It was the year 1996 and young me was trying to fly a Boeing 737. Nobody could stop me because I was determined enough to go through with this dangerous endeavor. Once I was airborne I almost immediately crashed the clumsy thing in a building. Luckily all this had taken place in Flight Simulator 95 so I (and the possible passengers) could live to tell the tale. Fast forward to 2018 where the amount of “close-to-the-real-thing” simulators has skyrocketed. Pure Farming 2018 is the next contender for simulator game of the year.
Not just another Farming Simulator
If you’re a gamer with a green thumb, your options to virtually continue your agriculture lifestyle are almost limitless. You can choose the cute route by picking up a copy of Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley or you can really go hardcore with the current offer of farming simulators. Pure Farming 2018 aims to be the most versatile and truthful virtual farming experience out there. The many possibilities this game has to offer, makes this the best option for any hardcore farm sim enthusiasts out there.
True to the craft
Pure Farming 2018 lets you do almost everything a real farmer needs to do in order to make a profit. Almost every detail has been taken care of. The usual stuff like harvesting the crops, plowing the fields, plant seeds, spray with pesticides, … is of course present in this game. While you do the usual chores, you also need to maintain your machinery and think about the fuel levels. These small details make this an experience that feels real.
Not for the faint of heart
Everyone who just wants to grow some crops and manage some live-stock and be done with it should just stick to the harvest moon like titles. This game is not easy. Luckily the game lets you ease into the farming experience by ways of a lengthy tutorial. In this tutorial, you learn the many aspects of the game including storing your crops, buying new machinery, hiring staff, selling your product, look at the current market demands, … This tutorial alone lets you spend at least 5 or 6 hours with the mechanics of the game before letting you loose on your own.
Challenges included
The main part of Pure Farming 2018 is just taking over a farm in a certain area and just do your thing. For those who need goals in their games, the developers offered some short but challenging scenarios to really test your newly acquired skills. I liked the soothing experience of just doing whatever I wanted to do with my farm, but I can see some type of gamers will really enjoy these challenges.
No slick looking zombies to be found
Indy studio Ice Flames and Techland developed this title. You might know Techland from there Dead Island franchise or from that other epic “zombie” title, Dying Light. Don’t get excited, there are no zombies in Pure Farming 2018. While those previous titles by Techland looked very slick visually, Pure Farming 2018 just falls short. It’s not that the graphics look bad but you just feel like you’re looking at last gen graphics.. While this does not take away much from the experience, it’s a shame that a game that is well developed didn’t go the distance and make it look beautiful.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for the truest farming experience currently on the market, Pure Farming 2018 is the game for you. If you are not turned off by lengthy sessions of just plowing, seeding and watering fields… Pick this one up.
