The player of From Dust assumes the character of “The Breath,” a god-like creature in charge of a nature tribe. This role allows the player complete control over the game’s events. During the 13 campaign missions and the 30 challenge maps, he is tasked with ensuring the well-being of his people. This can be accomplished, for example, by providing a safe passage to another location or by warding off natural calamities so that they can construct a town.
The Breath is only capable of one thing: changing the landscape. He can take in information and then spit it out in another context, such as when he used lava rocks to construct a dam. The further you progress in the game, the more skills you unlock for him, such as a spell that freezes water. In a manner analogous to that of the Populous, the people of the tribe operate individually. Due to the strict time constraints, several aspects of the game, namely the difficulty maps, feel like traditional puzzle games.
