A game I'd normally not play. But here I am, playing with a enthusiastic friend who absolutely adores Stardew. Their love can be very infectious to be sure.
Yet after over 40 hours, the beginning of year 3, married to Maru, unlocked the island's secrets, delved deep into the skull cavern many times, forged a hammer of the stars, raised dinosaurs, and helped make a farm that can produce 400,000 gold or more a month (admittedly they set up most of the farm); I came away thinking "Yeah that was decent."
Most of my "issues" are really just my biases for the things that make me enjoy a game. I enjoy becoming stronger in a game, richer even, but something that I asked myself a lot was "why?" I don't like getting power for the sake of power. The reason I don't mind grinding in a lot of games is that I'm working towards something. "I need more power because of this tough boss." If I clear the hardest challenge in the game, then I put it down. That is my cut-off point in most games. (Not to say I wouldn't replay them) So in Stardew, you have to make your own goals. There's nothing wrong with that inherently, and there are tough challenges to work towards, but I need something more concrete. Some kind of conflict to get invested in. You don't have any debt that you need to pay off, there's no real danger to the town or your farm; the only thing that drives you is you. And that really isn't enough for me, but that's just the kind of game this is.
This is a big reason why I couldn't get into Minecraft. There was never a good enough goal to engage me to the game. But at least Stardew has NPCs with their own stories and relationships, and a lot of mysteries to uncover that greatly expand the scope of the game. The feeling of progression is fairly gratifying too, earning a lot of money or leveling up a skill feels as good as it should. I also like how this is a life sim that isn't tied to the real-world clock. You can play through as many days as possible in one sitting, this is very good as it puts you in more control of the game. NPCs are a mixed bag though, which even my friend agrees to this. Some are cute and interesting, but others are just kind of jerks or a bit bland. I don't inherently have a problem with finding characters unlikable, even if they aren't a antagonist, but some of these are possible boyfriend/girlfriend candidates. They needed to be more inherently likeable or interesting. Maybe some random events that show the more interesting side to these characters sooner. Like I do get it, humans are complex. Some aren't so enthusiastic to talk to strangers. Many aren't comfortable being too open about themselves. It's sort of realistic in that way, but it still makes it harder then I feel it should be to engage with them.
The more gamey mechanics aren't too complex, which could be a good or bad thing depending on who you are. Combat isn't mindless but I would appreciate more then one special attack per weapon type, plus actual bosses. Farming definitely has the most thought, but is still easy enough to manage. Fishing can go suck a cod!!! (My friend loves fishing, can't say I'm a fan) And of course there's tons to customize with how your farm looks and operates.
Fainting in a dungeon is surprisingly harsh though. You lose a ton of items and can only get one of them back. And some late game enemies deal a stupid amount of damage. You're better off reseting if you faint, honestly (unless you got a rare item, in which case tough shit).
Stardew Valley is a relaxing game but has a edge that the more happy-go-lucky life sims (I.E. Animal Crossing) doesn't quite have. For me, the edge is a bit too dull for my liking, but if my friend asks me to play it again, then I wouldn't hesitate to say yes.
I nicknamed my hammer the "Fuck-Off Hammer" for all those flying sea serpents in the skull cavern that need to "Fuck-Off"
Yet after over 40 hours, the beginning of year 3, married to Maru, unlocked the island's secrets, delved deep into the skull cavern many times, forged a hammer of the stars, raised dinosaurs, and helped make a farm that can produce 400,000 gold or more a month (admittedly they set up most of the farm); I came away thinking "Yeah that was decent."
Most of my "issues" are really just my biases for the things that make me enjoy a game. I enjoy becoming stronger in a game, richer even, but something that I asked myself a lot was "why?" I don't like getting power for the sake of power. The reason I don't mind grinding in a lot of games is that I'm working towards something. "I need more power because of this tough boss." If I clear the hardest challenge in the game, then I put it down. That is my cut-off point in most games. (Not to say I wouldn't replay them) So in Stardew, you have to make your own goals. There's nothing wrong with that inherently, and there are tough challenges to work towards, but I need something more concrete. Some kind of conflict to get invested in. You don't have any debt that you need to pay off, there's no real danger to the town or your farm; the only thing that drives you is you. And that really isn't enough for me, but that's just the kind of game this is.
This is a big reason why I couldn't get into Minecraft. There was never a good enough goal to engage me to the game. But at least Stardew has NPCs with their own stories and relationships, and a lot of mysteries to uncover that greatly expand the scope of the game. The feeling of progression is fairly gratifying too, earning a lot of money or leveling up a skill feels as good as it should. I also like how this is a life sim that isn't tied to the real-world clock. You can play through as many days as possible in one sitting, this is very good as it puts you in more control of the game. NPCs are a mixed bag though, which even my friend agrees to this. Some are cute and interesting, but others are just kind of jerks or a bit bland. I don't inherently have a problem with finding characters unlikable, even if they aren't a antagonist, but some of these are possible boyfriend/girlfriend candidates. They needed to be more inherently likeable or interesting. Maybe some random events that show the more interesting side to these characters sooner. Like I do get it, humans are complex. Some aren't so enthusiastic to talk to strangers. Many aren't comfortable being too open about themselves. It's sort of realistic in that way, but it still makes it harder then I feel it should be to engage with them.
The more gamey mechanics aren't too complex, which could be a good or bad thing depending on who you are. Combat isn't mindless but I would appreciate more then one special attack per weapon type, plus actual bosses. Farming definitely has the most thought, but is still easy enough to manage. Fishing can go suck a cod!!! (My friend loves fishing, can't say I'm a fan) And of course there's tons to customize with how your farm looks and operates.
Fainting in a dungeon is surprisingly harsh though. You lose a ton of items and can only get one of them back. And some late game enemies deal a stupid amount of damage. You're better off reseting if you faint, honestly (unless you got a rare item, in which case tough shit).
Stardew Valley is a relaxing game but has a edge that the more happy-go-lucky life sims (I.E. Animal Crossing) doesn't quite have. For me, the edge is a bit too dull for my liking, but if my friend asks me to play it again, then I wouldn't hesitate to say yes.
I nicknamed my hammer the "Fuck-Off Hammer" for all those flying sea serpents in the skull cavern that need to "Fuck-Off"