Recent reviews by jolyners

TL;DR: I'm really enjoying FoM and cannot wait to see what the future holds for this game, as it feels like a major improvement upon the genre. However, some minor issues do impact my overall enjoyment.

I will preemptively clarify that I am a professional writer and editor, so please understand this before reading my criticisms. I will open with my nitpicks and then gush about FoM.

My biggest issue is with how Adeline is written. For a character that is so forthright and earnest, I find the writing for the story quests to better Mistria sloppy and in opposition to Adeline's usual characterization. When talking to Adeline outside of the quests, especially with the context that her father is also a direct person, you see that she is a sincere go-getter. So, when she invites you to a location to side-eye you and indirectly ask for assistance after bemoaning how long a project would take, it feels incongruous with the Adeline you've spoken to outside of these events. Why would she invite you only to skirt around asking for help once you arrive? Isn't aiding in the development of Mistria a condition set when you move in? Why would she beat around the bush in such a strange, nearly passive-aggressive way? It contradicts everything Adeline seems to be and represents.

There would be much less of a preamble for each story quest if Adeline got straight to the point and asked you for your contributions without the ♥♥♥♥♥footing. It irritates me a lot more than it should, but I loathe these sorts of social dances, especially when I know this is not how the other party typically acts. Frankly, I find Stardew’s community center more compelling as you complete it of your own free will to better Pelican Town. This inconsistent writing is jarring and goes hand-in-hand with the other immersion-breaking issue I have with FoM.

This is extremely minor, but I think having someone read over the flavor text and dialogue would be to the benefit of the game. I know this is also something that only bothers me, but when I see a character say "breath" instead of "breathe" or the lack of an appropriate apostrophe, I am immediately taken out of the story. This happened when watching Juniper translate the Earth Seal and in some passing dialogue with the characters when they're meandering around town. I love the story and ambiance of the game, as they are both very engaging, but these typos and grammar errors are like being jumpscared.

I am not fond of how fishing sucks away your stamina. It feels weird that the Animal Crossing style of fishing, which is very casual (especially when compared to the fight-of-your-life style fishing mechanic in Stardew, which I do love), demands so much stamina. I know you can eat to refuel, but in the early game, when you’re too broke to buy something from the inn or Balor’s cart and have to make do with what you forage, catching five to seven fish before running out of stamina feels pretty restrictive. Anyone who knows me knows I love fishing mechanics in whatever I play, and the fact that fishing for two in-game hours takes more stamina than mining or cutting trees for half of the in-game day is extraordinarily annoying and off-putting.

My final issue is that the game lags out frequently and plays up to three tracks at the same time after freezing up, with a loud, looping walking sound playing on top. This is probably a bug only I have experienced, but it heavily impacts combat in the mines. If I’m trying to deflect copper a Clod is spewing at me, the game freezing means my sword strike gets canceled and I’m hit twice before enduring a cacophonous blender of music and sounds. This happens in town and on the farm often, too. Normally, my only fix for the music issue is walking in and out of a building to get it to reset, but it is very difficult to get this fixed while in the mines. I’ve been knocked out twice because of the game freezing in the mines, so I feel justified in my complaints.

This isn’t to dissuade anyone from buying the game or to tear down the developers. They are doing excellent work and I just wanted to be completely honest, especially as I find myself spending more time each day glued to the screen playing FoM. I have a soft spot for farm and life sims, and FoM pulls the best from Stardew and Animal Crossing (particularly the earlier versions, like Wild World) and makes something truly special.

I know I ranted about Adeline at length, but I truly love all the characters in FoM. Well, save for March, but I know I’m the outlier in this. Regardless, FoM addresses my biggest issue with Stardew: the NPCs. In Stardew, even in my save file in which I’m in year 5, I have yet to raise 10 hearts with all the characters. I find many of the NPCs to be boring, unlikable, frustrating, or a mix of all three. FoM, on the other hand, captures the small-town feeling and gives each character something unique without Flanderizing them. I adore the Dragonguard trio, as each kid has a very distinct personality and sense of humor without playing too much into their bit. Even Maple, who could potentially be seen as one-note due to her obsession with royalty defining a lot of her dialogue, still seems like a real kid lost in the depths of her current interest.

The way each character interacts with other characters and how they exist on their own is fascinating. The map function makes it even easier to piece together how these characters all live and function and all the different social webs in Mistria. I am so excited for the map expansions to continue piecing together Juniper’s mysterious backstory, or to see if Ryis gets to further explore his love of birds (side note: a bird-watching mechanic could be so fun, considering all the species in Mistria). I’m particularly invested in Eiland’s heart events, especially as they seem tied to understanding the lore of Mistria and provide more insight into Caldarus. I’m anxious to see if there will be any overlap in their stories, as I have a feeling that Eiland would be all over our beloved statue.

