My Time at Sandrock Review (Switch eShop)

Followers of the farm sim style have been consuming effectively in latest instances, due to a growth in pleasant new releases and remakes. Heck, even Natsume’s latest Harvest Moon is type of good! But it was only some years in the past when Swap homeowners didn’t have anyplace close to as many choices, and it was on this interval that My Time at Portia launched. Providing up a jankier tackle the Rune Factory method of farm sims, it provided up a satisfactory expertise that nonetheless helped to fill an vital hole within the broader library. Since that launch, developer Pathea has been spending its time engaged on a sequel, My Time at Sandrock, which many have been hoping would meaningfully enhance on the issues of the unique. Sadly, it doesn’t actually achieve this. My Time at Sandrock nonetheless affords up a fairly pleasant tackle the farm sim formulation, however its poor graphical presentation, litany of technical points, and common lack of a definite identification actually drag it down.

Gameplay follows the anticipated trappings of a farm sim, whereby you slowly construct up a formidable property through tending to crops and livestock, all whereas constructing relationships with varied locals and collaborating within the occasional pageant or gathering. Even within the desert, seasons change and you need to plan out the way you time your planting and deal with your animals, at the same time as new seasonal alternate options turn into out there. It’s well-worn gameplay by this level, but it surely’s nonetheless enjoyable to interact in. There’s one thing remarkably satisfying about diligently tending to your duties day-after-day and watching your gear high quality enhance as your property regularly expands.

My Time at Sandrock introduces some extra RPG-esque qualities to the combo, too, borrowing from Rune Manufacturing unit. There are enemies to combat and dungeons to plunder, whereas you may as well hit the mines to search out treasured metals and uncover extra in regards to the historical past of the lifeless civilization that preceded yours. No matter what you’re doing, you’ll virtually at all times be gaining expertise that reinforces your character’s ranges and stats over time, whereas there are a number of small ability timber that grant passive advantages to actions like gathering or socializing. The RPG parts admittedly really feel a bit undercooked right here, however they introduce simply sufficient of a twist on the farming aspect of the gameplay to really feel like they’re worthwhile.

That is all effectively and good, however My Time at Sandrock feels somewhat too ‘secure’ in most respects. The farm sim style has totally exploded over the previous few years with plenty of new and interesting titles, and whereas My Time at Sandrock might have its fundamentals down, that is actually a recreation that you just’ve performed earlier than—probably even a number of instances. My Time at Sandrock does an honest job of providing the anticipated combination of socializing, farming, and crafting, but it surely fails to reply the query of why it is advisable to expertise all that right here as an alternative of in one other recreation comparable to Story of Seasons or Rune Manufacturing unit. Innovation will not be obligatory, however lately a recreation must do greater than provide up one more cozy village and farm to have a tendency if it desires to meaningfully set itself aside from the pack.

Compounding this situation of the relative mediocrity of the sport design is the truth that My Time at Sandrock runs terribly on the Swap. It’s not fairly the load-time catastrophe that My Time at Portia was at launch, however no critical particular person may declare it runs ‘effectively’ right here at launch. The body charge is a complete rollercoaster journey, leaping from its goal 30 FPS down the mid-teens territory after which again once more, on a regular basis. Pop-in is egregious, too. Generally you’ll hit an invisible wall whereas operating, just for a fence or a complete constructing to materialize after a number of seconds cross.

Then there are all of the annoying smaller quirks that add up rapidly. The ‘Present/disguise description’ button for objects on store and stock screens simply straight up doesn’t work, forcing you to squint on the grainy icons to attempt to guess which merchandise or software you’re about to purchase. Or, in one other instance, there’s a reminiscence leak situation current in the intervening time that limits playtime to about three hours at a time—if the sport is open for for much longer than that, even after being in sleep mode, there’s a very good probability it’ll crash, and also you’ll lose all the things since your final save. Then there’s the matter that the multiplayer, which was one of many headlining new options of this new launch, has been delayed to someday subsequent summer season.

We’ve been assured that many of those points are being addressed in patches as a consequence of come out all through launch month and past, although it’s anybody’s guess whether or not these fixes will cowl all the things. Pathea has positively bought its work reduce out, and let’s not overlook the observe report right here — on the time of writing, a efficiency replace for the unique recreation is still aiming for release “as soon as possible.” We’re hopeful that every one of Sandrock’s technical points shall be adequately mounted over time, however with so many different choices out there, we would advocate warning at launch. And whereas we will’t presently converse to the efficiency of different variations, it’s laborious to think about it may very well be worse elsewhere—keeping track of variations for different platforms, if that’s an choice for you, stands out as the technique to go in the interim.

The visuals are additionally one other notable destructive. Whereas the cutesy artwork type has temporary flashes of brilliance right here and there, the low texture high quality, chunky fashions, and general lifelessness actually hurt that ‘heat’ environment that’s clearly being aimed for. The iffy graphics are particularly noticeable in conversations with locals, the place they normally blankly stare ahead with lifeless, empty eyes and sometimes converse with out shifting their mouths in any respect. After all, farm sims are hardly ever famous for his or her graphical prowess, but it surely appears like extra may’ve been achieved when you think about these moderately sloppy outcomes.

Conclusion

My Time at Sandrock is an honest new entry within the farm sim style, although not one which we’d say you want to play. To its credit score, its combination of open-ended farming, crafting, socializing, and questing is compelling and will simply drive dozens of hours of gameplay if it will get its hooks in you. Nevertheless, all the things My Time at Sandrock does has been achieved elsewhere, and higher. Couple this with the mess of technical issues at launch, and also you’ve bought a recreation that has its attracts however does little or no to show that it’s worthy of your consideration. For those who’ve already began and completed a number of farms throughout the likes of Stardew Valley, Harvestella, and Story of Seasons, and are on the lookout for one thing new — and you are not too bothered by bland presentation and technical hiccups — then My Time at Sandrock may very well be an honest technique to preserve working the land. That mentioned, we’d advocate you await a deep sale, ideally a number of months from now as soon as time proves whether or not these patches ever come.