Context is key when looking at Bulwark. While the game may not tick every box when it comes to being an outstanding city-building sim, it’s still impressive for what it sets out to be. Both as an expansion of the world of The Falconeer and as a showcase of what Tomas Sala can do as a solo developer, Bulwark delivers. We would have loved to have seen an expanded narrative campaign here that leads into the third and final chapter of Sala’s Falconeer trilogy, and some of the gameplay elements could have been fleshed out more. Ultimately though, there are a lot worse options for city-builders out there, especially in this price range.
Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles
Tomas Sala · Mar 26, 2024
About
Carve your legacy into a world shattered by the decisions of those who came before you, tower by tower, wall by wall, sculpting from the daunting cliffs and perilous waters of an unforgiving landscape that refuses to be tamed.
Tasked with rebuilding a civilization devastated by the aftermath of a war 40 years prior, you are in command of creating the last great settlement upon the Great Ursee - a vast, fantastical oceanic world filled with lost myths, breath-taking vistas and danger.
From humble docks and wooden jetties, you will scavenge resources and grow your settlement as your population and creations grow ever grander, sculpting monumental stone towers and battlements that scrape the skies, where airships and giant warbirds rule.
Create trade routes and strike alliances with other factions scattered across the waves, acquiring powerful Captains and Commanders to protect your creations and utilise their aid in exploration - or muster your own battlegroup to strike at them, waging war upon your ancient enemies.
This world and its choices are yours to make - what legacy will you leave behind? What creations will bear your name?
Build Your Bulwark.
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Critic reviews
- 6.0In the end, Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles represents two sides of a coin. In one respect, seeing Tomas Sala leave the skies in favor of city-planning speaks to a kind of experimentation and flexibility not seen in many developers today; in the other, his tweaks within said formula unfortunately result in unnecessary repetition and design mismanagement within combat, trade, and exploration. Seeing cities sprout to life remains a neat visual staple that reinforces your productivity, but it simply doesn't feel like your iterations grow much beyond that. Put another way: all of the building blocks are here for any genre fan to appreciate, but the finished construction is still left wanting.
- 8.5Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is a great showcase for its world and has some nifty mechanics for both tower development and exploration. I once invested an uninterrupted 20 minutes simply placing foundations and balconies for a stone tower that served as the anchor for a couple of ports, simply to improve the architecture of that island. Unfortunately, the beauty of all these spires and walkways cannot compensate for a certain sense of aimlessness. The three campaigns don’t feel too different, and combat is too automated to feel interesting. Like its massive towers, Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles has good foundations but it doesn’t offer something engaging to build towards.
- Tomas Sala has created another great game with Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles. The ability to expand and experiment without worry makes it very accessible for those unfamiliar with the genre, as well as it being a thought provoking adventure even for genre veterans. While it may not be for everyone, there is something special here for those that connect with it.
- 7.0Tomas Salas' latest title is impressive and arguably more enticing than The Falconeer, with its intriguing alliances, vast world and simplified systems despite its inherent issues and uninvolving narrative.
- 7.8Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is an impressive solo achievement. Its disregard for traditional goals, victory conditions or game-limiting objectives makes Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles stand out in a — pun intended — sea of builders. As a set of automated construction mechanics, the Freebuild Mode feels great. Sometimes the campaign scenarios sit uncomfortably in the middle, tasking players to discover how things work but not always giving them a clear, actionable goal. Fans of games like Townscapers will enjoy Bulwark very much, and players of more traditional RTS games will appreciate its fresh approach to the genre.
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