INDUSTRIA Is Easy to Half-Like

#industria #firstpersonshooters #indiegames
Industria, developed by Bleakmill Games and published by Headup with a grant from Epic Games, first saw the light of release on PC in 2021, but it soon came to Xbox in 2022. Inspired primarily by Half-Life 2 and probably some Bioshock and Frictional Games' Penumbra series, Industria seeks to fill a niche of indie narrative FPS shooterdom that isn't often serviced by the industry much less good ones. But I'm happy to report Bleakmill is onto something here but I do think some aspects of the experience hold back what is quite promising but quite short and maybe even a little undercooked. But find out within what the fuss is all about!
0:00 Introduction
2:41 Development
5:43 Story Hook
8:48 Art Direction & Level Design
10:21 Resource Management
11:16 Puzzles
12:19 Combat
14:59 Enemies
17:45 Story Analysis (SPOILERS)
27:34 What's Next for Bleakmill Games?
RESOURCES USED:
• When the Allies settle... @chronoshistory
• BONEWORKS Full Game Wa... @RabidRetrospectGames
• [Tomato] ADACA : spill... @tomatostrash
• Perilous Warp | Full G... @Evelise
• G STRING - Full Game ... @Bolloxed
• Half-Life 2 | Ravenhol... @Pii89
• Prey 2017｜Full Game Pl... @DraKulisCinematicGaming
• The Stasi and the Berl... @DWDocumentary
• Myst - Full Longplay @theadventuregamer9062
• Wolfenstein (2009) All... @rtboomhauer
• DooM 3 - FULL GAME - 1... @SourceSpy91
www.theverge.com/2020/3/25/21...
/ we-need-more-games-lik...
• BioShock - Frank Fonta... @Cheatcode17
www.history.com/news/germany-...

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Correction: I misspoke around the 24 minute mark by saying the Berlin Wall was ironically constructed to keep out antifascist sentiment. What I meant to say was it supposedly was there to keep out fascists

[@manboy4720]

this wall keeps out fascists

[@BleakmillGames]

Devs here. Thank you so much for this heartwarmig essay. Steve and me (dave) watched it together and it touched us. Nearly no one went that far in a video essay before and it was absolutely wonderful to see all the things you picked up, which were personal thoughts feelings till now. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

You're very welcome, Dave :) Thanks for sharing your talents with us and for making a moving experience. You guys should be proud!

[@BleakmillGames]

[@nottoday9182]

It was a very nice surprise finding this on the PlayStation store a day after watching this. I'm having a good time with this! Well done!

[@MeatSnax]

I'm torn because that title is absolutely perfect, but this seems like a game that should be presented as "good with flaws" rather than "flawed but good" if that makes any sense. This is right up my alley and this is the first I'm hearing of it, if I'd taken the title at face value I probably wouldn't look into it.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

I feel you. Its pithiness undermines the value I think. Ive been torn about it myself

[@bonsaiboi]

I agree with this. Was a little hesitant to watch cause my brain interpreted the title as the game not being very good. But upon starting I like the direction you took it in a lot (I also hadn't heard of 'half-like' games tho so the joke was lost on me before starting)

[@RubyRangerr]

Great video, sir. I'm not as big a fan of Half-Likes as you are, so it's great to see a title like through your appreciation and criticism. Also, I'm with you on the Boom Shoot glut we face these days. Once upon a time I was super excited to try to play and cover all the new indie shooters releasing to Steam, but there's so many these days that I'm happy to just pick and choose which I have time to invest in. If anything, the volume of shooters at least provides plenty of options for the picky consumer, so I'll choose to be happy in that.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Right? I dont complain about it like i hate that there are tons of choices-more power to them. But my personal enjoyment isnt going be in how many samey experiences i have, unless they get to me somehow or have something more poignant to them

[@bonsaiboi]

Great video, agreed with the other comment about the title being super clever but also giving the wrong impression, but other than that, this is one of your best imo. Like all the wonderful knowledge and reference to history and interviews, combined with your great delivery but condensed compared to your longer stuff. Really vibed with this one tbh 👍😊

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Yeah i tried to be concise on all fronts ;) yeah, i changed it. I didnt like how it sounded either, just seemed more truthful. Thanks very much, bud!

[@HeyBlondieGamer]

Nice work, my friend 👍 This looks like something worth playing.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Id recommend it. Its got a special atmosphere

[@greg6191]

I love the title!! Half like is exactly the way I feel about it too and the title made me realise that, sums it up perfectly. Great vid

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thank you 😊 I like this one better. My initial one sounded too harsh imho when im really recommending it despite any small flaws

[@greg6191]

@@HighFunctioningMedium ohh I didn’t see the original one, I thought this was the one people didn’t like! anyway, v good video, thank you for making it

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

My pleasure, Greg. Thanks for brightening my day!

