The Last Craftsman
- March 7, 2023
- Robot Girlfriend
- 7h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreIn "The Last Craftsman," you are a new graduate of the Craftsman's Guild, tasked with maintaining the infrastructure of Gear Springs, a quaint village with a mysterious past. Each item you craft is defined by its components, with unique tags such as "Wood and Fuel" or "Spiky," adding depth to the crafting system. Your skills as a Craftsman will be tested as you uncover the truth behind the previous Craftsman's disappearance.
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Reviews
- The game features a unique tag-based crafting system that allows for creative item combinations, making resource management engaging and rewarding.
- The developer is highly active and responsive, frequently engaging with the community and implementing feedback, which enhances the game's development experience.
- The gameplay is relaxing and enjoyable, with simplified farming mechanics and fun mini-games like fishing and card battles, appealing to fans of cozy life sims.
- Currently, there is limited NPC content and character interaction, which may disappoint players looking for deeper relationships and storylines.
- Some players have experienced crashes and bugs, particularly on lower-end systems, indicating that the game still requires optimization and polish.
- The game can feel grindy at times, and some players have noted a lack of direction or clarity in the early stages, which may hinder initial engagement.
- grinding24 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is generally viewed as manageable, with many players appreciating the simplified farming mechanics and the focus on engaging activities like crafting, fishing, and completing villager requests for income. While some parts can feel grindy, particularly if players haven't optimized their crafting strategies, the overall experience is enhanced by a fun storyline and original mechanics that set it apart from traditional farming sims.
“It can be a little grindy in some parts but it wasn't to a degree that took away from the game.”
“This game is grindy.”
“Farming - if farming is your least favorite part of farming sims then you’ll love this game.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a simple yet engaging core mechanic where items are tagged with point values, allowing for interchangeable use. Players enjoy a variety of activities, including simplified farming, a card-based fighting minigame, and a rewarding research system, with villager requests serving as the primary income source. The introduction of deckbuilding and unique inventory mechanics adds depth, making the game feel fresh and promising extensive playtime.
“The farming is simplified (no need to water the crops!), the fighting is a fun card minigame, the items can be used interchangeably with other items that use the same tag, the villagers' requests pay good money (doing requests is your main income, rather than farming), and the research mechanic is very fun.”
“It very clearly takes heavy inspiration from Harvest Moon, Stardew Valley, and other farming sims, but it's also got a lot of original mechanics that really make it stand out.”
“10-ish hours in, I got access to a deckbuilding mechanic.”
“When I stumbled upon the fully-formed deck building mechanic, I fully lost my mind.”
“A lot of the activities you would expect are there, like fishing, but the core mechanics and mini-games are completely redone, or fundamentally different in the most refreshing way.”
- story16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's story is a central focus, intertwining crafting and quest mechanics with a larger narrative that includes elements like farming, mining, and friendships. Players appreciate the engaging atmosphere, art, and music, although some find the storyline a bit confusing at times. Overall, the hints of a deeper plot and the fun storytelling enhance the crafting experience.
“It's got farming, mining, friendships, fishing, and a wonderful storyline.”
“It is right up my alley since I love crafting and the hints to a bigger story are pretty fun.”
“I love everything about the atmosphere of the game; the art, the story, the dialogue, the tunes (all of which are outright bops), and everything else.”
“Also, there is a story I’m slowly working my way through, but it’s a little confusing at times.”
“At the same time, we were discussing how to prevent infinite item crafting loops and getting feedback on adding plot foreshadowing in the first week.”
“Crafting, item processing, and quest turn-ins don't usually call for a specific item, but for an item tag or a group of tags.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are appreciated for their simplicity and charm, contributing positively to the overall aesthetic of the game. Users also highlight the effective combination of graphics and music, enhancing the overall experience.
“I also love the graphics and the music!”
“The art/graphics is very simple but still nice.”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised by users, often mentioned alongside the graphics for its ability to enhance the overall experience and make gameplay more enjoyable.
“I also really love the art and music, which makes it easy to play.”
“I also love the graphics and the music!”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users report that the game's "early access" status does not equate to instability, as it is described as neither buggy nor prone to crashes. Overall, the game demonstrates a solid level of stability during this phase.
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its captivating art, engaging story, well-crafted dialogue, and memorable music, all contributing to an immersive experience that players thoroughly enjoy.
“I love everything about the atmosphere of the game; the art, the story, the dialogue, the tunes (all of which are outright bops), and everything else.”
