My Time at Sandrock is Pathea’s tackle the life simulation of video video games. It’s one which, for higher or worse, brings thrilling new issues to the style whereas making it nonetheless considerably acquainted to the followers which have supported it ever because the first title dropped in 2019. Nonetheless, whereas I can’t say I totally keep in mind the time I had in Portia, Sandrock, which is the sequel’s world, is much extra attention-grabbing and considerably a bit more difficult.
It takes a variety of Portia’s good traits that I loved again after I reviewed it on the PlayStation 4 and provides extra to it so it doesn’t really feel such as you’re taking part in the identical previous sport, with the identical previous mechanics.
My Time at Sandrock, as I’ve simply talked about, is a life simulation sport. In scale, you possibly can examine it to the likes of Stardew Valley or simply about any of the numerous video games the style has busted out through the years. Fae Farm, for instance, was one of many newer ones I had managed to get my arms on a couple of months again and it’s a kind of that actually stood out to me in a couple of methods.
Whereas Stardew Valley and to a sure extent, Fae Farm, dives a bit extra into the farming facet to start out you out, Pathea’s My Time at Portia and My Time at Sandrock tackles it with a extra craft-heavy method. This already offers My Time at Sandrock a bit extra of a separation from the same old issues we’ve had so for those who ever needed to play a life sim sport and actually didn’t need to plough your lands and until the soil for the hundredth time, My Time at Sandrock would possibly simply be the type of factor you’ll really feel familiarity however on the identical time, completely different.
A number of story paths, a number of relationships
Relating to its precise content material and story, My Time at Sandrock follows three completely different paths, every of which has its distinct options that additionally swap backwards and forwards with the opposite. There’s the story behind a gang of bandits which fairly early on, you’ll get to see a glimpse of as the times go by. You additionally get to discover the deserted ruins after a few story bits that Yan, the sport’s resident lazy ass compelled upon you which ends up in a path to unlocking forgotten objects invented within the historical world.
Then there’s, effectively, you already know, the mutant lizards attacking the city… Do you get to beat the crap out of them so, hurray? However outdoors of its three principal tales, you additionally get to dwell a life in a desert wasteland, finishing duties from its residents and making a reputation for your self as the very best builder in a city that doesn’t actually have a variety of competitors anyway… in order that’s nice, I suppose.
As a life simulation, My Time at Sandrock is a reasonably strong addition to the style. It’s a bit extra on the crafting and fee facet although which ends up in a variety of scavenging across the desert or exploring the deserted ruins and mining its treasured assets.
It’s a very separate expertise to Fae Farm the place my days begin off by caring for my crops earlier than venturing out within the depths of the caverns in comparison with right here the place you normally begin it off by discovering a activity within the fee board after which ultimately diving deep within the ruins earlier than heading again to your workshop to construct and end mentioned activity. Equally, stamina administration is normally one thing that’s tied to a majority of these video games and that is no completely different.
You get fairly a little bit of it, nevertheless, the place it type of begins to rot is once you’re doing a activity like combating an enemy or mining an ore for his or her treasured assets solely to be one whack quick to deal the ultimate blow.
Being the very best builder like nobody ever was
There are a variety of issues that actually make My Time at Sandrock a enjoyable place to discover. The city which has fairly a little bit of nooks and crannies even gives you with fairly a little bit of hidden treasure chests to unlock to reap their rewards earlier than dismantling them for assets. You’ve additionally received fairly a handful of distinctive residents that vary from the essential pets that you just’d usually see in households to a speaking crow from an untalkative man.
So, getting their friendship ranges to ultimately calm down with somebody is a large a part of the sport and ties up fairly effectively as you unlock new duties from them earlier than truly tying the knot ‘til demise do us half. In the meantime, its fight system and weapon varieties do present some type of, effectively, let’s say, technique. Technique that entails having a a lot larger HP pool than your enemy and hacking and slashing away at them as they drop lifeless, vanish and ultimately flip to mud earlier than giving up assets prefer it’s some type of reward.
However hey, not less than there are a few weapon varieties that you could check out from a sword and defend that lets you block assaults to a greatsword that boasts energy on the expense of assault velocity.
A world that’s barren but lively
My Time at Sandrock’s world is considerably huge whereas nonetheless considerably barren. It is sensible as it’s a desert wasteland and issues like drought which ends up in a scarcity of water sources implies that your machines want them to stop them from overheating. This results in some little bit of problem as you’re much less inclined to only break down all the things you acquire and throw them into the recycler or craft stuff at an extra must you want it. Nonetheless, you do ultimately get extra quality-of-life enhancements as you progress.
Issues like dew collectors which can be unlocked by researching them within the analysis centre mean you can acquire dew because the title implies and this can be utilized on a handful of issues like growing the saved water in your reservoir. Ultimately, you do get to unlock extra space for your self. At the price of some gold, you possibly can unlock tiny bits of land to position your equipment and different amenities like barns and stables. You possibly can even totally construct and customise your individual home or add greeneries and trinkets to make it distinctive. Creativeness is your solely restrict right here… and possibly the quantity of gold you at present have.
Sadly, My Time at Sandrock isn’t the proper sport. I had a few instances the place the sport began to really feel off. A kind of causes was after I was doing a activity that concerned unlocking the horse from the city’s secure. At first, all of it appeared effectively and dandy whereas I used to be following the NPC, nevertheless, all of it went south when mentioned NPC simply straight up didn’t transfer in any respect after saying that I ought to observe them. This ended up with me simply operating again to my mattress which led to a failed activity.
There are additionally no quick journey factors on this planet so having a horse positively helps quite a bit which, in a approach, is best than strolling however controls is usually a bit awkward if you should flip round in a cramped house whereas mounted. This final bit is extra of a nitpick however I actually appreciated how Fae Farm does its instrument administration. There you possibly can routinely equip and use the fitting instrument like a pickaxe or shovel as you get near sure assets.
My Time at Sandrock and actually, each different sport just like this simply has scorching bars to your instruments and different stuff so you continue to must manually scroll by means of them to do sure duties which isn’t precisely horrible nevertheless it’s simply that Fae Farm has spoiled me a bit on this one.
Conclusion
My Time at Sandrock is enjoyable. The time I had whereas taking part in My Time at Sandrock, exploring its ruins and crafting all kinds of things to assist the townsfolk was a worthwhile expertise. However much more so, I simply loved it as a sport that leaves me with a variety of enjoyable recollections as I delve into its intricate tales and relationships. It may not have the very best fight system round however as a life simulation sport, it does the job that it intends to do. So, for those who’ve been that means to scratch an itch left by your favorite life sim, that is one which has potential particularly for those who take pleasure in taking part in with mates because of its multiplayer.
My Time at Sandrock Video Overview
Learn extra evaluations right here https://invisioncommunity.co.uk/class/evaluate/