Farmer’s Life review

For some people, the idea of a virtual farm is mind-numbing. The same could be said for any simulation game. However, I’ve got a soft spot for this genre, and I jumped at the chance to review Farmer’s Life. Developer Freemind SA has recently pushed this game from Early Access, and I had high hopes as a consequence.

Unfortunately, the desire to play this game and my unrealistic expectations undermined my experience. Sadly, the action is flawed as there is little to no guidance. Furthermore, the farming elements are arduous, and this causes frustration. Had the developer been more generous with their hand-holding, the action would have been vastly improved.

Farmer’s Life focuses on alcohol, fighting, and love.

Farming isn’t the most romantic job. Dirt, long hours, and low pay are to be expected. However, even I was shocked by the living standards of the protagonist and his pig. Things rarely get better as you scrape together resources to improve your farm and your life.

You play the role of Kazimir, a 30-something-year-old with an alcohol problem. His farm is dilapidated and he has sold most of his possessions to fuel his habit. Yet, he wants to clean up his act and enjoy what he has. This grisly farmer is partnered with a pig. The pair must assist the locals, grow crops, hunt, and do whatever they please.

The freedom to follow a quest line or slowly grow crops is where Farmer’s Life excels. Though none of the action is particularly well explained, I enjoyed scything the grass, ploughing the fields, and the technical advancements in your equipment.

Plenty of things to do.

Farmer’s Life isn’t short of a task or 2. There is a main quest line and plenty of side quests to complete. This sounds fantastic, but minimal guidance drives you insane. Whether you are building outbuildings, painting items, or searching for resources, you’ll be left scratching your head.

When I wasn’t trying to help the locals, I spent my time hunting and improving my farm. Additionally, I loved flirting with the local “babes” as I tried to keep clean and find a new wife. Each of these tasks is a necessary evil as you try to rebuild your existence.

Though farming is the name of the game, Farmer’s Life has survival mechanics at its core. Rest, fluids, food, and health must be topped up if you wish to stay alive. None of these elements were tough to manage, it was simply another set of plates to spin that muddy the water further.

Farmer’s Life is only for the hardcore fans.

Visually, this isn’t the prettiest game ever. The textures are somewhat rough, and the render distance isn’t perfect. The result is a game that just about passes for a modern title. Moreover, there are some ghosting problems, and you’ll notice tears and lighting errors the more you explore. The audio is a similar experience. Though the ambient sounds are nice, the grumbling protagonist gets on your nerves. His constant noise and moaning about alcohol is tedious. This should have been scaled back to improve things.

I’m not saying that Farmer’s Life is a poor example of the genre. However, there are better games in this field (pun not intended). The controls are a little lacklustre, and the replay value is limited unless you fall for its farming charms. Additionally, the lack of guidance is annoying, and the additional tasks are plagued with problems. Accordingly, though I enjoyed my time with it, you may want to give it a miss. If you fancy buying a copy, visit the Xbox store here.