A New Leaf: Memories
- April 16, 2024
- Hidden Tower Studios
"A New Leaf: Memories" is a farming simulation game where players are given a small plot of land to transform and manage into their own unique farm. The game offers various activities such as cooking, mining, and fishing, which provide opportunities for players to gather resources, craft tools, and discover recipes. With its non-linear gameplay, players have the freedom to choose the life they want, making each playthrough a unique experience.
Reviews
- The game has a super cute concept and charming graphics that appeal to fans of cozy games.
- The developers are very active in addressing issues and implementing updates based on player feedback, showing a commitment to improving the game.
- The gameplay offers a relaxing experience with enjoyable farming mechanics and a spacious map to explore.
- The game is plagued by numerous bugs and control issues, making it frustrating to play at times.
- Many players find the game feels empty and lacks engaging content, with limited interactions and quests available.
- The controls are clunky and unintuitive, especially when using a controller, leading to a less enjoyable user experience.
- story13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received criticism for its lack of depth and engagement, with players noting minimal NPC interaction and a sparse quest system that feels more like a cash grab than a fully realized experience. Many quests are described as tedious fetch tasks, and the absence of a compelling narrative or backstory leaves players feeling disconnected from the game world. While some appreciate the streamlined quest progression for farm upgrades, the overall sentiment is that the story is underdeveloped and in need of enhancement.
“One big advantage over other farming games is that the quest line moves you really quickly through upgrades to your farm.”
“As part of the quest line, you get a large warehouse long before you need it, and you never have to clutter up your farm with a bunch of chests.”
“I also really hope that there will be some kind of story added to the game.”
“Invisible walls, the beach is barely colored and looks white, hardly any NPCs, no quests once you begin (an optional task board doesn't count). It just feels like a cash grab rushing into the cozy genre and producing an unfinished sandbox that looks cute to suck Steam users in.”
“There is zero interaction with other NPCs, and they just drop you in with no backstory or anything.”
“The quests are mostly fetch quests, with some hidden object quests that can be pretty annoying.”
- grinding9 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While some appreciate the laid-back, cozy farming mechanics and quick progression through upgrades, others criticize the farming system as tedious and lacking depth. Overall, the game appeals to fans of casual farming simulators, despite some frustrations with the grinding elements.
“Farming is awful.”
“Trying to create a new patch of farming ground feels like trying to remove a tumor in an awake patient's body.”
“For $15, sure, it is very simple; farming is fun, taming animals is fun, but there is no depth to it at all.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some players finding them disjointed and lagging, while others appreciate the cute and charming aesthetic. Overall, the visuals are described as pleasant and suitable for a laid-back farming simulator, appealing to those who enjoy a quirky style.
“I haven't played for long, but I really like the atmosphere and graphics.”
“It's more of a game for those who like the laid-back farming simulator with cute graphics.”
“The world feels pleasant and the graphics have a quirky charm.”
“The graphics (even on the highest setting) were disjointed and lagging.”
“Graphics aren't that good.”
“I'm not usually a fan of cartoon-y graphics, but this seems fine.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Gameplay is generally smooth when players allow animations to finish, though some find the controls clunky if they attempt to rush through them. The stamina mechanic promotes level progression, but co-op features have notable issues, such as limitations in actions like watering. Overall, the game may not appeal to those seeking fast-paced action.
“As long as I wait patiently for every animation to end, my gameplay is smooth. At the beginning, I tried to shortcut (interrupt animations) and the controls felt clunky, but that was me - the impatient gamer.”
“No toll upgrade yet, but the stamina mechanic is very nice and encourages level progression.”
“I would definitely like to play again later on when the game is more developed and the features have improved for better gameplay.”
“The co-op gameplay system also has problems, such as not being able to water plants.”
“This game definitely isn't for you if you like fast-paced gameplay that gets your heart racing.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as decent, contributing positively to the overall experience, although some players express fatigue with the repetitive nature of music in "cozy" genre games. While the graphics are appreciated, the music does not significantly stand out as a highlight.
“I like the graphics, the music - 3 hair fashions to choose from are enough for me - and any serious farmgirl would prefer an overall over high heels, sandals, skirts, frills, makeup and whatnots, or not?”
“Good: art and music is decent.”
“None of my problems with the game have changed, and I know it's in early access, so it has room for improvement. However, I just bought Chill Town, and I am so tired of this repetitive music and the 'cozy' marketing genre.”
“The music is incredibly bland and forgettable, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“I expected a relaxing experience, but the soundtrack is so monotonous that it becomes annoying rather than soothing.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's stability is significantly compromised by numerous bugs and unclear progression mechanics, which are attributed to a change in the development team after the Kickstarter campaign. This transition has resulted in a lack of resources, leading to missing content that was initially promised.
“There are several issues: 1 - it is super buggy 2 - so much of the info is unclear as to what you need to do to progress 3 - because the original programmers who held the Kickstarter funds bailed and a smaller group took over, they don't have the full funds to make the game the way it was intended and it shows in the missing items that seemed to be available to people who started the game sooner.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I encountered numerous glitches that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with users feeling that it prioritizes profit over quality, resulting in an unfinished experience lacking meaningful content and engagement.
“Invisible walls, the beach is barely colored and looks white, hardly any NPCs, no quests once you begin (an optional task board doesn't count). It honestly feels like a cash grab, rushing into the cozy genre and producing an unfinished sandbox that looks cute to suck Steam users in.”
“The monetization model is frustratingly aggressive, making it feel like the game is designed more to extract money than to provide a fun experience.”
“I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's atmosphere and graphics, noting that they contribute positively to the overall experience, even in short play sessions.
“I haven't played for long, but I really like the atmosphere and graphics.”