Roots of Pacha understands the phrase, “If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it!”. Now, this may scream of a lack of originality. But, that is so far from the truth, that it’s laughable. Instead, it sticks to tried and tested formulas whilst adding a heart-warming sense of togetherness to mesh the ideas in glorious harmony. Alongside this, who doesn’t love the wonderful essence of Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley?
This life sim experience was developed and published by Soda Den LLC. Moreover, it has a glorious pixelated aesthetic and can be enjoyed alone or with others. Unlike its peers, this title focuses heavily on unity and friendship. As such, though you are praised for solo endeavours, it is your teamwork that truly matters.
Roots of Pacha tells a heartwarming tale.
This Stone Age game will tug at your heartstrings. The sense of community and the ability to benefit your clan is at the fore. With everyone working towards a common goal, your people will thrive no matter how harsh the conditions are. At times, you may need to work independently, but these moments are fleeting and your tribe benefits as a result.
You play the part of a young clan member. This hero must understand their place in the world and how their efforts benefit the surrounding world. This will be an alien concept to many. Yet, the thought of a small cog in a large machine was reassuring. Additionally, there is no pressure as your clan’s prosperity increases even when you have an off day. Furthermore, unlike Harvest Moon or Stardew Valley, you must interact with your community if you wish to progress.
It’s good to talk.
There is an element of familiar mechanics. Roots of Pacha utilises farming, mining, taming and other genre tropes. These ideas were well implemented into the core gameplay and everything flowed nicely. However, it is the conversations that determine your progress. Alongside this, clan prosperity and your generosity drive you forward.
As the clan succeeds, new ideas pop into everyone’s heads. These ideas must be researched using resources gathered from your surroundings. Luckily, the demand is neither challenging nor out of reach. Accordingly, everything feels achievable and the sense of grind is kept to a minimum.
If you fail to integrate with your clan, you will stall and fail. Cooking, exploration, and building are key elements that falter if you do not chat. I fell foul of this as I focused on the Harvest Moon-style approach. However, once I decided to branch out and talk to my new friends, the gameplay quickly expanded. This eureka moment opened up a whole host of new elements, and it made me adore Roots of Pacha a little bit more.
Roots of Pacha is deliberately dated.
This genre isn’t renowned for its next-gen graphics. Instead, it utilises a pixelated style that is colourful and attractive. Furthermore, every usable item is easy to identify, and the isometric viewpoint is easy to handle. The varied biomes add a layer of depth and the mini-games are perfectly executed. As such, though it lacks modern polish, it is great nonetheless.
The audio is as wholesome as the story. The upbeat and light-hearted tracks generate a pleasant atmosphere. As you move from location to location, the mood changes ever so slightly. Yet, it still focuses on that feel-good factor. Consequently, this will make you feel good as you improve the quality of your clan.
Excellent controls.
Tilling the soil, gathering crops, and petting wildlife is a joy to experience. Furthermore, the excellent mini-games are rudimentary but well executed. Every activity is complemented by the effective UI and flitting through your inventory or selecting your tools and seeds is as straightforward as can be. Subsequently, this is a great game, no matter your ability.
I didn’t want another addictive farming-style game in my life. My library is full of this genre, and there aren’t enough hours in the day. However, I couldn’t help but love this addictive title. Moreover, I was impressed by the multiplayer action. This simple addition to the game made it a joy to play. Furthermore, it enhanced the replay value as you improved the clan’s prosperity.
Roots of Pacha is a well-trodden but equally unique experience.
I adored the blend of familiar mechanics and the fresh wholesome approach. Additionally, the multiplayer action was enjoyable, and learning more about my clan was interesting. Though the action can be slow and there are some grindy moments, Roots of Pacha does enough to stand out from the crowd. Accordingly, I love it and I recommend buying it here! Can you find your place and make the clan grow? Plant some crops, help your people, and prosper together.
