Studio Radical Forge, which previously co-developed titles such as Gang Beasts and Sea of Thieves, as well as its own IP Bright Paw, presented the first demo of its upcoming sandbox game Southfield during Steam Next Fest.
Southfield is a new farming simulation game that combines elements from other titles in the genre, such as Stardew Valley, with fresh features such as plant hybridization and machine integration. The game is set in a colorful open world that offers a variety of activities, whether you want to solve quests from different NPCs or simply look for seeds for numerous crops.
The game stands out for its innovative and simple crop-growing system, where players can pick fruits by hand or use machines to help with farming tasks. All you need is to take a hoe in your hands, plow the ground, sow the seed and water it - the fruit will grow. The whole emphasis is on casual gameplay, but without specific long-term goals or simply getting around the world, the game doesn't provide the real challenge you expect in titles like this. Although we may face some challenges in fulfilling specific orders, the game is not focused on the usual "hardcore" farming elements.
Southfield boasts impressive graphics, creating a beautiful and detailed open world with a cartoon-like charm. However, the game suffers from poor optimization, it often crashes, regardless of the performance you're playing on, and what it lacks the most is the mini-map for orientation. Constantly pressing the M button to access the map can be tiresome, and the reliability of the compass above our heads is questionable.
The building elements are pretty solid, but the fixed camera and its rotation make the building experience quite awkward. Every time you entered or exited the build process, the camera would behave or rotate strangely. Building itself isn't complicated - you can rotate objects, pick them up again, destroy or move them, etc. That's really the main mechanic the game revolves around, but it could all be easier to maneuver.
The game's refreshing feel comes from its movement physics, although they can be frustrating. The character, named Bud, has a plant-like appearance and is adorable. You can roll, turn into a ball for efficient transportation, jump, drive a car, swim, etc. The movement physics are resembles that of Fall Guys, where nothing is perfect and a dose of caution is required. Sometimes it can be frustrating because you can very easily get stuck in something and find it difficult to get out of a certain situation.
Southfield has a lot of good ideas that make it interesting, with a lot of quests and gameplay, but it just loses its importance because the game doesn't provide any challenge. Even the enemies, known as Ruffians (ghosts), aside from disrupting your flow of movement or making a mess around the farm, aren't that noticeable. There will be a lot of work around the machinery and that is the only bright spot I can find in this game when it comes to gameplay.
If you appreciate laid-back gameplay, delightful music, and envision a landscape blending Stardew Valley's charm with the playful character designs from Slime Rancher, Southfield might be your game. It offers a diverse range of activities in a vibrant open world without rigid objectives. Moreover, if you prefer multiplayer experiences, you can join forces with friends in the online game mode.
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