (called a schedule in the game) that will lead you to the manager of that department. Getting to this point is where you face an Advancement Task. This is a challenging battle, but if you succeed, you are promoted to the next level (floor), and you will automatically have 50 health points restored to get you ready for the foes you face in the next department.

The battle screen looks like it is right from Earthbound on the Super Nintendo. You have three tasks you can select from to play each turn; some are attacks, while others are more restorative, like Meditate, which helps replenish your Sanity. When your Sanity gets low, the screen and music get distorted to show that you have lost your mind. It looks cool but makes the rest of your battle more difficult! There are two types of fights: Standard and Difficult Battles. The former is marked with a white skull, where victory will allow you to choose between regaining some health, gaining sanity, or getting more money to learn more skills or visiting Twirky's Cafe. Difficult Battles, marked with a red skull, are tougher but besides the usual three power-ups, give better rewards like learning a new skill or upgrading one of the talents that you already have. You have 10 slots available for skills; once they are all full, to learn a new skill, you need to save over one of the existing ones. If you are upgrading an existing skill, you can see how it will improve when powered up before you select the one you want.

The mechanic that I found interesting is the rolling health point gauge; when you take damage, it starts rolling down, depending on how much you were hurt. The cool thing is, if you finish the battle before it rolls all the way down, your health stabilises and stops at that number. So if you get hit, taking 50 damage, and you win the fight, having only lost the 20 points, then you get to leave with the higher number. Some abilities and power-ups will slow down how fast it rolls down, giving you time to finish the fight. I do advise that you try to make decisions as fast as possible since the gauge doesn’t pause while you are trying to pick what you want to do! If it hits zero, you’ll start your career from the trenches once again.

But the real stars of the show in Crush the Industry are the enemies you'll encounter along the way. From influencers to game testers to burnout cases, each enemy is a hilarious caricature of personalities you'd expect to find in the gaming industry. Whether you're facing off against the scantily clad Overly Sexualised Female Character, the Anonymous Neckbeard, or the dreaded Micro Micromanagers, you're in for a wild ride filled with laughs and surprises. I couldn’t wait to see what crazy personality I would be facing off against next!

As you battle your way through the Toxic Trenches, the Congregation of Creatives, the Development Hive, and finally, the Management Gallows, you'll encounter a variety of challenges and obstacles that will test your skills and wit. With each victory, you'll earn money to put towards buying new consumables to replenish your health and sanity or new skills and upgrades to add to your arsenal, making you an even more formidable force. It will take some experimentation to figure out which of the skills you find most useful for your current run.

But Crush the Industry isn't just about battling enemies and climbing the corporate ladder — it's also about having fun! With its vibrant graphics, catchy soundtrack, and quirky sense of humour, Crush the Industry is a game that's sure to put a smile on your face and keep you coming back for more. It is definitely one of the most memorable titles that I have played in a long time!

So, what are you waiting for? This is one of those games that you have to check out and shouldn’t be missed. My only complaint is that some of the dialogue that the enemies say is hidden behind the large menu box on the top of the screen, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment; I just wanted to see what silly comments they were making! I can’t recommend this title enough; this game oozes personality and is sure to be one of the most unique and entertaining game experiences you have ever had! Now, excuse me while I go to battle the Nine Rings of Hell as I wait for the full game to be released.