I am usually not one to write reviews, however, because this is one of my most anticipated games ever, I decided to summarize my opinion so far. Up until now I have played this game for 8 hours and these are my thoughts, as well as recommendations for anyone who is considering purchasing the game. As a heads up I would like to note that this review is written while keeping in mind that the game is still in Early Access and I am judging it according to that. I would also like to note that I have played the demo, therefore I might make some comparisons with that. Overall Enjoyability For me personally, the overall enjoyability of this game is a 10/10 already. It is exactly what it promises to be, not more, not less. Anyone who can enjoy a game for its simplicity and landscapes will be very happy with it. I have found myself playing this game a lot these past couple days, despite having other games to choose from. That speaks for itself in my opinion. Controls Control wise the game is extremely customizable and they have improved a lot since the demo. During the demo they felt a bit clunky and unnatural, but I haven't felt that way once in the Early Acess version. Whether you are a horse person and want to have something a bit more realistic, or whether you don't really want to worry about controls, both are possible options. And even if you just the more "difficult" controls, they are extremely easy to grasp and shouldn't be a problem for anyone, especially if you are already a gamer. Definitely a 10/10. Gameplay Gameplay wise the game is relatively easy so far, some might even say too easy. Whether it comes to combat, collecting materials or planning routes, I wouldn't say this game is difficult in any of these aspects. But honestly? I think that is just right. I don't think this is the type of game that should be difficult, simply because in my eyes it's supposed to be relaxing. Though I do think that when it comes to interactions with certain "dangerous" animals, the difficulty could be ramped up a bit, though that is mostly due to the fact that it is a bit odd when a wolf that most likely wants to eat you just slowly trots towards you without a care in the world :D When it comes to combat specifically, I really enjoy the slow motion, it makes shooting feel very good and, again, easy, which also supports my opinion that the dangerous animals in the game could definitely be made to move a bit faster. I LOVE the fact that one can collect materials from horseback, not only does it ground the game even more in the importance in horses, it is also just a nice feature in general. I really like the little mini game it involves, as it does make the collecting a bit more gratifying and not just something can do without paying attention to the screen. When it comes to planning the routes for deliveries, I also adore this part of the game. It is very interesting how certain deliveries need special care and one has to plan accordingly. It feels quite balanced to me already and it is definitely a very well thought through and executed feature. The Horses Now we come to the most important part of the game: the horses. Obviously, the entire game is very centered around them and therefore I think they deserve a couple words. I will admit, this is always something I dread in games with horses, as they are notoriously known for being awful. However, this game does it incredibly well. Not only do the breeds look very realistic, the movement is great and they also have a decent amount of personality (though I do think they could have just a tad bit more). The gaits look fantastic and I adore the fact that they roam around freely instead of standing in the spot we leave them in. They feel very much alive, as opposed to many other horse games. The World Now when it comes to the world, there are two main points that need addressing. First up the landscapes. These are genuinely gorgeous. I think one of the reasons I have not gotten bored of the game is the fact that it is truly just very pleasant to move around in. The landscapes have variety, from snowy mountains to deserts and all of them are executed beautifully. However, now we come to the other point, which I will admit is my only genuine complaint about the game so far: and that is how "alive" the world feels. Whilst yes, there are a couple of animals here and there, even horses, but it is simply not nearly enough. I would very much appreciate if there was not just a larger variety, but also a larger amount of fauna in the game. It definitely has the capacity for it and I think it would give the game the final push to make it perfect for me. The Soundtrack Now when it comes to the soundtrack, I think there is nothing bad I could possibly say about it. Yes, it is a very specific type of music (Mongolian, duh), but I myself have found to find it very nice. Whether it be the instrumental pieces or the ones that include vocals as well, both add to the atmosphere of the game. Graphics Now we come to my favourite part of any game: the graphics. I am a sucker for them, I will admit that, and therefore I can be a bit picky at times. However, I am very happy to say that this game does not disappoint on this front. I'd say that I have quite powerful hardware and therefore I can't speak for those that might not be able to run the game on the best settings, but if you can it's a delight. I find myself constantly in awe by how beautiful everything looks, be it the weather, the steppes or the snowy mountains. So far I have not had any performance issues either, despite running the game on the highest settings. Now that is my opinion about the most important parts of the game. There is however one last question I would like to address and that is: Should you get the game during Early Access? I want to talk about this question, because I have seen that many reviews seem to have been written expecting a full fletched game, which this simply just isn't yet. So what's the answer? First up, I don't think there is a short answer. There are multiple factors playing into whether you should or shouldn't get it, all of them being quite important. The most important, however, is whether you are easily bothered by bugs. Whilst I personally have encountered very few so far, none of them being serious, I have seen people talk about things that were more bothersome. Frankly speaking, I personally don't mind the occasional bug, though again, I might be biased because the ones I have seen so far were not game breaking. If you are sensitive and get annoyed by them, I would wait though. Whilst yes, you could just push through it, it is still a game that is in development and it will not be perfect yet. You don't mind bugs? Then please, go ahead and get it! It is a very fun game in my opinion, you can support the devs and potentially even help with fixing some issues. All in all, that is a win I'd say. Final Conclusion In conclusion, I would like to give props to the developers. I think this is an extremely well thought through and executed game, in which you can feel the love and dedication it's gotten from the people that made it. Even now, without any substantial story and only relatively repetitive content, I keep finding myself starting it up and therefore I am very excited for how it will develop further. If you are hesitant to get it, I completely understand, but just know that if you enjoy riding around, taking care of your horses and soaking in the world, it is 100% worth it!
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