I find it funny that players can kind of make their character a little menacing. They can choose to have a scar, which doesn’t really work, as the eye choices are just not a good match for scars. So it does look a little out of place, but it’s funny anyway.
The island of Azoria is a magic place and it’s clear something is going on that’s changing things and not for the better. The Mayor was hoping someone would find their letter and is thrilled to have the player. She’s so happy she gives them an old farm and its land, thrusting them into the life of a farmer and adventurer.
The game introduces characters and ideas at whatever pace the player deems fit and even lets you know you can take it easy, which is nice, especially for a farming sim. You have all the time in the world, and some farming sims seem to forget that. The characters are very cute too, so it’s hard to ignore them and you can befriend as many of them as they want, or none. The game doesn’t punish you for being a hermit, though you will probably have a few friends even if they just do the main quests.
You won’t meet all of the romanceable characters though, until you clear up the whirlpools. The whirlpools plague the island until the first main quest is complete. Then suddenly the island is awash with new adventurers, and they are a lot more interesting than the townsfolk.
The characters are split up between, shopkeepers, friends, and romanceable characters. Simply talking to friends or potential romance options pushes things along. Eventually, the character might ask you out on a date and eventually, you can decide to get married.
You can also ignore the main story if you see fit and still have just as much fun, though the early portions of the main story do offer up countless helpful tutorials. The game simply wants to give everyone the same attention, but it is still a game that anyone could pour hours into quite easily. Quests are obviously an important component here though also not necessarily necessary and Fae Farm offers them up as a way to push the player, but you can ignore them if you want.
The main quest leads you to more worlds but the other quests are for the people. Taking on quests allows players to help the island and also allows them to help the wider world, and makes things feel more lived in. There are places you may never see, but sending 25 chunks of iron will offer the player currency and make them feel like they are part of something greater.
Fae Farm is a cute and charming game to its core. Unlike Animal Crossing and its Happy Home Academy, which can be stressful, the Coziness level of the player’s house is important here. Players can build all sorts of furniture that helps raise this level or they can ignore it.
Farming and Crafting are a big part of the game too and you can farm as little or as much as you want too. Some farming is important quest-wise but not completely necessary. You will want to build all of the crafting devices though, because that’s where you will earn your money.
You might also get used to fishing, as it is a worthwhile event, but it does take considerably longer to fish than to catch creatures and mine. That said, it also leads to cooking this is an example of how the game will give back as much as you are willing to give. The world wants nothing more than for you to prosper and it’s beautiful.
For instance, mining gets very easy, and polishing up extra gems can provide the player with a ton of extra gold. Of course, characters and quests will also require this stuff, so having all the crafting machines is a necessity. It’s so fun, finding all of the parts to make the machines work, and some will take a while.
Fae Farm has mines to take on too and these are where you are sure to spend time because they help progress the story. You can take on the mines and dig for valuable ore and resources, as well as take on enemies. Yes, Fae Farm does in fact have enemies, called Jumbles.
The mines are cavernous and are 25 levels a piece, and you can craft seals to open the doors permanently. It can be fun just trying to get as deep in the mine before using seals, but the Jumbles get more aggressive as you venture deeper, so it’s best to be on one’s guard. There are switches to find if you don’t have a seal, and they are randomly hidden.
The second dungeon even has the terror of miasma, which can damage you if you aren’t prepared. It’s why you must have potions at your disposal. This potion will stop the effect of miasma for 20 minutes and ensure you can explore without issue.
Like everything else in Fae Farm, Jumbles are strange, lost items that become hostile. There are a variety of enemies, from a stopwatch, a treasure chest, and an anchor to name a few. Each enemy fights differently but it’s up to the player to dispatch them with their staff or magic.
As the hero progresses through the game, new spells will be gained. The first is a wind spell followed by the other elements which have overworld uses and help the player explore the world. It’s a nice tool to have and mixes up the humble fights.
Fae Farm is a game that prides itself on four-player multiplayer, and an online component has not made its way to many farming games besides Stardew Valley. Players can run about a player’s world and help them with tasks, or farm together. It’s a different experience, truly, because farming games generally are solo.
I’m not the biggest fan of multiplayer but in a cozy game like Fae Farm, it has its merits. It could be a perfect thing to coax a parent or a partner into playing games. The game is simple enough that anyone can play so, multiplayer is actually a cool addition.
Fae Farm has lovely music, that’s not too over the top. The music makes every part of the island feel different and that’s a good thing. A good game is one that leaves a multitude of feelings in the player and this one does. The ease of the music is a nice touch, and I do enjoy it.
It’s part of the new cozy game genre, a genre which just appeared to make others recognize these games are games. It’s pretty crazy that it would need a new subgenre, because Harvest Moon has been doing this for years, but here we are.
Fae Farm is a fantastic farming sim, and one that I will surely go back to. A game that people can play for hours or for as long as they can or want to. It’s a charming game that has all the player might want, if they are fans of the genre. Azoria is in chaos, will this farmer save the day?
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
