Clonk Endeavour's graphics and sound are all very, very retro. The game itself is 2D with pre-rendered 3D sprites for the different game objects. Unlike some games, it doesn't use this to excess, and the sprites actually fit within the game world. The world itself, such as the ground and such, are rendered in excellent 2D pixel work. The sounds are all distinctive, and the music is of the kind you would expect from games such as SimCity. Classic, low-fidelity synthesizers.

As Clonk is a sandbox game, there is little in the way of actual goals in the game. However, there are a few things that you must be aware of at all times. First is your population, which is the amount of Clonks you have in your settlement at any one time. Next is your settlement score, which is the way most freeform scenarios end. This score is determined by your overall wealth, how many resources you have, and the amount and variety of buildings you have. Finally, there is your amount of gold, which determines what you can purchase from the shop.

The environment in Clonk behaves much like the environment in games like Worms. Your units can modify the terrain through digging, explosions, and other contrivances, and buried within the ground are things such as explosives, pockets of water, and mineral veins. A good portion of the game revolves around the construction of your underground apparatus, since that is how most of your money is gained. You can focus on staying above-ground, but there is not much money or points to be had there, so you will inevitably find yourself drifting ever downward.

The economics part of Clonk feels much like a game such as Settlers or Dwarf Fortress. You must establish a working production line using the bare minimum. For example, a typical supply line may have a windmill which links to a sawmill, which produces the wood necessary to build a furnace. It's not especially complex (there are only a few buildings in the default version of Clonk Endeavour) but it does make the game feel very sandbox-like and fun while maintaining a minimal simulation element. The game also runs in the background, so if you do not want to sit around and watch your clonk chop apart all that wood, you can simply alt-tab out and do something else.

Combat in Clonk is fun, although not exactly the focus of the game. You can pick up and use a variety of weapons by default, such as swords or flintstone (which act as explosives). Every clonk has a health meter on the left side of the screen, and when it runs out, the clonk dies. You can also lose health when being attacked by native animals such as sharks. Buildings also have a sort of health, which means you can destroy them through the use of explosives, and this plays a major role in modes where you must build castles or stave off armies.

The big selling point of Clonk Endeavour is the massive customization. Players are given all the tools necessary to create new objects and scenarios. Even if you have no scripting knowledge, you can create your own scenario through the powerful editor. If you do know how to script and model, you can do things such as create new materials, new buildings, and even entirely new games using the Clonk engine. It's incredibly versatile, and there are a lot of modules out there for those looking to expand their experience. The base game also comes with plenty of modules, so if you don't want to fool around with user content, there's plenty to be had in the game itself.

There is also an excellent multiplayer. Multiplayer is divided into two types: melee and co-op. In co-op, two or more players work together to make a settlement that is self-sustaining and has a high settlement score. In melee, the players instead face off against each other, often by pitting their towns against one another. It's loads of fun, and perfect for playing with a group of buddies in a LAN environment.

Clonk Endeavour is not without problems. The biggest and worst of these is the absolutely abysmal pathfinding for mouse control. Your character can barely jump over a hill, much less make precise leaps to get out of a whole. It's also extremely easy to mine yourself into a position where your clonk can not move, which is frustrating when it causes you to restart yet again. Finally, the interface itself is minimal, but in a bad way. Everything is relegated to shortcuts and icons, which makes doing something such as dropping off a creature in the home base and then selling it before it escapes an exercise in luck. Some sort of better interface would be much appreciated.

Clonk Endeavour is a little-known, but certainly great, indie freeware game. It manages to mix many genres and a large base to customize upon into a solid, enjoyable experience that almost anybody can delve into. You can download Clonk Endeavour, as well as previous versions, through the official Clonk series website. You can also purchase the newest version of Clonk, Clonk Rage, if Clonk Endeavour impresses you enough. Now, if you will excuse us, we need to go hunt some wipfs.

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