Salting the Earth
- October 31, 2019
- BitterBerries
Get on Steam"Salting the Earth" is a farming simulation game where players must rebuild their farm after a devastating war. Grow crops, raise animals, and manage resources to survive and restore the land. The game features dynamic seasons, natural disasters, and a variety of crops and animals to cultivate, offering a challenging and immersive experience.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features stunning artwork and character designs, particularly appealing to fans of muscular orc women.
- The story is complex and engaging, with meaningful choices that affect the outcome and character relationships.
- It offers a unique blend of romance, political intrigue, and world-building, making it a standout in the visual novel genre.
- The writing quality is inconsistent, with awkward dialogue and occasional grammatical issues that detract from the experience.
- Some players may find the pacing slow, particularly during sections focused on day-to-day life rather than the main plot.
- The lack of voice acting and limited music variety can make the overall experience feel less immersive.
- story65 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of the visual novel is praised for its complexity, engaging worldbuilding, and well-developed characters, particularly in the context of a lesbian romance. While some reviewers noted that the narrative can be slow-paced and occasionally loses focus, many found the political intrigue and character dynamics compelling, leading to a rewarding experience with high replayability. Overall, the writing is described as straightforward yet enjoyable, making it a unique entry in the genre that appeals to fans of intricate storytelling and diverse representation.
“The worldbuilding adds depth to this story, and the dreams are an interesting detail, too.”
“I really appreciate the writing in this visual novel not only for being straightforward and easy to follow, it's cleverly enjoyable to engage me in the story, the characters, the worldbuilding, and even the politics.”
“Playing through all the possible routes 100% is a rewarding experience, because every route brings new thrilling interactions and revelations, as well as more story and information about other characters and the plot.”
“I tried it several times, but the story is not very balanced; it could be interesting with war and rebellion, but loses itself in day-to-day monologue/dialogue and confusing bits of lore. The art is great, but the game repeats a few pictures over and over and the music is very mediocre.”
“The day after I finished the game, it hit me that the fact that a civil war just ended, and Roo belonged to a different faction in the war than the other characters in the story, is completely forgotten for very large parts of the game when it could have been used more effectively for drama, tension, and character development.”
“While 'salting the earth' does have choices influencing the plot and routes having you end up with different lovers, the story is all in all very narrative heavy and more or less linear.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their warm, textured art style that is both visually appealing and mature, avoiding the common pitfalls of making characters appear overly youthful. Reviewers appreciate the unique character designs and the strong storytelling that complements the artwork, creating an engaging and immersive experience. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature that enhances the game's narrative and emotional depth.
“The art style is warm, textured, and easy on the eyes.”
“Great artwork, strong storytelling, and an interesting world to get lost in.”
“The game's art style and writing manage to be mature while still maintaining an overall sense of wholesomeness, which is really refreshing to see in visual novels.”
“It could just be my personal aesthetic preferences, but I feel pretty confident in saying that most people will find the art pretty great.”
“As someone who loves orcs and strong buff lasses in general, I have been following this project since the first artworks turned up on Tumblr and I haven't regretted it one bit.”
- music8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the relaxing and atmospheric soundtrack that enhances emotional moments, while others find it mediocre and repetitive, lacking variety in tracks. Sound effects are often described as generic or startling, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, while the musical score has its highlights, it does not consistently elevate the gameplay.
“I enjoy the musical score.”
“The soundtrack is relaxing to listen to while you play and it fits the atmosphere perfectly, especially for the more emotional and wholesome moments.”
“A chill and fitting soundtrack.”
“No voice acting, plain music, and okay-ish sounds.”
“I tried it several times, but the story is not very balanced (could be interesting with war and rebellion, but loses itself in day-to-day monologue/dialogue and confusing bits of lore), the art is great, but the game repeats a few pictures over and over and the music is very mediocre.”
- character development5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The character development in "Salting the Earth" is praised for its unique and detailed designs, contributing to an engaging visual novel experience. However, some reviewers feel that certain character arcs, particularly Roo's internal struggles and connections, are underutilized, missing opportunities for deeper drama and tension. Overall, while the art and worldbuilding are commendable, the execution of character development could be more impactful.
“Salting the Earth has one of the best character designs that you can find in visual novels - unique, detailed, and captivating.”
“The character designs are nice, and the world is interesting, especially the parts about the dreams.”
“It isn't just romance; it also has some interesting worldbuilding and character development.”
“The day after I finished the game, it hit me that the fact that a civil war just ended, Roo belonged to a different faction in the war than the other characters in the story. Roo has issues of her own when it comes to the woman she was and the woman she wants to be, and *spoilers ahead* [spoiler]Roo and Urnba having a connection through the people from their dreams[/spoiler] is completely forgotten for very large parts of the game when it could have been used more effectively for drama, tension, and character development.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Salting the Earth" is widely praised for its cleverness and charm, featuring fantastic characters and engaging banter that balances political intrigue with lighthearted moments. Players can expect a mix of cute and funny scenes, though enjoyment may vary based on personal taste in the main character's comedic style.
“The humor is great, the characters are fantastic, and I really enjoyed the political subplot as well!”
“Humor to tickle a few chuckles from you in between thrills and melting hearts.”
“Salting the Earth is a wlw romance visual novel about big muscular women, political intrigue, cooking, lots of cute and funny banter, and making connections, both romantic and platonic.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game deeply rewarding, with heartfelt romance and charming characters enhanced by a fitting, relaxing soundtrack. The mature yet wholesome art style and writing contribute to a refreshing experience that resonates with players during emotional moments.
“Enjoyable, so romancing them feels rewarding and heartfelt.”
“The soundtrack is relaxing to listen to while you play, fitting the atmosphere perfectly, especially for the more emotional and wholesome moments.”
“All of the characters are charming in their own way, from their bold designs to their heartfelt dialogue.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Salting the Earth" is considered unremarkable, especially for players accustomed to more dynamic mechanics found in lengthy visual novels. Overall, it lacks distinctive features that set it apart from other games.
“I am used to lengthy visual novels with movement and other mechanics.”
“There's nothing special about the gameplay of salting the earth.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a clean and warm ambiance that complements the narrative effectively. The relaxing soundtrack enhances the experience, particularly during emotional and wholesome moments, creating an immersive environment for players.
“It is clean and adds a very warm atmosphere to the story that complements the narrative beautifully.”
“The soundtrack is relaxing to listen to while you play, and it fits the atmosphere perfectly, especially during the more emotional and wholesome moments.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight that the game offers significant replayability, encouraging players to revisit it multiple times to uncover all story points. The combination of engaging art and narrative further enhances the desire to replay, making it a strong aspect of the overall experience.
“This does mean you'll have to replay this game a fair bit to get all the story points, but replayability is what a good game is all about.”
“Awesome art, story, and high replayability.”
