Back to Nature - Stardew Valley

Life-sim games have been around since the Super Nintendo classic, Harvest Moon. Some, like the original, have advanced on the idea of maintaining a life on a farm in a small town where everyone knows your name. Others have developed sub-genres, mixing survival into the gameplay. Some, like the game I will be talking about today, simulate the classic style of Harvest Moon and mixes in combat and elements of an RPG.

This is Stardew Valley.

Stardew Valley is a life-sim farming-and-foraging RPG developed by Eric Barone, known under his online alias 'ConcernedApe' and published by Chucklefish Games. Eric announced the game's conception in 2012, and a long three-plus years later, the game was released in full on Steam February 26th 2016.

You, the main character, start the game as yet another cog in the corporate machine of the Joja Corporation. As you drone on in the humdrum of city life, you remember something...your grandfather left you a letter: a letter informing you that he has left you his farm in Stardew Valley. With not another moment wasted at your dull desk job, you hop on the next bus out of town, never looking back...

And what a choice that was.


This Game In Review: Graphics, Gameplay, Story and Soundtrack


Graphics: 5/5

The game is stylized similarly to Starbound, but what really brings this game visual appeal is the aesthetic of everything. Stardew Valley is designed to draw players' eyes to the natural world around them. Every individual feature is something to look at, from the tiniest details in the trees and how they change from season to season, the subtle uniqueness of the buildings in town, and even the grass in the fields and sand on the beach looks spectacular.

Gameplay: 5/5

Playing the game is particularly simple: cut down trees, break rocks, cleave away grass and weeds, till soil, plant things, cast your fishing rod, mine ore, swing your sword, raise your animals, do quests for the townsfolk and repeat. The game is played with either a WASD and mouse keyboard setup, or an Xbox/Steam Controller gamepad setup. Control is very fluid and doesn't bug out at all, but eventually, doing the same thing over and over again gets tedious. Good thing you don't have to! If you're bored of farming, delve into the mines and fight some slimes and bugs! Don't feel like fishing? Wander the town and forage for herbs and flowers! You'll never run out of things to do! The game has limitless replay value!

Story: 4/5

The interesting thing about Stardew Valley's story is that, for the most part, YOU create it. Aside from that, each NPC seems to have their own thing going on at any given time, and you're given glances into these parts of their lives and at the same time, you're given hints, and sometimes options, as to how you can get involved. Other than that, the general story/goal of the game is that you're trying to breathe new life into the once-great natural town...or you can take Joja Corp's side and bring about a modern revolution.

Soundtrack: 5/5

Stardew Valley's ambient and varied soundtrack really bring the game to life. Each season has its own set of songs that play throughout each day as you wander through town, and every major event has a tune to help bring it to life as well:

Spring - It's a Big World Outside

Summer - Tropicala

Luau Festival

Overall, I give Stardew Valley a 4.75 out of 5. From my perspective, the game is perfect for anyone who, like myself, is a fan of life-sims and RPGs. And with Barone planning to add a 4-player co-op mode, soon you'll be able to enjoy the majesty and wonders of the valley with friends!