[@Predator1981Gaming]

Wow, I'm really impressed how good your video is. Thanks a lot for the work. Extremely entertaining, interesting informations and perfectly spoken. Pleasent voice to listen to. And I totally agree with the 2009 Wolfenstein game. Best in the series, miss it. Respect on the sounds of Industria. I really like the audio. And a interesting project overall. Thx for showing. Auf Wiedersehen 👋

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Aw thanks so very much! Wolfenstein 2009 solidarity!

[@Predator1981Gaming]

@@HighFunctioningMedium I thank you. Would like to have a new one like the 2009.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

@@Predator1981Gaming Yeah kind of a game that couldve only come out in that generation. It'd have to be some little bitty indie project or some bloated AAA dogshit to make it these days it seems

[@Predator1981Gaming]

@@HighFunctioningMedium So true. For me the 360 era was the peak of AAA, when devs tried to top each other. Today I also mostly play indie titles, which creativity and innovation I prefer. Most of the big studios only head for absolute safety, no courage to reach new hights, so they only archive maximum average. That's sad. But there are so many good games and projects out there, if you know were to search for it and of course open minded.

[@melancholygeek]

I wanted to love Industria when I first played it, but at launch it was just that tad bit too janky for me to enjoy it. It left me intrigued though, and this video bumped it up on my to-play list quite some. Thank you for reminding me!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Youre welcome. I hope its a pleasant experience!

[@Hyacsho]

Hoping to see you cover Industria 2 🙌

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Ill be there with bells on

[@EarthboundX]

Interesting timing, I just recently played this game. I recalled that JarekTheGamingDragon covered it on his channel a while back, and it was finally at least 50-60% off on Xbox. I'm somehow who also prefers the Half-Life style FPSes(Though I still enjoy "Boomer Shooters" quite a lot), that we sadly haven't been getting a ton more of, like we have with the more early 90s style FPSes that's almost an oversaturated market at this point. I have to assume the Doom style 90s FPSes are either more popular, or easier to make, or both. I enjoyed it for the most part, a solid enough game.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Yeah i think Jarek was my introduction to it as well and i also bought it half off on Xbox recently! Def more straightforward tho the balancings and pace has got to be hellacious to balance for boomer shooters. I respect and enjoy plenty of them but the games that stick with marry good enough action with intangible kind of world building and narrative beats. Im a reader, writing student kinda guy so Im needier than the avg gamer ;)

[@CheeseWorks-vj4yi]

Came from Nth Review. Awesome work here!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

I think i saw you in the chat! Thanks so much for dropping by. Yeah Nths been one of my bestest buds; great dude!

[@PapaYapp]

Magnificent video on one of my favourite indie games. Played it when it came out via GeForce Now and really looking forward to Bleakmill's new game when it arrives.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Yeah, this is the kind of indie game we need: something that recalls the greats without just outright copying them!

[@Sputnik34]

i think we talked about this game being stupidly fascinating with it's world and even it's decent gameplay loop but i've never seen a game THINK it was blowing my mind with it's ending but instead was doing literally nothing instead. DID THEY TAKE NOTES FROM REMEDY?? i hope the bois that made this dont get disheartened by any negativity they got from this cause i would love them to see them take another go at this world. there's clearly so much love put into this game and it would be a shame to never see this world or encounter this story again.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Yeah, I think it was just a case of the elements being there and not quite knowing when to reveal a mystery. But i hope they continue in this world and from all that Ive seen and talked with them about, they intend to.

[@realityreaperr]

Hope you guys have gotten past the Berlin Wall chapter in history…. Or else you may want to catch up for the spoilers😬😬😬😬😬

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Ikr, hard to know whether someone's lived real life enough to know ;)

[@ukaszgrzesik7231]

I think I have this one in my library. Need to try it out.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Its a nice, breezy affair

[@Deadforge]

New Mr. Medium or Dr. Midnight or Midnight Medium guys video 🙌

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Darn tootin, Death Refinery or ah Undead Conveyor Belt or...nvm

[@Deadforge]

@HighFunctioningMedium It's okay it was worth a shot my Monster Movie brethren.

[@dotcomgamingd5564]

also Wolfenstein 2009 supremacy!!

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Youre gonna make me go play the dang thing again!

[@justabaldguy]

What a weird way they decided to set the aiming controls. Sounds like it'd be frustrating to me. Love the look of the game, but the rest feels bland. Stellar video Medium! You're getting better and better. Enjoying your Discord chats too.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Thanks you so much for your detailed feedback there. I feel like Im getting a lot more specific criticism recently and Im a pretty detail oriented person when Im locked in so i need it! As for Industria, yeah, its a little clunky but just hipfire mostly. It's still worth playing

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Hey so fun fact, if you buy this game on PC, the aiming controls are supposed to be totally fine. Bleakmill told me today on Twitter that's just an Xbox problem

[@dotcomgamingd5564]

Great video overall, but man I really feel that starting part. Every time a new boomer shooter comes out, I'd say about 99% of the time it just makes me feel a bit jaded. am I in the wrong to say they kinda look like they all play the same?

