Two Point Campus mixes strategy with eccentricity

Oh, college. A place to study. A place to meet. A place to go to food class to make a giant burger, go to a guest speaker for tutoring, take a nap in the library, take another quick nap in the hallway, make a move at the union party and maybe even blow a love trumpet.

Or maybe it’s just from my experience of Two Point Campus. This is the sequel to Two Point Hospital, from Two Point Games. It allows studies, the burger, private lessons and even the love trumpet. You’re tasked with building and running a dream university, which means you deal with students in all their sinister variety. It is a simulation game that understands that college is not just about studying, but also about learning about life.

As such, I found the game focused as much on extracurricular activities and making friends as it was on going to class. The focus is much more on relationships compared to Two Point Hospital. People are no longer mere fodder for a parade of strange diseases; students have personalities, likes, dislikes. It makes sense. This is not a short hospital stay, but three academic years in which I watch my students grow and flourish, receiving recognition for my (and their) achievements in graduation awards. of year.

By adding friendship items like benches and games, I’ve seen students bond together in a flurry of chatter, increasing their happiness. It’s all very warm. Best friends might even blow that aforementioned love trumpet (really, it’s a thing) or (cover your eyes) jump on a love bed together. Relationships are also inclusive – anyone can bond with anyone.

I built structures for students to engage outside of class, with the game explaining that I had to fulfill the three Rs: relax, rest, and relieve. I quickly formed a student union and organized parties and concerts, eager to give these students a taste of my own experience. The final game will also have various fun student clubs – in this preview a nap club was available so students could close their eyes in the hallways to regain energy – something I definitely could have done after these parties.

The lessons, however, remain central to campus life. The trailers showed a wide variety of lessons, from music lessons to knight school and magic lessons. As much as I wanted to build my own school of magical music, this overview was limited to three courses: Scientography, Visual Normalcy, and Gastronomy. The animation team had a blast here, conjuring up everything from exploding chemicals to whirring VR terminals and giant steaming cauldrons of delicious food. The campus and its inhabitants have many more visual details and reflections than before.

Finer details, such as wallpapers, flooring and staff outfits can also be customized

There’s a lot more to it than just diving into a themed classroom and watching the lessons unfold, too. I built multi-classroom lecture halls for teaching, apart from practical sessions, as well as a library and private classrooms for additional study. And by earning course points, I upgraded classes to increase students’ chances of getting top grades. This meant a frantic need for additional classrooms and space for study materials. (Tip: make sure your bookshelf is big enough, as you’ll need space for new reading materials.)

I was keen to try different lessons, but ultimately it’s up to you if you want your college to specialize. Maybe you want to focus only on Scientography, or maybe you want to tackle several topics. There are also bonuses for certain classes: gastronomy can improve the quality of food on campus, while music students can be entertained at concerts in the union.

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There are so many layers of nested systems actually. I had to fill my campus with study and entertainment rooms, in addition to dormitories and bathrooms. I needed to manage book time with fun time. I made sure the students were happy and got the best grades, and I also organized teacher training. And I had to do all of this while maintaining hygiene levels and attractiveness.

Yet I never felt overwhelmed. The developers have spent a lot of time onboarding players, with simple missions designed to slowly engage with the many systems – although some options might require a bit more sign-in. A summer break between each school year provides a welcome space to make upgrades and adjustments before starting the next term. And with a sandbox mode on the way, I’ll finally be able to put everything I’ve learned into practice in a kind of final exam of my own creation.

In an early series, Two Point Campus allows players to build outdoors

On top of all that, there are the many new customization options to fill the time with while students are busy working. I soon found myself wandering around campus adding decorative posters and ignoring calls for more study materials instead. There are countless decorations to unlock, from posters to furniture, that not only match the aesthetics of the school but also the students. As students fit into various stereotypes, it is possible to build a school to their liking.

With so much to do, I could easily get lost in Two Point Campus for hours – good job, I’m not a student with deadlines anymore. With all of its interlocking management systems, there’s a lot to consider, but I found it to be a lot of fun and its intuitive interface with some familiarity with Two Point Hospital. It’s hilarious too, complete with an 80s-style soundtrack and campus radio filled with pop culture references.

And with a look at what other lessons the trailers have taught, there’s so much more Two Point Campus nonsense to come. Believe me, this magical school of music is happening. As strategic as it is eccentric, Two Point Studios comes out with flying colors.