Crush the Industry Review – Going Rogue

Crush the Industry is a new deck-builder Roguelike from Cognoggin Games. A couple who love retro games. And that love for games is on full display here. As Crush the Industry is packed with retro charm and references to those older games.

The game is a perfect entry point into the Roguelike genre. As it switches out the often blistering difficulty and combat for a scaling selectable difficulty and RPG combat that allows players to think about their actions carefully. There are plenty of rewards and incentives for doing multiple runs and trying different strategies. And the enemies are unique enough that you won’t get tired of fighting them. Or finding new ones you didn’t encounter before.

However, it does have its issues. Experienced Roguelike players may find the game way too easy until they’re near the bottom of the unlockable difficulties. And, like most Roguelikes, casual players may be turned off from it by the reliance on RNG luck. It also throws players into the deep end immediately. Expecting them to figure everything out as they go. Which can be tough, especially with how much there is.

Crush the Industry is available on Steam for $14.99 in Early Access, with a free demo available as well.

This review contains minor spoilers for Crush the Industry.

Story – Don’t Get Fired

Crush the Industry has pretty much the same story as the mobile Roguelite Don’t Get Fired. Your character gets a job at a game development studio and has to fight to keep their job. Battling through wicked coworkers, annoying critics, neckbeards, and all the other dark spots in the world of gaming. The longer you go without getting sacked, the more you move up the ranks. With the ultimate goal of overcoming the CEO.

Head of the Creative Department

The story is mostly only there to inform the gameplay and establish the world. It’s not the focus, as the game is designed to be played on a loop. However, the premise and execution is worth praise. It’s a simple but effective story that works perfectly to tie all the creative enemies and bosses together. And I’m sure it’s someone’s power fantasy to get a promotion by beating up their boss.

Gameplay – RoguePG

Crush the Industry is a Roguelike. Basically meaning that all your progress in the game resets whenever you die. You have to fight through the four floors without dying once. However, you unlock new skills and abilities that you’ll be able to learn in future runs. Better equipping you for the future. It’s a great game for people who can’t get into Roguelikes, or want one to try that isn’t too long or tough. I would know. I’m one of those people.

The game is also a deck-builder and a turn-based RPG. See, each selectable character comes with their base set of moves. And you can learn new moves to add to your arsenal. As well as adding different buffs, and upgrading your moves. And each of the characters has a different playstyle best suited to them. For example, the default character is very balanced and best suited for new players. While the chess player is better suited for people who like to take their time and consider their options carefully.

Character select

The main goal of battle is defeat your enemies while protecting your health and your sanity. There is also an insane amount of different status effects and buffs. However, you don’t have to remember them all. As there’s a handy guide that can be accessed at any time, even in combat. Which opens up so many different approaches to take. My favorite strategy is combining a move like Block Up – which gives me 24 Shield – with Blockbuster, which does damage equal to 3x my current Shield level.

Crush the Industry has an amazing amount of replayability for true diehard Roguelike fans. As completing a run unlocks a harder difficulty to play through. Taking you through all the different levels of Corporate Hell.

Graphics & Sound – TopBound

The presentation of Crush the Industry is heavily inspired by the iconic RPG Earthbound. With the pixel art style, the trippy backgrounds, and the creative enemies. The game feels like a strange trip in the best of ways. Like you’re going through a funhouse of madness and can’t help but want to see what’s coming your way next. All the art is beautiful, and the colors really pop. On top of that, there are plenty of clever little references to other franchises. Like being able to buy Steamed Hams, or one of the endings mirroring Super Mario World.

Fear the neckbeard

The music is also nice. However, not nice enough that you feel like you’re missing out on anything by playing your own music. On top of that, all of the sound effects are really dynamic and satisfying. The battles are quick and flashy, which really adds to the frantic pace of the game. It’s so effective that it sometimes made me forget that I had endless time to take my turns. You just feel like you’re being rushed in the best of ways.

Crush the Industry was reviewed on PC with a code from Cognoggin Games.