Walden, a game

cannot sex the fish

I love the game. At first I was too relaxed and spent several days wandering around, and noticed that I was already too late to seed my bean field :O. I found out when I read Emerson´s harvesting book! I am a contemplative person, also when gaming, so I have to be careful not to let days pass looking for enlightenment, otherwise my beans will whiten or the tax office will come for me if I don´t go and pay what is due. Anyway, wonderful game: good graphics, amazing sounds (I waste valuable days looking at the pond and listening to the branches moving with the wind or the sound of the rain on the water :O); wonderful voices, with texts taken directly from the book. I am reading the book in parallel with playing the game. I am really enjoying it. It is not a survival game but there is some pressure with food, rest and money, so you have organize yourself and do things well :)

Проста, але чудова гра. Після прочитання Волдена, граєш і впізнаєш прочитане. Але також, відкриваєш для себе світ Торо по-новому. Сезони змінюються, навколо нові умови виживання, нові види і спостереження, але завжди є час почитати книжку на камені біля озера. Тут доволі багато читання, листів-текстів Торо і супровідних творів, які його надихали. Мені це сподобалось, адже просто збирати ягоди і рубати дрова доволі швидко набридає. Я навіть потрапила в тюрму, що мене приємно здивувало. Це ж теж частина історії Торо. А ковзати по ставку взимку — моє улюблене.

The writings of Henry David Thoreau are elegantly incorporated into this beautiful walking simulator. The world of Walden Lake and its environs (including Concord and Emerson’s house!) is a joy to wander around. This is a game about looking, and really seeing, and about the relationship between walking and thinking. It’s not an exaggeration to say that it’s changed the way I’ll look at the natural world: I long to know the names of every tree, plant and natural phenomena I see. Alas, pent up in the city, as I am, I don’t see much, but the sight of a flower peeping up from concrete is a richer balm to me now. It’s perhaps ironic that it’s a piece of electronic technology that’s instigated this desire to reconnect to the natural world, to notice more deeply the changing seasons and our lost place in complex ecosystems. In terms of gameplay, you play as Thoreau during his year in the woods (although the game allows you to stay beyond the year he spent there). You walk around the gorgeous lake - the art is stunningly beautiful, every screenshot I took is like a Dutch Golden Age landscape - and listen to his writings (the voice acting is superb). There’s also some light crafting and farming, activities which help establish a rhythm to life in the woods. The game also acts as a kind of introduction to, and (auto)biography of Thoreau. It all feels like it’s been immaculately researched. I love this game very much, and will return to these woods whenever the city has got too much for me. There’s so much more to say about this game, but I’ll stop here. PS I’d never read Walden; or, Life in the Woods before, but I will be soon.

A relaxing Peaceful Game indeed. I give it a Thumbs up, has very good Graphics, and smooth Game play.

Charming and stimulating, but also fun. Have never read any Thoreau and I think this was a charming introduction that has whet my appetite