Main Assembly is great, it is a vehicle maker physics challenge game with co-op… but if you stifle a yawn and think “I have trailmakers/other equivalent and meh do I need another?” the answer is yes, you definitely do!
Main Assembly is fundametally different, what makes it stand out from the pack is that you can easily mold 3d surfaces so the game ends up playing more like a powerful intuitive 3d modelling program than yet another iteration on a vehicle lego-style block building sandbox game.
Surfaces of wings are physically modeled in their contribution to lift, they arent just cosmetic, and it is this kind of thing that makes Main Assembly simultaneously a sophisticated simulation and and immediately tactile and intuitive experience.
Controls are superb on the deck, I recommend using fmCUK’s “Usable V0.2” as a basis for a control scheme, most everything felt surprisingly intuitive given how generalist and powerful the tools are in Main Assembly.
Seriously good game, take advantage of the fact that it flew under the radar, pick it up for cheap, heck buy a copy for a friend so you have someone to play with!
Does it work offline now?
Good question, I think there is a bug maybe? Development on Main Assembly stopped in 2021 (which is why I recommend MA at this pricepoint) and the bug might have never been fixed. What a shame :( the game definitely wasn’t intended to do that.
edit so I did some testing, Main Assembly exits to the menu with an error if I go from being connected to the internet to being disconnected. The game plays fine in totally offline mode or when connected to the internet, the bug (at least on my deck) arises when switching between being connected to the internet to not connected while playing.
Definitely potentially pretty frustrating, worth tolerating for how cool the game is (and for $4) but frustrating nonetheless. It is a shame development on Main Assembly stopped it has some amazing ideas and vehicle mechanics!