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Theyre tending to. Theyve become their own cliche as my taste goes. That said i need to play a lot of the ones that started the movement like Dusk, Ion Fury, Project Warlock, etc. Too many tho are these kinda breathless, narrativeless adrenaline shots over anything ill remember so its hard to care

[@dotcomgamingd5564]

@@HighFunctioningMedium my sentiments exactly! and you should definitely play those. Ion Fury is my favorite of the nuBoomer Shooter games.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

@dotcomgamingd5564 the aimings a little weird to me but i love the Build engine so im pretty excited to progress

[@MATT-2042]

I have Duke Nukem 3D 20th anniversary edition installed on my PS5.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

What reminded you of that?

[@MATT-2042]

@@HighFunctioningMedium i play it on a regular basis but it is the only retro fps i have.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

They are great. Doom, Blood, etc!

[@MATT-2042]

@@HighFunctioningMedium blood ?

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Havent heard of it? Its a supernaturally themed one set in early 1900s where a cult leader gets killed by the entity he worships, resurrects, and comes back to get revenge. You get dynamite, an incredible shotgun, magical weapons, etc. Really cool horror themed levels and monsters to fight. Lotta classic horror homages

[@TheUltimateZMAN]

Are there any other Half-Likes people recommend?

[@Hyacsho]

I return

[@Monanniverse]

What are you on about with the point about lighting? The game looks painful to look at, the contrast is just so overdone that it's painful to look at anywhere bright.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Ill be honest, my capture settings were a little f*cky and washed out. Had trouble balancing visibility and colors

[@nervusbelli9201]

@@HighFunctioningMedium X-box tends to f up HDR recordings, this might be your problem

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

​@@nervusbelli9201i actually turned off HDR after it made Resident Evil Village look almost entirely dark

[@nervusbelli9201]

@@HighFunctioningMedium yeah, microsoft sadly cannot figure out what to do with HDR like at all, both on windows and xbox. BTW as video editor for a small channel myself i have to say - awesome work dude, I think you deserve waaay more subscribers and will get big eventually

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

​@nervusbelli9201 thanks so much! Im going to keep at it and make the necessaary adjustments to keep making this channel the real deal

[@inthedark334]

I highly recommend everyone here including the guy who made this video look up a documentary called Europe the last great battle it's almost a 13 hour long documentary, that goes through what actually went on in World War I and World War II, also the Berlin Wall was just a publicity stunt the Soviets were nearly completely destroyed by Hitler but winter set in so Hitler wasn't able to wipe the Communist bastards out, so the USA gave the Soviet Union millions of dollars during winter to completely rebuild the Soviet Union from scratch the Soviets were financed by the USA you heard me right the Soviet Union the Communists were literally supported financially by the United States, and also learn some German the term Nazi in the United States is used as a slur in German specifically because the term Nazi means Country Bumpkin or someone who is slow that's actually what it means in German they're actually called the national socialists also do your research there were two parties in the reichstag which is the Capitol Building of Germany the far right-wing conservative party which were mostly capitalist and wore black hats and black suits and then Hitler's party which was more left to Central because there's this lie that goes around that Hitler was a right winger not even close to true, I'm sorry I don't mind people reviewing video games but when you're talking about history and you're getting things wrong that kind of pisses me off so I'm going to point that out yeah industrious is a good game people should definitely play it it has flaws obviously if this guy had more money and more staff he could have made something that would have been a contender with Half-Life but he wasn't able to get that,

[@Deadforge]

Yikes, well, I'm all for learning and understanding history, but damn dude, at least try to construct a proper sentence or paragraph when criticizing someone. That was like reading a crossword puzzle sprinkled with acid it might as well be gibberish to anyone else. All that being said, just be nice and constructive and provide information without being a dick.

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Well, for one thing, the game's called Industria, not Industrious so y'know, pot meet kettle. It's good to make the distinction known that those whom we call Nazis didn't necessarily call themselves that but were called by this derogatory term that stuck, but the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or National Socialist German Worker's Party doesn't exacty roll off the tongue and calling them Nazis is in no way unclear; no other party has ever been called such in the common parlance. You're trying way too hard to dunk on people about something you feel extra informed about but the only contention you have is based on an incorrect, unsubstantiated assumption about my knowledge of the term Nazi. The rest of your exposition dump has fuck all to do with what I said. I'm all for you taking me to task but at least argue with something I'm pushing for, and don't presume my intentions based off your pretensions. Well, two guys helmed this project, not just one. I'd hardly say contending with Half-Life was the goal, but paying homage to it was and that was successful. I'd be more worried about what the game fumbles within its own choices which is its controls and its ending.

[@inthedark334]

@@Deadforge oh I'm not being a dick and I'm speaking into a phone right now so if it comes off funky that's the phone's fault

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

You're unhinged but I appreciate the free engagement. Danke. Nice deleted or heavily edited response to appear more "rational" btw

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

Yeah my phone sometimes turns me from a nice person in a raging psychopath too. Happens to the best of us. Its like auto uncorrect

[@ACougarSwagnum]

BERO I LOVE LOVE LOVE YOUR VIDEOS

[@HighFunctioningMedium]

I love that you love them! Thanks so much!