![]() It shares a button with a toolbox, too, and it’s frustratingly easy to find that you’ve waded into battle with a rusty (but useless) spanner. The shield – essential for certain bosses and projectile-firing roots that make up a lot of the game’s combat tasks – is also painful, taking a second or two to activate. Attacks feel tick-based, forcing you to wait before loading up the next attack. And even with Concord stacked with lifepoints and stamina, combat still feels rigid. This improves, of course, but the damage is done in the early game. Rarely do you have the damage capability to kill an enemy in one go. As a result, combat becomes a stilted, unsatisfying experience as you hit and run, wait a bit, then return to the fray. Other aspects also use the stamina, like a shield and dodge, which only cannibalises the small amount you have to play with. So, you’re whacking a slime or acorn-beast, and then you’re waiting several seconds for your stamina to replenish. Your attacks use up a chunk of stamina and, at the start of the game, you have three chunks. But combat is here, and it’s a tad tiresome. You can close your eyes and imagine a Garden Story without combat, and it would likely have been a better, more accessible game for it. It’s in danger of being castaway between them all. It’s not as engaging as Stardew, not as exciting as Legend of Zelda, and doesn’t have the sweep of Animal Crossing. There is nothing here to be wowed by, and it doesn’t have the depth, story or compulsion of so many of its forebears. While Garden Story is nice, it is also perfectly happy to pull up a deckchair in the middle of the road. It doesn’t stray into the negative aspects of the word by becoming twee, and we can feel the day’s worries wash off us as we play. It’s the abiding, non-committal word that keeps buzzing in our head as we play Garden Story. Get those done and a new tool will be tucked into your backpack: perhaps a dowsing rod, which acts like a fishing rod in all but name or a scythe, for chopping down reeds. You must abandon all of the other towns to visit this one (presumably to keep your focus from straying), as you are quickly given a place of residence and some initial chores to complete. ![]() A new town is made available to you, themed to one of the seasons. While there is an easy-going comfort to interactions in Garden Story, they don’t really capture the heart or mind.Ī pattern begins to form as you play through Garden Story. It’s a warm, cuddly message that does work, but it replaces any high-concept stories, plots or even particularly interesting characters (only a frog, Rana, really registered with us). There’s a civic feel to Garden Story, as you learn the benefits of helping each other and working together to a common goal. They’re in various states of ruin, and often share animosity with each other. Being a Guardian means that you will be fixing bridges, clearing out water supplies and boshing the odd slime on the head with a hammer. This is a rather important title in the Grove, as it effectively positions you as one of the four towns’ champions. But they are soon seconded by a giant plum called, um, Plum, to become a ‘Guardian of the Grove’. ![]() Players may also deposit gathered resources in chutes to expand their Libraries which provide further insight on items and lore.You play Concord who, as mentioned, is the custodian of a tiny garden. Each safe house allows players to heal and move time forward by sleeping. Players have access to several safe houses across the world. To help accomplish favors, players have access to Tools which enable them to engage in combat, harvest resources, repair items, etc. Completion of these favors will increase social standing with NPCs and can unlock new paths to explore. To do this, players can accept and carry out favors which can be found at Request Boards. Players are tasked with traversing the world and reconnecting each of the four villages. "Garden Story looks to have you help out a population in need, but it also aims to give you a place filled with silly neighbors and lush plants to grow, giving you a relaxing place to cultivate and explore. Balance caring for the environment, exploring new regions, and fostering new friendships as you solve puzzles and help restore the Grove to glory! Help your friends with their struggles, and they’ll help you through yours. Fortunately, Concord won’t be working at this alone. There’s lots to keep this helpful adventurer busy not only do your neighbors need assistance, but a mysterious Rot has seeped into the foundations of the once flourishing island! Traverse a broken island, protect its inhabitants, and solve mysteries while making friends with a fruity cast of characters. Garden Story is a social sim and adventure RPG where you play as Concord, a newly appointed village guardian.
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