FAR: Lone Sails

FAR: Lone Sails is atmospheric, a bleak kind of beautiful, and mostly chill with a few moments of panic. You'll operate your land ship thingy by pushing buttons, and feeding it stuff you find lying around. Navigate various puzzling obstaces, and try not to get stranded (or set too many things on fire.) I completed the game in 4 hours, but will certainly play through again. It's well polished (I noticed zero bugs) and I think they pulled off exactly what they were going for.

Someone commented that this game would be better as a screen saver. I kind of agree. The game revolves around a journey you make with a strange vehicle. Leaving your home, going somewhere further away, through a vast wasteland. I really like the idea. The actual interactivity is limited to pressing the gas button (you have to press it every ten seconds or so, or it will stop) and once in a while break to pick up fuel cells (that just lays scattered all over the place for some unknown reason) or solve a simple boring puzzle to progress. If at least the game would not require you to press gas every ten seconds and then break to pick up the fuel cells you are driving over, you could enjoy the scenery. This would also up for including more interesting gameplay elements than pressing gas five times in a row, break, exit vehicle, pick up fuel, refuel and repeat. I give it a 2/5 because I like the artstyle and the idea. Close to a 1 though.

This game is a work of art. It has beautiful visuals and atmospheric sound and music which draws you into the world it presents. The puzzles are not overly challenging, and are satisfying to complete. The only real downside is its short length compared to its price tag, but pick it up on sale like I did and you won't regret it!

I had already watched a play through of Lone Sails on the tubes, but still the game peskered me in the back of my gamer's brain (you know what I'm talking about, right? That little voice back there that constantly says, "Buy me... I'm on sale at GoG.com!" Yeah, you know the one!) So I did buy it and I have to say - it's just a touching, fun little game! Beautiful to behold. And honestly, it didn't feel 'climate preachy' at all; Lone Sails never gets into WHY the world has rusted away, just that it did fade, which is actually a true story!

...while your landship constantly suffers catastrophic damage, catches fire and burns you to death. This title absolutely defies genres and is overflowing with atmosphere and art and cool concepts and all that but, it has zero replay value and lacks depth (or at least, lacks defined depth). Where's our little guy (or gal) going? Why? What happened to the world? And several other unanswered questions. Actual gameplay consists of pushing your landships 'go', 'stop', 'steam vent' buttons, putting out fires and repairing components, gathering fuel and using it and some minor puzzle figuring out. It actually all gets pretty tedious and the player will be thankful the games conclusion comes fairly quickly. I'm glad I played it, it was a neat experience. But I can't recommend it. Repetitious gameplay and absolutely no reason to ever start it up again after one playthrough equates to a sad thumbs down. Sad because it really does have a lot going for it. I even dislike giving it a lowly 3 star rating. But, bias aside, that's about all it is :(