The Hayseed Knight
- December 8, 2020
- Maxi Molina (MaxiMJdev)
- 1h median play time
Get on SteamIn "The Hayseed Knight," players assume the role of a humble farmhand tasked with saving a medieval kingdom from an evil sorcerer. Utilize farming skills to grow and gather resources, craft weapons and equipment, and explore a vast open world filled with mysteries and unique characters. Engage in strategic combat and make decisions that will impact the story's outcome in this immersive and charming RPG.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The Hayseed Knight features a rich and engaging story with well-developed characters, each with their own unique personalities and depth.
- The voice acting is top-notch, bringing the characters to life and enhancing the overall experience of the game.
- The art style is vibrant and visually appealing, complemented by clever writing and humor that keeps players entertained throughout.
- Some players feel that the character designs can be overly complex or cluttered, detracting from their overall appeal.
- The narrative can be confusing at times, with sudden shifts in character motivations and a nonlinear storytelling approach that may leave players feeling lost.
- While the game has a lot of charm, some critics argue that the choices offered to players are limited and do not significantly impact the story.
- story116 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "The Hayseed Knight" is a richly crafted narrative that blends political intrigue, magic, and romance, featuring well-developed characters and a unique storytelling style. Players appreciate the humor, emotional depth, and the engaging world-building, with many expressing eagerness for future chapters. While the narrative can be nonlinear and occasionally complex, it ultimately delivers a compelling and entertaining experience that resonates with both new and seasoned visual novel fans.
“The hayseed knight is a story of political unrest, strange magic that flows through the world, and romance that is slowly built upon to become something truly meaningful to the characters.”
“The story is beautifully crafted, filled with fascinating lore and adorable characters, along with fantastic art; this game is really a must-play.”
“While, at heart, it tells a story about love, friendship, and personal growth in the face of hardship and oppression on a backdrop of mystery and magic, the narrative and world-building are interwoven with themes of racism and gender identity as well.”
“With limited choices to affect anything and lots and lots of references without a glossary, it's really an exercise in watching someone telling a story without explaining themselves.”
“However, the story evolves into a psychological study of one of the more interesting characters in the cast and shows how much thought, care, and attention to detail the writer placed onto the characters, their relationships, their machinations, trauma, and experiences.”
“The story flows smoothly until a certain point in chapter 3 that had me making a few mental gymnastics to internally understand the flow.”
- humor25 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The humor in "Hayseed Knight" is widely praised for its clever writing and well-delivered jokes, eliciting genuine laughter from players. The game balances comedy with emotional depth, featuring a mix of slapstick, witty dialogue, and character-driven humor that enhances the overall storytelling experience. Players appreciate the engaging voice acting and the charming, often absurd characters that contribute to its entertaining and immersive narrative.
“The writing was hilarious, and it made me laugh a couple of times even though most games don't elicit that kind of emotional response from me.”
“Equal parts hilarious as it is enthralling.”
“I love the blend of humor, sincerity, and seriousness of it all.”
“Is that supposed to be funny?”
- graphics18 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their striking art direction and vibrant visuals that effectively convey emotion and enhance the storytelling. Reviewers highlight the beautiful artwork, charming character designs, and excellent voice acting, which together create an immersive experience. While some mention minor issues like blurred backgrounds, the overall aesthetic is considered captivating and consistent throughout the game.
“The art direction is striking, with visuals that catch the eye and set a distinct tone for the game world.”
“On the artistic level, the visuals, sound, and voice acting are all incredible and really manage to bring the characters to life.”
“The artwork is always wonderfully done and gives so much life and emotion to each scene.”
“The sprites and visuals are eye-catching, and even if there are some blurred backgrounds, the story does a great job in making your imagination work.”
- music16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its immersive quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, featuring a Middle Eastern vibe that complements the setting. While some reviewers noted that specific melodies may not be particularly memorable, the dynamic and well-timed rhythms effectively support the game's emotional and narrative shifts. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant asset, contributing to the game's charm and depth.
“The music is a joy, the artwork is charming, the voice acting is absolutely excellent.”
“The soundtrack is beautiful and helps set the mood for the scenes.”
“The soundtrack is dynamic and immersive, flowing with the changes in scene and tone, sometimes fading completely to let two characters have an intimate moment or give a single character space for their introspection to have a greater impact.”
“Only pros I really got are the art, music, and voice acting, but at least to me they don't fit the tone/content the game is trying to portray.”
“However, and I'll admit it may be my own lack of knowledge on this style of music, no particular melody stood out or remained with me as I would have hoped, but the rhythms do, as the drumming picks up speed always at the right time, or slows down when the time calls for it.”
“I can't say the melodies would stick to my ears long-term, but the music didn't feel out of place, which is what matters.”
- emotional11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Hayseed Knight" is highlighted by its ability to evoke a wide range of feelings, from laughter to sadness, through its engaging writing and well-developed characters. Players appreciate the balance of humor and darker themes, which create an emotional roller-coaster experience that keeps them invested in the story. Overall, the game is praised for its emotional depth, making it a compelling journey worth experiencing.
“Hayseed Knight does have some suggestive innuendo and dark moments, but all done in a tasteful manner yet keeps the player invested at all times. Do expect some laugh-out-loud moments and emotional scenes that truly make you care for the characters.”
“An emotional roller-coaster that had me on the edge of my seat due to laughter or suspense, and sadness upon reaching my first ending.”
“This game has a little of everything: great music, convincing and tragic characters, great voice acting, a lot of good humor, drama, fantasy world building, rapidly increasing stakes, and writing that touches on everything from LGBTQ+, disability, status inequality, racism, and a plethora of mental and emotional issues.”
- character development4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is marked by impressive visual presentation and engaging character design, though it suffers from some narrative cohesion issues. The game features a single developer's efforts in various roles, resulting in a unique blend of appealing art and voice acting that enhances the overall experience. Despite its shortcomings, the story offers unexpected twists that keep players intrigued.
“I'm not really into visual novels, but I was drawn here by the appealing art and character design, so I played the demo, caved, and decided to buy the game outright.”
“Character design, drawing, directing, voice acting, coding, and many other roles are managed by just one developer.”
“Dazzling character design and lush environments, amusing voice acting, and lots of unexpected twists and turns as the story unspools.”
“Character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“The characters are one-dimensional and their arcs are predictable, leaving little room for growth or surprise.”
“Despite the impressive visuals, the character development is lacking, resulting in a disjointed narrative experience.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay features telltale-inspired mechanics that introduce an innovative twist to the genre, delivering a fresh and engaging experience for players.
“Additionally, the Telltale-inspired gameplay mechanics offer an innovative twist on the genre, providing a fresh experience for players.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its brilliance, contributing to a charming and engaging story filled with remarkable characters. Reviewers highlight the immersive quality that enhances the overall experience.
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive and captivating.”
“The story is so good and charming, and the atmosphere enhances the experience.”
“Brilliant atmosphere!”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is praised for its exceptional voice acting, with every character, including minor roles, being fully voiced, enhancing the overall experience. The stellar performances contribute significantly to the game's immersive quality, although internal thoughts and the narrator are not voiced, which some players view as a positive choice.
“Every character is fully voice acted down to the most minor of supporting roles (except for the character's internal thoughts and the narrator, which I think are good choices), and every actor absolutely brings it with their performances.”
“Maxi's art and writing are phenomenal, and all of the voice actors give stellar performances. I cannot overstate how much I love the main trio of characters.”
