Garden Story

Garden and agriculture games seem to be all the rage over the last few years - well, kind of, at least. Garden Story is a game that comes across as yet another zen-like simulator where players can sit back, relax, and enjoy a calmly pixelated world grow around them. But all is not as may seem in this cutesy little adventure game!

Garden Story has already struck a chord with gamers being a much more story-rich experience than one would conclude from its visuals. It appears to promise all the feats of a chilled-out simulator, where the first playthroughs of the game suggest otherwise. So how are we going to define Garden Story?

The Grape of Wrath

Under the vise the game's title, there is quite the narrative in Garden Story, enriched by its elaborate backstory. You are a young grape - who has been appointed as the Guardian of the Grove - tasked with defending and unifying your broken community. And there, you already have the objective of the game laid out in plain sight. But how are you going to accomplish it?

You'll use your grapey skills to adventure around the garden and solve differences using combat, dialogue, puzzle, and exploratory tactics. There doesn't seem to have much going for it on the game's pixelated visual. Actually, they amalgamate to deliver deep and meaningful gameplay. It's surprising how one get's so immersed in the world of the Grove!

Character development, quests, puzzles, and general design are all excellent. You consistently feel that there is always some meaning behind everything you do in the game - and completing tasks often have rewarding outcomes. It's a wholesome adventure with a bizarre narrative, and it somehow ticks all the right boxes.

Though Garden Story is not really a simulator - there's enough to do to keep your Grove fruitful, giving that impression. You will have to manage a series of community tasks to get upgrades, bring peace, and progress towards the final stages. But Garden Story is an adventure - and it's a fantastic one at that.

In the Garden of Gameplay

What initially seemed like a take on Stardew Valley - Garden Story is arguably more like The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening.

The combat-heavy gameplay and the depth of character and narrative development make it much more relatable to the famed adventure game - though Garden Story maintains an essence of uniqueness.

Pros:

• Outstanding game design that pairs a host of different mechanics well
• Excellent character development with resonating dialogue
• The world of the Grove feels alive

Cons:

• Not much variation in enemies and boss fights