The mines are very intriguing and enjoyable. I’ve been playing Stardew for quite some time and still haven’t cleared Skull Caverns, and found the traditional mines to be a slog. I would put off exploration because it felt like a chore with low rewards. FoM weaves the story into the mines, which is inextricably tied to the lives of the characters. The mines are compelling because they ask you to explore and beckon you deeper to find out more about the past of Mistria. The rewards feel endless, with a variety of treasures, clothing, recipes, and blueprints found both in the mines and in the museum for turning in what you scavenge. Caldarus’ buffs, purchased with essence, and the spells you unlock through him are just the cherry on top.

I also appreciate how farming takes a backseat to everything else. You do have to plant crops every so often to donate to the museum, unlock recipes, or meet a story quest quota, but it’s not mandatory. It feels like ranching is more essential to progression than farming is, and even then, you have the freedom to decorate your farm, livestock, and what-have-you. It’s awesome and, again, feels less grindy than Stardew. This makes FoM a lot more relaxing and lower stakes, but makes me feel even more invested. It means I can choose to spend a day fishing to complete a collection in the museum without worrying about a timed quest or missing something during the season. The days in Mistria are in your hands.

FoM is undoubtedly an homage to other games in the genre but infuses strong RPG elements and a unique take on fantasy to deliver an unforgettable experience and storyline. The fact that this was released only a month ago and is in early access is astounding, as it feels so complete, even without parts of the map and story unlocked. This is a strong 9/10, and will surely be a 10/10 with the next updates. Can’t wait to see where this game goes next!

After my Hylics obsession, my partner recommended I check this game out. When I had access to his library, I began my playthrough. Words cannot describe the emotions I experience while playing this. I will keep this spoiler-free, but the themes and the dynamic between Bosch and Nowak reminded me so much of one of my favorite games, Dramatical Murder. However, unlike Dramatical Murder's sci-fi fantasy and the glimmers of hope offered by the good endings, this game is dripping with delicious irony and dreadful moments of introspection. This is extremely personal, but I've been pushed back into therapy lately, and have many of the same feelings as Nowak. To see so much of my experience mirrored in an allegory as poignant as it is challenging is enlightening and refreshing. Every failure pushes me to rethink my strategy and reform my relationship with myself. There are very few games that pushed me to grow in the same way this has. The music, ambiance, themes, and story are incredibly raw and arresting. Cannot recommend this game enough. One of the very best I've ever experienced. 10/10.

I decided that 2024 would be my year of visual novels. It's my favorite game genre, something I am always revisiting and finding endless joy in analyzing the many hours worth of reading laid out in front of me. I am especially fond of denpa, and heard this game (with art by one of my favorite artists, tsujisanta) fell into that category. Nothing, not even going in with some slight spoilers, prepared me for this experience. It was a love letter to the genre and its players, something so new and fresh despite having experienced countless VNs that attempt to do the same thing Totono accomplishes. I really don't want to say too much and ruin the experience, but this was a gripping read, and one I wish I could revisit blindly once more. It really set the stage for every other game I'm playing due to a certain choice I made. It has been a while since I have been so touched by a game, but Totono felt like it was made for people like me. If you love VNs, you owe it to yourself to play through this classic. I recommend going through JAST USA to get the full, uncensored game or the patch if you want the H-scenes. However, I do think the translation without the H-scenes is excellent and more inclusive, so do with that what you will. I haven't stopped thinking about this game since I finished it, and I hope whoever reads this gets to experience the same thing. Just want to say I experienced about three bad ends before I got on with the story, and had to do the first good end twice. The autoskip in this game is phenomenal! Auto-highlights text you've already read, and skips until there's a new line-- a function that will definitely come in handy with later gameplay. I am a very fast reader and was able to utilize the autoskip in a way that didn't affect how I was able to enjoy and interact with the game. Can't say enough positive things about it.

I don't often write reviews for anything, but I feel the need to leave one for this. Hylics is such an engaging experience, especially after what was, for me, a disappointing year of games. From the get-go, I fell in love with the style and execution of this riff on JRPGs-- the music, the animations, the nonsense. It feels inexplicably perfect, and encourages and rewards habits that would typically be punished in other games. It is so non-linear and every single unorthodox approach feels like it is acknowledged. The fun of this comes from wandering with a little ragtag troupe of friends, and it really captures that feeling. I know it is about the art being showcased in the game, but that charm oozes into absolutely everything. This is definitely my favorite game of the year, and if you get the chance or have a dollar to spare, check it out. ( presses spacebar while facing you to coerce you to buy this ) 🌘

funny garfield in car go brrrrr