Image Power S.A. have released a free prologue demo for their upcoming sandbox vehicle combat game, Dieselpunk Wars.

The prologue is an improved version of the demo that was originally released to Kickstarter backers. In the prologue, players can build massive war machines out of over 140 modular components. When you are done building your vehicle, you can test it out in physics-based battles.

You can find the prologue here, and the rundown (via Steam) below:

BUILD

Build magnificent machines from over 140 unique elements. Utilize various kinds of weapons, armor, engines, wheels, and propulsion systems. Take air drag into account since every element has an impact on a vehicle’s handling and its capabilities. Expand upon your vessel’s design to complete a mission or start over from a blank slate. Construct fighters, transporters, tanks, destroyers, or blimps and savor your creative freedom.

FIGHT

Use different kinds of guns and plating to duke it out with hostile vehicles. Revel in the destruction caused by your weapons with fully simulated projectiles. Protect yourself with angled armor which might reflect enemy shots. Be careful not to overexert your engines or else they might catch on fire. Make good use of physics and rain destruction upon your enemies.

EXPLORE

Take pleasure in exploring a vast and interesting world filled with adventure. Launch a full-scale invasion and conquer entire islands. Delve into the world of a single-player campaign and onto an arena filled with enemies. Enjoy limitless freedom in sandbox mode.

BATTLES

Go where combat is the most intense and take part in massive battles, unleashing your vehicle’s full potential. Learn the extent of your creations’ capabilities and face increasing challenges. Figure out your enemies’ battle plan and spot the weaknesses of their vessels. Fight alongside allies or solo.

Features

• Advanced destruction simulation, vehicles can be cut in half.
• Projectiles with their own ballistics, penetration, and ricochet mechanics.
• Simulation of aerodynamics, buoyancy, fires, and flooding.
• Vehicles constructed from many different materials, paintable armors with various levels of thickness.
• Vehicles with various ranges of visibility and detection radii.
• Creative mode where you can build any vehicle you want.
• Integrated Steam workshop to share your creativity.

Destruction
The most important part of any ship is its core block, there can be only one of this type and its destruction will annihilate the whole vehicle. Every block must have a connection to the core. Each element has its own hit points, level of fire resistance, ability to resist impact and explosion. Some of them can also be flooded or lose their lift power. Every destroyed element has an impact on a vessel’s combat capabilities – strategic block placement can improve your vehicle’s survivability and efficiency.

Weapons
Each weapon is a separate object with its own logic and physics systems. Before shooting, a weapon checks if it doesn’t don’t hit or collide with its own vehicle. Weapons types include many variants of artillery, missile launchers, machine guns, flamethrowers, torpedo launchers, bombs, depth charges, and crazy close combat weapons. One of the unique weapons is a harpoon that can grab and pull enemies or pull its own vehicle to the ground.

Physics
The shape and size of the vehicles’ hull affects their air and water drag. Vessels with an angled, aerodynamic hull are faster than those that look like a brick. Some blocks generate buoyancy or lift, center of which should be balanced with the center of mass. Water has realistic wave simulation, there is also wind that can be used by sails.

Mechanics
The game has realistic gun ballistics and armor penetration mechanics; angled surfaces offer better protection from projectiles and can cause them to ricochet. Most blocks can be made using different materials that have different weights and other properties. Enemy vehicles can behave differently, depending on what weapons they have installed and what their goals are.

Dieselpunk Wars launches 2020 on Windows PC via Steam.