Gleaner Heights
- February 21, 2018
- Emilios Manolidis
- 3h median play time
Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.
Get on Steam"Gleaner Heights" is a single-player Role Playing game with a beautiful story, good gameplay, and splendid music, but be prepared for a lot of grinding. In this game, you'll manage a farm, grow over 40 crops, tend to animals, and explore underwater caves filled with treasure. The game also offers various activities like fishing, crafting, and cooking, creating a well-rounded experience.
Reviews
- Gleaner Heights offers a unique blend of farming simulation and dark storytelling, reminiscent of classic Harvest Moon games.
- The game features a rich atmosphere with intriguing characters and a mysterious plot that unfolds as players interact with the townsfolk.
- The leveling system and skill progression add depth to gameplay, allowing players to customize their character's abilities.
- The controls can be clunky and unintuitive, making basic actions like planting and interacting with objects frustrating.
- The pacing is slow, with many players feeling that the game takes too long to reveal its story and secrets.
- The mining system is poorly designed, with randomly generated floors that can lead to tedious backtracking and wasted time.
- grinding222 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that "grinding" in this farming sim is a significant aspect, often described as tedious and repetitive, with many players feeling that the rewards do not justify the effort. While some enjoy the nostalgic, old-school farming mechanics reminiscent of classic titles, others find the slow pace and low drop rates frustrating, leading to a lack of motivation to continue. Overall, the game appeals to those who appreciate grind-heavy gameplay, but it may disappoint players seeking a more streamlined or rewarding experience.
“It's just too tedious, too slow, and too repetitive.”
“A lot of grinding with little reward.”
“Indeed, the story seems to be the biggest draw; but when you need to put in over a dozen hours of work just to get to the juicy parts of the story, and those 12 hours are spent lamenting about the poor controls, off-kilt combat, broken level design, and taxing farming, you quickly find yourself wanting to play something else.”
- story163 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story in this magical farming sim is a mixed bag, featuring dark themes such as violence and betrayal, reminiscent of Twin Peaks, but often criticized for its slow pacing and lack of clear direction. While some players appreciate the mature and intriguing narrative that unfolds through character interactions, many find the plot disjointed and difficult to engage with, leading to frustration in progressing through the game. Overall, the story has potential but suffers from execution issues, leaving players divided on its effectiveness and enjoyment.
“This game is also a piece of art with really nice dialogues and story.”
“The story is a slow burn, unfolding over time.”
“The real draw is the town, story, and characters.”
“Yes, the story of this game includes rape, sexual cheating, paedophilia, blackmail, various forms of violence, and suicide.”
“The characters are forgettable, the gameplay loop is boring, and the story is glacially paced and unlikely to be worth it given the hours of tedium it takes to progress in it.”
“I also managed to wrap the main story up halfway through the first year, so I can't stress enough just how little there is to the main story.”
- gameplay65 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this farming RPG is reminiscent of titles like Stardew Valley and Harvest Moon, featuring familiar mechanics such as farming, mining, and befriending townspeople. While many players appreciate the addictive nature of the core gameplay loop, some criticize the interface and certain mechanics as clunky or frustrating, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the game offers a unique dark charm and potential for engaging storytelling, appealing to fans of the genre who enjoy exploration and challenge.
“The gameplay of farming, fishing, mining, and making friends with villagers is satisfying and addictive as expected from this genre and kept me playing for many hours.”
“Yes, it is super fun and has the perfect blend of simplistic but addicting gameplay the farming simulation genre provides.”
“There's enough crop variety to keep things interesting, the mechanics are solid (thank you so, so much for easy shipping!) with everything feeling tight and well put together.”
“Unfortunately, I was unable to even get to the main gameplay due to the terrible interface.”
“The characters are forgettable, the gameplay loop is boring, and the story is glacially paced and unlikely to be worth it given the hours of tedium it takes to progress in it.”
“The gameplay is not great.”
- graphics37 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the charming 8-bit aesthetic and artistic effects, while others criticize the outdated visuals and occasional glitches. Many comparisons to "Stardew Valley" highlight that the graphics fall short, with complaints about character designs and a lack of vibrancy. Overall, while some find the graphics fitting for the game's tone, others feel they detract from the experience and call for improvements.
“The artistic graphics are seriously good.”
“The graphics, controls, environment, and models are all solid and I have no complaints with them.”
“The music is superb and the graphics have that charming pixelated look to them.”
“Ok, this game is 3 years old and is the jankiest, unclear piece of rubbish I have ever played. I have green lines coming through the ground, and options for graphics (screen size) are limited.”
“The graphics are all a step down from Stardew Valley, which is already a very graphically basic game.”
“I came for a Stardew Valley fix, but the awful graphics turned me off. I thought I could stomach it, but sadly they're so old school that even an old badger like me can't enjoy a game so simplistic in its visual aspect.”
- music32 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it tolerable and fitting the game's unique dark charm, while others criticize its repetitiveness and lack of variety compared to similar titles like Stardew Valley. Notably, the soundtrack features a notable tonal shift from cheerful farm tunes to eerie themes at night, which intrigues some players. Overall, while the music sets a pleasant mood, it may not leave a lasting impression due to its limited variation.
