Cantata sees either humans, aliens, or machines battling for supremacy on a new planet. The planet itself seems like it doesn’t want any of you to win, though.
Each faction has their units and abilities to use while scouring the planet for useful supplies and dealing with the other factions who are trying to strip the place dry. While dealing with your enemies is a big priority as you funnel resources into fancy buildings, troops, and tools, the planet itself isn’t terribly keen on your presence. While you and your foes take turns, the planet does as well. During these times, it can toss weather effects, hostile plants, and all kinds of secret nasty things at you. You might feel fairly confident in your game plan until the planet itself decides to screw up your carefully-made plan.
Disaster can strike quickly, too, as the game places a large importance on your supply chain. Your various builds and items need to have logical connections to one another to keep the resources flowing. So, if a nasty weather effect causes trouble for a structure right in the middle of your supply chain, it can leave you cut off from everything. The loss of a single building in just the right spot can halt your forward movement, but likewise, you can do the same to your enemies if you can hit them at a vital point. Assuming the planet itself doesn’t do something to you as you make your way there.
Cantata is a neat strategy game that can really blindside you with the planet’s abilities and the fact that a single lost structure can topple your plans. It forces players to be very attentive and cautious, creating a tenseness as your plan comes together. You just have to hope the chaos doesn’t wreck what you’ve built before you can win.
Cantata is available now on Steam Early Access.
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