izigame.me

TL;DR Version: Beautiful, philosophical, one-and-done for most people game, not the farm-sim as thought to be advertised, very small yet varied map, deep themes about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Debilitating Perfectionism, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder that doesn't get preachy. I'm so glad I got the soundtrack because it's gorgeous. Very short at 10-15 hours, but doesn't over-stay its welcome.

NOTE TO POTENTIAL BUYERS/PLAYERS:

This is not, absolutely NOT, a Stardew Valley or Harvest Moon clone. It has certain elements, yes, but it does not do what the farm sim genre does, where you have a farm with infinite years to try making it profitable to buy upgrades. Here, you need one of each plant (maybe two) and that's it. Also, light spoiler alert: you get to keep nothing as nothing lasts here. It's just enough plants to drive the story forward.

The long "I actually drank at least five litres of tea in the real world playing this" version:

This was one hell of a roller-coaster of a game, one that gets you thinking about how just one person handles their trauma. Is it a good, healthy way to do it? That's up to the player to decide. Is Alta a good person? Again, that's subjective. I'm not stuck on her as a person, but if we knew what happens after, I may like her more.

The art and colour choices are gorgeous, and I wish that we could have a tea shop like that where I live, one in the middle of a park that's relatively quiet. I'd go there as often as I could in the short time Canada has for Spring, Summer and Fall. It's also stylistically different from their first two games; it may be a little clunky, but hey, everyone has a first time making a game like this, and the next one will be better. Or very, very different, like old-school 16 bit or something! Who knows besides the studio?

This is a game of four acts, and each lasts the just about right amount of time story-wise; if you want to fill the whole place with plants, drink tea and ignore the customers to the very end of each act, go for it. I'm one of those players that likes to play through just for the story, and then play again to really appreciate the views and take advantage of the time I have to clean things up...that keep coming back... And let's not forget getting the achievements (one of which I missed).

I took a peek at the forums and wow...a lot of people are upset because "the promos lied". Did they? Having played The Beginner's Guide and (finally, as in three days ago) The Stanley Parable, I knew going into Wanderstop that this is NOT going to be a Stardew Valley clone.

Although they did put in the annoying fishing mechanic for the water boiler. I didn't appreciate that. *eyetwitch*

Jokes aside, some people really don't like the tea-making mechanic, but once I got the hang of it I liked it. Sure, it's convoluted, but name one person who doesn't have a very particular ritual of making tea or coffee in the morning (measurements, brands, country of origin, milk temperature, water temperature, sweetness, foam, makers, infusers, kettles...). I should also mention that the Japanese Tea Ceremony lasts for hours. It's all about the process, and taking the time to get it right, especially for the dancing fairy and Nana. *eyetwitch*

There are a number of customers that come along, and I honestly was expecting a Stanley among them, or at least a mention at one point. Some are super goofy, some are serious, some have no humour at all. There's a part of me that wonders if they were real people or if they were simply fragments of Alta she had to deal with.

But that's the beauty of this game; it's not preachy, lets the player come to their own subjective conclusions and it doesn't sledgehammer the message home in a "DO YOU GET THE MEANING I'M TRYING TO CONVEY?!" kind of way. If you get any message, you get it. And the message is different for everyone. The game doesn't "fix" Alta, it just offers a perspective shift.

There is so much in her that I recognise in myself it isn't funny. The perfectionism, the need for control, not being able to handle other people, needing to be busy all the time and not knowing how to relax. That's why I'm on anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication. Tea can't fix all woes, but it's a comfort.

And let's talk about the music, and how utterly perfect it is. I've been on quite the lo-fi kick and just really enjoyed the different groves in the shop and outside. I also had to laugh at the cow on the radio as that may be a reference to the Lofi Girl (formerly known as Chilled Cow) radio station, the one with the girl forever studying.

At about $40 CAD, it's a bit pricey for under 15 hours of playtime, but I think it's worth it for the philosophical themes alone. Pick it up when you're able, because there may be a flavour of tea in there somewhere for you.