Tag: news

Reviews

First Impressions: Lightyear Frontier

Cozy Bear2 Comments

Happy Friday, Cozy Friends!

Here’s another cozy game FREE with Xbox/PC Game Pass! It’s actually quite a new game too, released just last month!

(I realized in my last post I did not mention that Xbox Game Pass has both a PC version, as well as a console version, and I do think, a combined version as well.) In a nutshell, if you don’t have a console, you can still take advantage of it!

Lately I’ve been exploring what games are offered through Xbox/PC Game Pass and it’s honestly been a lot more miss than hit. This may not be the case for you though, as everyone has completely different tastes when it comes to games!

In the last couple of weeks I’ve tried a handful of different titles including Farworld Pioneers, Astroneer, While the Iron’s Hot, Spirittea, Open Roads, and Coral Island, and while Coral Island was actually great, sometimes it’s just not the right time for a game. Do you know what I mean? Also, sometimes I try a game that, in many ways, I *should* enjoy, but I just end up…not. Does this ever happen to you too? It’s such a peculiar feeling. Like an itch you just can’t seem to scratch. Like a kind of restlessness that’s only applied to video games. (Am I describing some kind of *panics* gaming addiction…oh God I hope not…)

Okay but then FINALLY! there it was – the game that clicked. It took a while, but I found it!

Lightyear Frontier offers a unique spin on the farming sim genre. It has much of what we expect and enjoy from a farming sim. What makes this title stand out is how much exploration (of an abandoned alien planet) is the heart of the game. While farming and homestead development is a major part of the game, and necessary for progression, you will spend much more time exploring the planet, restoring the surrounding regions, and scouting for resources.

First Impressions:

  • While the game runs very smoothly and what is there feels very well done, it is also obvious that the title is still in it’s Early Access stage. While it is a farming sim, it is very small scale farming. In fact, there are only 4 crops thus far. Additionally, there aren’t many crafting recipes available yet either.
  • I think the idea of traversing a large alien planet via mech is a very cool concept. Later, when you’re able to craft a landing pad for a merchant, you’ll be able to customize your mech’s parts. Although the different styles come at different costs, it is not clear if those upgrades have any specific traits or stats that enhance your mech. Considering it is an advanced machine, it would make the most sense for these upgrades to offer more than a simple cosmetic change. But there’s no indication of this, as far as I’ve seen.
  • The map is quite huge! I often return to a biome, and while wandering around, discover I haven’t seen this part of the map yet. It’s a huge open world with lots of areas to explore.
  • There is clearly some lore to be uncovered, and I really do hope this part of the game will be greatly expanded on. As you explore the planet, data is processed, and little bits of lore is cataloged about the planet. Slowly you’re able to learn more about these abandoned locations on the map. I really hope to learn more about what happened here!
  • This game sprinkles just a tiny bit of eco-awareness. While exploring, you’ll run across different biomes that are polluted and you’re tasked with clearing that pollution with your mech. You’ll see how restoring these areas allows wild crops to regrow, as well as wildlife to re-inhabit the area.

Overall, Lightyear Frontier is a very slow-paced game. It was definitely designed to be enjoyed at your own pace, with as little sense of urgency as possible. Games like this can really be fantastic for those days you just want to relax and unwind. If cozy is what you’re after, this definitely hits the mark.

Over and out,

Cozy Bear

Reviews

Nova Lands Review: Adding Adorableness to Base Building 🚀✨

Cozy Bear2 Comments

Dear Cozy Friends,

I apologize for going silent for the last month and a half. My human life has been hectic, to say the least. I’ve also been sick, busy with other responsibilities, and haven’t made time to play my cozy little games, and in turn, share with you my cozy little adventures.

With that said, you can look forward to a few posts about Nova Lands – a review, as well as a guide, and an introduction to a new MMO I’ve been excited about – Lost Ark.

Without further ado, here’s a review of Nova Lands:

To start, Nova Lands is a factory building, exploration, and island management game designed around this super adorable pixel space themed universe. In this game, you’re a cute little explorer who has just landed on a remote planet, and it’s your job to bring industry and grow your community amongst the stars! 🚀✨

As you progress through the game, you’ll be able to build yourself your own little rocket ship, which will take you to the space station. It’s up to you to bring this once thriving intergalactic marketplace back to life! “End game” involves crafting difficult items, shipping them off to be sold, and further growing and developing the space station. Meet cute characters with adorable art along the way!

