Getting to level forty is tough. If you can get through the first 8-10 levels, you should be able to get into the high twenties without to much trouble, but then it all goes to hell. I suspect a viable build requires a fully upgraded shield generator, a flamer joe, a laser cannon, about 20+ repair men, and the satellite weapon, fully upgraded.
It is a bit to linear for my tastes, the only really creative part of the game is the skill tree, other than that, there is a clear hierarchy of equipment, and in the end game, even that becomes irrelevant, since the last 4 bosses all pretty much demand one strategy each, with no room for any real deviation. Still, 5/5 game, but it is a bit more popular than it warrants.
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 "The Codex of Alchemical Engineering"){kind=icon}
 "Mud and Blood 2"){kind=icon}
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