Stardew Valley (2016)

Without necessarily intending to, he created what is now widely considered the definition of the cozy game genre. Stardew Valley feels complete in everything it sets out to do. The visuals are charming, the music is excellent, the gameplay loops are satisfying, the characters are endearing, and the world is gentle yet surprisingly deep. It is consistently engaging without ever becoming stressful.

Recently, the game marked its tenth anniversary and has sold nearly 50 million copies. The fact that Eric Barone developed it largely on his own makes the achievement even more remarkable. It stands as an extraordinary creative accomplishment.

Its appeal is not limited to a niche audience. It resonated not only with me but also with my girlfriend. Especially during more difficult phases of life, we repeatedly returned to it. Few games manage to provide that sense of warmth and comfort so reliably.

I even bought tickets a year in advance to attend the Stardew Valley concert, where the soundtrack is performed live by a full symphony orchestra. We saw it in Linz, Austria, and it was a wonderful evening. Hearing music you have spent 100 or 200 hours with performed live—seeing the string section in front of you bringing those melodies to life—added another layer of appreciation. Since then, the game has gained even more emotional weight for me.

For anyone looking for a game that offers calm, reassurance, and a genuine sense of ease, this is the right choice.

“Beyond the Wild Wood comes the wild world,” said the Rat. “And that’s something that doesn’t matter, either to you or to me. I’ve never been there, and I’m never going’ nor you either, if you’ve got any sense at all.” ― Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows

Chucklefish Games’ Stardew Valley is one of the most successful indie projects in recent years, largely due to the fact that it sticks to the time-honored traditions of task-based, open-ended gameplay pioneered by the many games to influence it. Earning money by raising livestock and cultivating crops, which we’re all so familiar with, has proven to be truly addictive. Just ask Harvest Moon, Story of Seasons, Rune Factory, Farming Simulator, and even FarmVille and any number of its clones. Don’t pretend like you don’t remember FarmVille.

The two most significant things about Stardew Valley, to my mind, are firstly that it does an excellent job of collecting, fusing, and refining the best fundamental elements of the farming sim genre, and secondly it doesn’t do too much to reach beyond those same elements. Think of it as a super farming sim. A lot of what I’ve seen in previous Harvest Moon games is here but there isn’t really anything new. Sure, there’s more to do. There is more ground to till, more cave to explore, more crops to grow, more animals to feed, more villagers to befriend, and so on. Just don’t expect an epiphany of innovation that steps beyond the boundaries of typical farming simulation. These games have always been about making friends and making money and Stardew Valley doesn’t end up being an exception to that rule. Therein lies its strength.

I played Stardew Valley on the PS4 so that’s the angle of this review.

A new game begins with character customization, which is far more advanced than what was typically available in farming sims of the past. The options are huge, right down to adjusting the RGB of your character’s eye color. Customize their name, gender, pet, shirt, hair style and color, skin color, accessory, favorite thing, farm name, and the plot of land for your farm. That last option is a great addition to the farming sim genre.

Instead of just starting your farm on the same plot on every playthrough (though I can’t imagine how many different full playthroughs of Stardew Valley one could endure), you can now select from the standard plot of land as well as mountainous terrain, forest, islands, and a wilderness area. The standard plot allows much more room for growing crops and raising animals and buildings. The mountains put your farm near to a private quarry for gems and ores. The forest plants the bounty of nature right at your doorstep. The islands afford better opportunities for fishing. The wilderness is far enough removed from civilization that it’ll be haunted by monsters at night, giving you a shot at raising your combat skills.

Click here for the full review... https://thewellredmage.wordpress.com/2017/03/07/stardew-valley/