What makes this title different from others in this genre is it really is designed to be casual, relaxing experience. If you’ve played other automation, factory building or management type games, you may recall that they can be quite stressful and overwhelming. Unlike other titles, such as Satisfactory, Nova Lands isn’t as expansive, and therefore, likely much less stressful. It does not require a ton of strategy to master.

Beyond factory building, there is a lot more to be done in Nova Lands. As you continue to unlock other biomes and explore the planet, you’ll discover monuments and their guardians. These are tough bosses to overcome. Here’s the interesting thing about that, though – you don’t have to fight them. You can, instead, befriend these guardians. How adorable is that?!

There is some combat in this game, but there are ways to develop your gaming experience to avoid as much combat as possible. As you unlock skills each level, you can make certain animals docile, as well as craft fighter bots to do the combat for you. Along with befriending the guardians, you can nearly skip most combat available in this game if you choose to.

If collectathons are your thing (games that involve creature collecting, or some kind of collection/museum activity) there is a bit of that too in Nova Lands!

Overall, I think Nova Lands is a great introduction to the factory building and automation genre, especially if you haven’t tried them before. If you have, but you find those games kind of stressful or challenging, I recommend starting here. This is a great game to learn the genre! Also ALIENS! And space travel! I love aliens and space travel!

If you decide to give Nova Lands a try, or have played it before, I’d love to hear what you think in the comments.

Also, I’d like to note that the game is on sale right now for $13.99, and ends March 21.

Over and out! – Cozy Bear

Reviews

More Thoughts On Roots of Pacha 🦬

Cozy Bear3 Comments

Hey Cozy Gamers!

Now that I’m 75 hours into Roots of Pacha (I know, crazy right?!) as well as 25 achievements (also quite impressive if you ask me!) I wanted to return with an even more thorough discussion of the game.

Alright so…if a Stardew Valley was designed specifically for me, this is what it would look like. And that’s not to say Stardew Valley isn’t a fantastic game. It is one of the most well-loved titles that has made way for this mysterious genre we call cozy games. But, wow, Roots of Pacha has my heart in a way I never expected.

If you compared the two side by side, Roots of Pacha is just so much more dense – like a satisfying full course meal verses a beloved sundae at your favorite ice cream shop. In a nutshell, Roots of Pacha has so much more to offer than other similar titles, more than you could even imagine without really getting into it.

Exploration: Roots of Pacha is a huge game. There are 5 biomes, and while each are a different size, they all offer something unique that will have you coming back every season. As your clan realizes new Prophecies, the world around you changes, you grow and evolve with it. Your village is constantly evolving, and so is the world and characters around you. There are new seeds, new fruit trees, new fish and even new wild life to discover as the seasons change and the years pass. Over time you’ll see your clan erect new buildings and structures and the world around you evolves.

Relationships: One of my favorite aspects of this game is how interactive the character relationships are, as well as the theme of community. I love watching my clan gather for seasonal gatherings. On rainy days, and during the cold of winter, you’ll see clan members gather around the fire for dancing and quality time. Every day you can gift an item to each member of your clan, and eventually, members of other clans as well. As you gift items and they discover “ideas”, your relationship grows and you learn more about them and their families. All of this information is also tracked, so you can easily reference which clan member loved that wheel of goat cheese and who didn’t like the plate of roasted meat.

Wholesome: There is no combat in this game. While there is hunting, it’s primarily setting traps alongside a little mini game. Instead, you’ll be playing your flute for baby boars and moving a mammoth into your hut. You can hand-feed your animals, treat them for colds, and give them lots of love each day.

The Wholesome Message: What’s most wholesome? The theme of community. It is by far the most memorable and genius mechanic developed into this game. The currency system is entirely designed around the concept of community, doing your part, and providing for your clan. The success of your clan is entirely based on Contribution, both your own, and the other clan members. Everyone provides in their own way. Some are hunters, cooks, musicians and even painters. Each and every one is a crucial part of the community and brings equal value to the clan. This is a message that, I think, we all still need to be reminded of.

Mines: Or, in this case, the Caves, are very uniquely designed in this game as well. The Caves are designed as a maze, with entrances to each biome. There are also fast travel points, and puzzles required to unlock other parts of the Caves. The majority of the mining nodes appear as simply rocks, and you can’t determine the type of node it is without mining them. The Caves are very expansive, with so many rooms to unlock and explore. There are also tons of different gems and ore used for tool upgrades and jewelry.

75 hours later, I am still fawning over Roots of Pacha, and am hoping others will have the opportunity to enjoy it as much as I have too. If you’ve been on the fence about this one, I highly recommend giving it a chance. It might end up becoming one of your favorite games!