Kynseed

因为没有中评而被高估的一个假种田游戏，引导太差了，一直在说服自己玩下去，但是真的毫无兴趣，东一坨西一坨的感觉，前期公告栏接了巨多任务，基本就没去做完过，做不做不知道有什么区别，种田也不知道有什么用，做的食物也不知道有什么用，就纯收集呗，来回跑不知道要干什么，实在没耐心玩下去了。

I really wasn't sure about this game when it was recommended to me but I'm so glad I bought it. I've seen it compared to Stardew Valley, which I love, but although the art style has those familiar pixel art style it is absolutely it's own game. The mechanics took my old brain a bit of time to get used to but not long enough to put me off. There is just so much to love about it. The characters, the story, the way the world seamlessly opens up to you as the game progresses all give lovely cosy vibes, while the combat is adjustable enough to make it simpler for those of us who aren't fans, and challenging enough for people who love it. It has a good balance of making you have to think to make discoveries while also guiding you along the way. The wiki is also a really good reference if you ever need a little bit of extra help. It has fast become one of my all time favourites, even rivalling Stardew for my number 1 slot. My best advice to new players is that, although it can seem long and possibly off putting to some, the prologue sets you up for the rest of the game and once you get past it you understand why it is what it is Don't let it put you off getting to the adventure that awaits you when you complete it. Try to avoid prologue spoilers if you possibly can, experiencing it first hand is definitely worth doing. Try to take time to read everything, the writing in this game is a joy, with lots of humour and subtle references to the real world and of course, lots of information to help you on your way. It feels like the developers have poured so much time and love into making this game what it is and it shows. It's one of those games you can pick up to play 'just a little while' and before you know where you are it's the middle of the night and you still don't want to put it down. I don't understand why there is not so much more hype over this wee gem, I'm so glad it was recommended to me because other wise I might have missed it completely.

Ok, I've been looking for something to scratch my Harvest Moon itch for a while now, and this has certainly scratched it. It's not just a farming game, there's crafting and mining and villager interactions, it's more like if Fable met Harvest Moon with a touch of Sims to make this. There are definitely parts I struggle with/dislike, but there's more that I thoroughly enjoy! The generational mechanic is fun to watch as the villagers all marry up and pop out new kids, it's a little fun seeing how the townsfolk change over time, which is another thing that I like about this game. Combat is quick and punchy, managing my animals and schedule is a minigame in it's own right (in that I have to balance my time), and the world is massive enough that I'm still finding things in areas I've already mapped out that I missed the first go around. If you like Fable, Harvest Moon or any of the other games in those categories, I highly recommend!

The story of "your childhood got stolen, your family hates you, and everyone will soon die" is a bizarre departure from normal farm sim motifs. When I think about the animal crossing intro where Rover encourages you to be brave in starting a new life or the stardew valley intro where you have the sense that everything can be ok it really reminds me how no such feeling is attempted in this game. You are all alone in picking up the pieces of your broken past. Thats the plot. The time gating the game constantly has you in prevents any relaxation. Every day I have to frantically avoid missing an opportunity. Im never deciding what to do based on my mood. Theres a whole mechanic about the inevitability of death but it seems pointless because I will tire of the game long before my character dies anyway. There are shops to own with associated minigames but tying them to capitalism steals their joy and makes them chores. Eventually you've done all the minigames so it turns into a business management sim? Unclear why that would be fun. You are robbed of any sense of creative expression because your starting house is already fully developed, furnished, and has all kind of crops around. This game is the emotional equivalent of picking up someones save file who is halfway done with stardew valley but stopped because they died. Its a game I continued playing begrudgingly while hoping its odd pieces would come together into something pleasant but they never did.

A game that could have been great, is simply decent. Worth playing and still fun, but some aspects of the game aren't fully realized here. Also, the game can feel a bit grind heavy.

Its an RPG adventure that mixes in various mechanics from other well known pixel art games like Stardew Valley. Tho a portion of the game could crudely be narrowed to acquiring something or raising relations with the NPC's that you encounter along the way. And on that point while there are farming mechanics they are not a focus of the game and fall more in the category of one of the many things to do rather than a focus. A decent portion of activities could be described as minigames and for the most part they are interesting but some feel much better than others. There is a relation system similar to Stardew but less deep story wise, and that is understandable as part of the idea is that NPC's do age and get replaced by someone new. However i did not experience this mechanic or the family one as apparently i was too efficient and finished main story well before any of that was even close to properly start to affect things. The art-style is nice and even beautiful at times but seems to be intentionally toned down for character portraits. Technical Items: While i did not experience any issues per se, i was a bit annoyed by the scene transitions being a bit slow but the big offender there was definitely fast travel.

I really wish there was a "neutral" option for reviews. When I started writing my review, I had selected that I don't recommend it. By the time I was done writing, I felt the need to change to recommend it. But I do want to give a very honest review. I want to love this game so much. The music is lovely, the art is charming, the maps are very fun to explore, the various crafting (cooking/potions/weapons/etc.) mechanics are all genuinely fun. Unfortunately though, the pacing of the game is completely at odds with its (supposed) core mechanic of continuing your story across multiple generations. I see that this aspect is [i]a lot[/i] less emphasized in the current store description and videos, but I'm pretty sure it was a very prominent part of the game mechanics when I first bought the game -- this is probably a good decision, to be honest. Even with trying to slow myself down, I felt like I had more or less done everything within one in-game year. So even if they've abandoned the multi-generational focus, I do think pacing adjustments are needed. Did I enjoy my time with this game? Yes, very much so. Honestly I haven't even played it for two years and I still think about it sometimes, especially one of the BGMs that I'm especially fond of. However, I also feel a bit of yearning for how close this game is to something absolutely extraordinary.

Okay, so my issue with Kynseed so far is its gameplay and storytelling is fiercely at odds with each other. It's story is an eldritch horror/fae trickster mix, and its gameplay is trying to be a social sim. But the two parts don't interact in any meaningful ways, at least that I can see so far. Fae and eldritch horror stories are difficult to write, because it requires agency against the impossible. Basically, you are tackling creatures beyond your comprehension, BUT, you still need to have control and choices. And those choices must affect the outcome of the story, just in service to the tricksters or gods, because they are so powerful that they overwhelm your choices. But you still must be able to choose. However, the game doesn't do that, instead giving you an illusion of choice instead, taking away your agency. The best example of this is one of the first major decision in the game. When you first get the contract for the Kynseed, you have a choice to decline. But it turns out to be a fae trick and you will accept anyway. That part is fine. It's all in line with the tricksters. But when you reunite with your sibling, whatever YOU chose, your sibling will hate you for having "chosen to take the seed", even if you decline, as if the fae's trick is your fault. That's... not how it should work for these kind of creatures? I think the best way to describe this failure of storytelling, is a simple rule. If you give me an eldritch god or fae trickster, you must give me the ability to TRY to punch them in the face. I can fail, and arguably, I should fail, but you MUST let me try.