“The music does the game justice, and I really like the subtle unnerving twangs of sound that accompany each day.”
“The music sets a nice mood, and the art style is consistent and very pleasing.”
“The music is superb, and the graphics have that charming pixelated look to them.”
“The soundtrack and sounds are absolutely forgettable.”
“The music is the second lowest point of Gleaner Heights.”
“It's not that the music is bad, it is just that there is very little of it.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its unique blend of dark and unsettling elements, contrasting sharply with the typically cheerful tone of the farming simulation genre. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a creepy and immersive environment, particularly at night, which enhances the mysterious narrative and character interactions. Overall, the atmosphere is described as polished yet haunting, effectively drawing players into its intriguing and eerie world.
“This is a really solid farming game with interesting characters, a fantastic atmosphere, and some of the darker stories found in the genre.”
“The atmosphere and vibe (especially at night, woo is it creepy) of the town has me hooked, and I'm very much looking forward to seeing more of the mysterious plot unfold to see what kind of ending I get.”
“So far I'm loving this game and the atmosphere it comes with; talk about creepy and dreamy.”
“It's mostly small scenes triggered in cryptic ways that bring the atmosphere down, revealing small or big flaws in the way the villagers conduct their lives.”
“It’s got dark content that most would find unsettling, especially in the farming simulation genre, where most games of the genre have stuck with a 'happy, carefree' atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere makes me feel scared to be outside at night.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its outlandish and sometimes dark elements, blending adult themes with unexpected comedic moments, such as humorous cutscenes and quirky character designs. While some players appreciate the unique and surprising comedic approach, others question the sensitivity of certain jokes, particularly regarding systemic issues. Overall, the humor adds a distinct twist to the farming simulation genre, setting it apart from more traditional titles.
“Outlandish and sometimes dark humor.”
“I wasn't expecting it to be as 'adult' as it was, but for me it was a funny surprise.”
“Mystery, intrigue, scandal, dark humor, secrets... definitely not your standard farming sim.”
- stability7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while it offers forgiving mechanics and time management features that enhance gameplay, players report various glitches, particularly with door interactions and minor graphical issues. The slow movement speed can be frustrating, especially when navigating between locations, but the freezing time mechanic indoors allows for a more relaxed exploration experience.
“There are also some glitches; when you open the doors, sometimes you can get earraped, and it's just so frightening.”
“My two biggest gripes with this game are that (1) it is so slow— I mean literally, even when your character is running, it takes so long to get around anywhere that it's just frustrating, and a lot of entering/exiting buildings gets buggy.”
“There are some minor graphical glitches, and the controls could be better designed.”
- character development4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Character development in Gleaner Heights is noted for its dark, eerie, and complex narrative, although the character designs themselves are criticized as unattractive and lacking detail. Despite initial impressions, players may eventually acclimate to the simplistic visual style.
“The character development is dark, eerie, and complex.”
“The only bad graphical thing about Gleaner Heights is that most of the character designs are subpar.”
“I noticed immediately that the character design was unattractive, to say the least.”
“You can eventually get used to the 'squint-eyed', non-detailed character design.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight a lack of emotional depth in the game's narrative, comparing it unfavorably to works by Tim Burton and classic horror films. Critics feel that the story fails to build emotional investment due to its nihilistic tone and rushed pacing, which undermines the potential for meaningful character development and engagement. Overall, the emotional impact is seen as insufficient for a serious story.
“Everything ever made by Tim Burton, tons of classic horror movies ranging from Alfred Hitchcock to... well, hell, to be honest, I'd argue even Jason has more emotional depth than most of your NPCs.”
“Most importantly, this could have still worked if they had at least delivered the story appropriately, with a good build-up, taking their time to ramp things up. However, they treat it like the small vignettes common in the genre, which can't work when you have a serious story to tell instead of having cute or touching moments.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is noted to be unconventional, blending farming simulation with surreal elements reminiscent of Twin Peaks. While players may not expect AAA performance, the graphics are surprisingly impressive given that it was developed by a one-man team.
“Farming sim meets mysterious Twin Peaks surrealism. I've not chosen to play this game because I want AAA performance and in-depth farming mechanics; I've got a lot of farming going on though, and honestly, the graphics are great considering the one-man team behind it.”
“So after an admittedly intriguing opening scene that reminded me quite a bit of a black lodge performance, I was prepared to dig in and grind it out.”
“The performance is... strange.”
“Farming sim meets mysterious Twin Peaks surrealism. I haven't chosen to play this game because I want AAA performance and in-depth farming mechanics, but honestly, the graphics are great considering the one-man team behind it.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through character leveling and customization, along with multiple endings and a choose-your-own-adventure narrative that encourages players to explore different choices.
“There's lots of replay value as well with its choose-your-own-adventure type story choices.”
“You can level up and customize your character as you go, and it has different endings and immense replay value.”
“Lots of replay value as well with its choose-your-own-adventure type story choices.”
