Now Playing: Fantasy Life

I bought Fantasy Life on a recommendation from a friend. I had heard mixed things about the game, so I was slightly hesitant on picking it up. But I trust my friend’s judgement, so I decided I had nothing to lose. 8 hours in, what’s my consensus?

Honestly, I don’t have one yet. Fantasy Life is a huge game. I can tell I’ve just barely scratched the surface in terms of what it has to offer. The game is a life simulator, while simultaneously containing RPG elements — think Animal Crossing meets Skyrim, really. You can take on a variety of “Lives”, which are basically jobs from other RPG games. You can be everything from a Paladin to a Blacksmith to a Cook to a Tailor, and can switch your Life at your leisure.

By the way, “leisure” is the key word here. Fantasy Life is a very slow paced game. The comparisons I made to Skyrim are not far off. You can do whatever you want in this game, and not feel pressured to complete any particular objective. Want to fell a few trees as a Woodcutter, switch to a Craftsman, and then sell the furniture you end up creating? Go ahead. Want to go mining for materials, use those materials to craft some weapons, and then explore and kill monsters for bounties? Do it! It’s really up to you, and what’s great is that in comparison to games like Skyrim, there’s no overarching, urgent quest that’s waiting for you to hurry up and get the side quests done so you can get back to saving the world.

I’d say that’s one of Fantasy Life’s strong points. It’s truly a relaxing game. At first I was getting anxious at all the quests that I had to complete, but as I settled in and decided to take my time, I was able to enjoy it much more. I can always go ahead and speed through Mario and Luigi: Dream Team. Fantasy Life is a “stop and smell the roses” kind of game.

Also of note! You can create a dark skinned character in this game. I was so relived when I realized I could do that – I’m getting pretty sick of games that are touted as being “life simulators” deciding to forget about one of its demographics. (Animal Crossing, cough cough).

So, Fantasy Life, thus far, has been worth my time. I’m interested to see how it fairs in the long-term — whether the endgame becomes a grind, or if the game as a whole begins to feel repetitive. We’ll see!

Expanding Your World Map

Do you ever start walking away from your place of living, walking for hours for no particular reason, till you finally decide, “this is a good time to go back,” and head home?

I’ve been having a lot of moments like that, as of late. I don’t feel particularly comfortable in my apartment, so I open the door, and just start…going.

Sometimes it’ll be with a quiet soundtrack humming through my headphones. Sometimes I’ll go with nothing but the sounds of nature to comfort me. Each trip I go a little further. It only took me about 15 minutes to stop worrying about the fact that it was dark. Crazy what the media will do to you.

I’ve come to realize that my entire neighborhood has its own fog of war that I haven’t even noticed. And as I traverse further into this “abyss”, I learn more about the area around me. It’s a strange feeling to have. Walking, as opposed to using the bus, means that I’m inching bit by bit, as opposed to blazing through the area. Each step, it feels like I’m gaining a bit more “experience.”

Everything seems closer on foot. This may come as a surprise, but it’s true. The Michaels is really only a few steps away from the Safeway, which is only around the corner from the Ice Cream place. Expanding this “world map” of mine, it feels like places are a lot more “attainable”, in a sense. I’ve been conditioned to think that fast travel is the only way to move about quickly through the world, but I don’t think that’s the case, and I don’t think it’s always worth it. Walking to unknown parts of my map has led me to find new restaurants, new hideaways…it’s made me feel content.

Through the constant rush that has been college, with classes after meetings after homework assignments…it’s, honestly, nice to not have a destination. To not have to pick a place you need to go to. Letting the world direct your movement, as opposed to the other way around. Like a trip through Vvardenfell, sometimes it’s the stuff you come upon that’s more fun then wherever it is you’re set on going.

Expanding my World Map these past few days, I’ve come to recognize the intricacy surrounding my neighborhood, and given me a chance to breathe. To think about, essentially, nothing. Next time you have a moment, think about pushing through that fog of war. You may be surprised at what you find.