Far Away From Home
- August 18, 2022
- Matthew Wong
Get on Steam"Far Away From Home" is a narrative-driven adventure game where you play as a young woman named Mattie who is searching for her missing father in a mysterious and surreal world. Along the way, you'll encounter quirky characters, solve puzzles, and uncover the secrets of this strange land. With its beautiful hand-drawn art style and emotional story, Far Away From Home is a memorable and touching gaming experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Charming tactical RPG with engaging characters and humorous dialogue that balances serious moments.
- Unique combat mechanics with a shared experience system and interesting character builds that encourage strategic gameplay.
- Great music and pixel graphics that enhance the overall experience, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- Repetitive enemy encounters and linear gameplay that can lead to a lack of variety and engagement over time.
- Game-breaking bugs reported that can disrupt the experience, particularly during key story moments.
- Difficulty spikes in the latter half of the game can be frustrating, with some battles feeling unfairly challenging.
- story36 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story is generally praised for its charm and engaging characters, with a mix of interesting plot elements and character-driven narratives. However, some players noted repetitive enemy encounters, unresolved plot points, and bugs that hindered their experience. While the dialogue and character development are highlighted as strong points, there are calls for improvements in pacing and the option to fast-forward through certain sections.
“From start to finish, the story is entertaining, wild, and sometimes heartwarming.”
“Every character, from the redheaded one-woman army named Crim, to Gabriel, the stoic swordswoman who plays the voice of reason, has their own distinctive personality that plays out in the story relatively well.”
“Finally, this game is story and character driven in ways that are very refreshing.”
“Once the boxing lady gives the gun to the scientist and they go inspect the body, right after the scientist inspects and says scavengers got to it, the story simply freezes and nothing happens.”
“Since this bug happened right in the beginning and I will not continue the game without knowing the story, it ruined the whole experience.”
“I assumed that this represented a last-ditch effort to save the character who sacrificed themselves, but that plot hole is never resolved, at least 2/3 through the second play-through.”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by charming tactical mechanics and colorful pixel graphics, offering a mix of fun turn-based combat and useful customization options. While some players appreciate the variety and depth provided by character builds and skill distribution, others criticize the game for lacking coherence and experiencing technical issues like freezing. Overall, the gameplay is engaging but may have underlying flaws that detract from the experience.
“A charming tactical role-playing game with simple yet interesting mechanics.”
“I love how the rings add another layer of variety to the gameplay because you can mix and match them, depending on a character’s preferred build.”
“One of the best tactical RPGs I have played this year; the dialogues, the plot, the fighting mechanics, and special moves—everything is spot on.”
“I really tried to like this game, but so many things don't make sense and it lacks mechanics.”
“The fast mode and tile height display help make gameplay better, but they seem like band-aids to deeper issues with the game.”
“I just plain do not like the whole 'two types of damage' mechanic.”
- music8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its great soundtrack, which enhances the overall experience, particularly during intense battles. Reviewers appreciate the variety and quality of the music, noting its ability to complement the game's graphics and storyline effectively. Many find the background music appealing, with some drawing comparisons to classic titles like Final Fantasy Tactics.
“With great music and simple controls, the game gets out of the way of you enjoying it.”
“The characters (that I actually feel a connection with), dialogue, music, and overall level of polish are superb.”
“Everything about this game is amazing from the music to the graphics and storyline.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by charming, colorful pixel art and well-executed spritework, which evoke a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic titles. While the art style may require some adjustment, it complements the engaging gameplay and storyline. Users report stable performance with minimal technical issues, despite a limited range of graphical settings.
“I find there's a certain level of charm from games with this kind of graphics and gameplay no longer found in modern games of today's era.”
“Everything about this game is amazing from the music to the graphics and storyline.”
“Great sprite work, and I also like the aesthetic of the drawn art.”
“Does the art style take some getting used to?”
“Graphics and technical issues.”
“There aren’t plenty of graphical settings to choose from, but I never had it crash, and performance has been stable, even on the Steam Deck.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its entertaining and heartwarming story, which resonates with players throughout the experience. The inclusion of an emotional support dog adds a unique layer of connection, allowing players to engage with the narrative on a deeper level, while the game's refreshing approach keeps them invested even after the touching epilogue.
“From start to finish, the story is entertaining, wild, and sometimes heartwarming.”
“Fafh carries obvious touchstones to the Tactics Ogre series and Final Fantasy Tactics, but stands out from these and other tactics games by approaching the genre in new and refreshing ways that made me want to keep playing the game well after its touching epilogue.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally praised for its stable performance across platforms, including the Steam Deck, with no reported crashes. However, the limited graphical settings may be a drawback for some players.
“There aren’t plenty of graphical settings to choose from, but I never had it crash, and performance has been stable, even on the Steam Deck.”
“The fixed camera angle can be annoying at times.”
“The overly linear campaign and lack of side-quests limit the overall experience.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its witty and absurd dialogue among the characters, which consistently elicits laughter. Players appreciate the combination of entertaining banter and engaging boss fights, enhancing the overall comedic experience.
“There is plenty of hilarious dialogue between the cast, and I always find myself laughing at how ridiculous their banter can be.”
“Amazing boss fights and hilarious dialogues.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, particularly noting that the game can freeze during critical story moments, such as after a character interaction involving a body inspection. This disrupts gameplay and detracts from the overall experience.
“Once the boxing lady gives the gun to the scientist and they go inspect the body, right after the scientist inspects and says scavengers got to it, the story simply freezes and nothing happens.”
“The game crashes frequently during key story moments, making it impossible to progress.”
“I experienced multiple instances where the game would freeze for several minutes, forcing me to restart.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game engaging and addictive, particularly in challenging modes like ironman, which adds to the overall enjoyment and investment in the gameplay experience.
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game's replayability highly rewarding due to the diverse roles and multiple playstyles available for each character, encouraging experimentation with various team combinations.
“Every character not only comes with a starting kit to fill different roles, but also can be played in multiple ways, so replayability is deeply rewarding for those who want to try different combinations of team building.”
“The game offers a variety of paths and choices that make each playthrough feel unique, encouraging players to explore different strategies and outcomes.”
“With numerous side quests and hidden content, every new game feels fresh, providing endless opportunities for exploration and discovery.”
