Stardew Valley takes elements of Harvest Moon, Rune factory and animal crossing and then becomes better than all three. Bold statement, huh? Here's why. Firstly, the amount of content this game has is astounding. You have farming, fishing, mining, foraging, combat, NPCs, quests, special events... and the best part is that the game is well-balanced and makes different play styles viable, and fun. Next, characters. No silly anime-like tropes in this game, no sir-ree. The characters feel like real people who you can relate to, and, yes, you can marry one. So awesome and fun character interactions! You've also got a HUUUUUUUGE amount of customisation for your farm. Want a fenced off area for your maple syrup plantation? Sure! How about a place you can put all your pickling vegetables or spring berries you're turning into jam? We got a place for that. How about all your animals and bee huts, you want a place for them too?... I think you see where this is going. This customisation extends to the house as well as your main farm. Finally, music, graphics and overall feel... are spectacular. The music is awesome at conveying mood, and the sprite-based graphics are great (and will give the game much longevity for many many years to come). Probably my favourite aspect are the seasonal changes. The change in colours, sounds, music and everything culminate into a genuinely beautiful world. Good - A beautiful game - Well-balanced with many fun characters (Abigail = best girl) - Very nice music - Addictive gameplay that can suit different styles and approaches - An overarcing main story (Not done... pretty poignant so far) - The developer is very attentive to community Bad - Has a few minor bugs on release (that are being fixed) - Perhaps needed one more 'older' marriageable bachelor - Takes a little time to figure out at start This game was made by a single developer whose love and dedication shines through... looking forward to the planned multiplayer and added features!
