Review: From Dust

From Dust (Xbox 360, PC, PlayStation 3)
Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier
Publisher: Ubisoft
Released: July 27, 2011 (PC: August 17, 2011; PS3: TBA)

Much like the early 90s PC games from Maxis’ Sim series, From Dust is inadvertently educational. Inadvertently because it is a game based off of its creator’s interests, rather than a desire to instruct. In SimCity, it was Will Wright’s interest in city planning, and in From Dust, it is Eric Chahi’s time spent photographing volcanos. From Dust has little intention of educating, yet, through the power of simulation and interaction, it does.

From Dust simulates the elements that form and shape a tropical land. Water will flow and erode sand, create rivers, deltas, or form ponds and lakes. Volcanos will erupt, often explosively, deposit dust, ooze lava that will eventually cool to form rock, and occasionally grow dormant. This in itself can illustrate how land evolves. In spending a long time on one map, a volcano will start relatively flat, and then through the time-sped process of erupting, it takes on its more iconic form.

It is interaction that really helps show this evolution though. As a nearly omnipotent deity with the power to absorb and place the elements, the interaction in From Dust acts as a “what if”. What if this river was diverted? What if this lava flow was walled off here? It is the goal of helping a tribal group that pushes the player pursue these questions, which in turn causes interesting situations to emerge from the simulation. The game is designed specifically to promote contemplation on how exactly our lands are formed and shows the consequences changes can have.

It is largely successful but sometimes the questions the map structures pose are uninteresting or not there. Managing the placement of mythic trees that produce water or fire feels stilted compared to the ever-changing elements, and the challenge levels are very static puzzles that must be solved in a certain manner.

Ultimately, From Dust is strongest when using simulation and interaction to cause emergent, contemplative play. It doesn’t necessarily teach but instead supplements the understanding of our world that we already have. From Dust further proves that certain things can be better realized through interaction.

Score: 84%