Of Life and Land
- April 2, 2024
- Kerzoven
Get on Steam"Of Life and Land" is a settlement building game where you manage resources, economy, and the needs of your citizens in remote, wild environments. Experience different seasons and climates, and decide how to interact with the local wildlife as you try to find a balance between nature and civilization. Every decision you make will have an impact on the living ecosystem and the growth of your settlement.
Reviews
- The game features a deep and immersive simulation of both human and environmental interactions, creating a vibrant and dynamic world.
- The art style is charming and colorful, contributing to a relaxing and enjoyable gameplay experience.
- The developers are actively engaged with the community, implementing feedback and updates, which shows a commitment to improving the game.
- The game can feel excessively slow-paced, with villagers taking a long time to complete basic tasks, leading to frustration.
- There are issues with clarity in gameplay mechanics and UI, making it difficult for players to understand certain systems and manage their settlements effectively.
- The lack of random generation and limited replayability may hinder long-term engagement for some players.
- gameplay22 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a slow-paced city-building experience that emphasizes the importance of managing a thriving ecosystem, offering depth and engaging mechanics. However, players note that it can become repetitive over time due to a lack of goals and random generation, which may limit replayability. While the mechanics are generally intuitive and rewarding, some aspects, such as hunting and late-game balance, can feel awkward or unclear, leading to a steep learning curve.
“Gameplay: For so long, I have wanted a slow-paced city builder, where your people are tied to their professions, and curating a proper environment for them to live in truly matters.”
“The in-depth simulation of not just villagers but the whole ecosystem is very refreshing, making the world feel alive and giving gameplay a lot of depth.”
“With its serene atmosphere, engaging gameplay mechanics, and emphasis on balance and harmony, this game provides players with a deeply rewarding and meditative gaming experience.”
“The gameplay becomes somewhat repetitive over time, and at some point you may get bored because of a lack of goals, but I see this as an opportunity to set your own goals.”
“The developer's solution to this critical problem with the gameplay experience was not to address balance issues, but instead to implement an 'extremely generous' game speed slider.”
“Much of the mechanics are unclear or ambiguous.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming low-poly art style that many players find aesthetically pleasing and calming, contributing to a relaxing gameplay experience. However, some users express disappointment that the in-game visuals do not match the promotional images, particularly at higher settings. Overall, while opinions vary, the graphics are generally appreciated for their cuteness and detail, enhancing the game's engaging mechanics.
“I love the art style so much, and once I figured out the menu screens, it was easy to use and makes a lot of sense.”
“The dynamics are gentle with the learning curve and the art is aesthetically pleasing and calming.”
“A really chill and cozy ecosystem builder in a sweet low poly art style.”
“The visuals: even on the highest possible graphical settings, it unfortunately looks nothing like the beautiful pictures and videos used to advertise it.”
“The low-poly graphics is something that I don't like much, but it's not that bad.”
“Visuals: even on the highest possible graphical settings, it unfortunately looks nothing like the beautiful pictures and videos used to advertise it.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and immersive qualities, enhancing the overall experience with soothing sounds that are perfect for relaxation. Users appreciate the combination of music, rain sounds, and a starry backdrop, which contribute to a tranquil atmosphere, especially in the main menu.
“It's an amazing concept honestly, and the music is decent and calm, which I like.”
“The music, rain sounds, and starry backdrop make it immersive and perfect for unwinding after a long day of work.”
“The main menu music is just so relaxing as well.”
- story2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is criticized for becoming repetitive and formulaic after the initial tutorial, focusing on building and resource management without significant narrative depth. However, players appreciate the well-designed UI and tooltips that effectively guide them through the gameplay mechanics.
“Just before the tutorial and main quests were completed, the story turned into a boring formula of 'build all the unlocked buildings, increase speed x300 until completed, continue until a new stage is unlocked, rinse and repeat.'”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that while the game currently lacks random generation, which may limit its replayability, the focus on core simulation and gameplay enhances the overall experience. As the game evolves, there is potential for improved replayability in future updates.
“The only real drawback is the lack of random generation, so replayability might be limited at the moment. However, it's clear that the focus has been on core simulation and gameplay instead of rushing replayability at the expense of playability.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is reported to be well-optimized, with users experiencing no glitches or crashes, indicating a high level of stability and a mature stage of development.
“On the technical side, the game seems to be very nicely optimized. I encountered no glitches or crashes, and the game appears to be overall quite advanced in its development.”
“The stability of the game is impressive; I haven't experienced any issues that would disrupt my gameplay.”
“I appreciate how stable the game runs. It feels polished and well-tested, making for a smooth gaming experience.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a serene and meditative quality, enhanced by engaging gameplay mechanics that emphasize balance and harmony, resulting in a deeply rewarding experience for players.
“With its serene atmosphere, engaging gameplay mechanics, and emphasis on balance and harmony, this game provides players with a deeply rewarding and meditative gaming experience.”
