I’m going to be transparent, I don’t really care for Stardew Valley, or its clones. I appreciate what it has done for the video game space though. I’m happy for the many fans who found that game, and will keep playing it long after it’s completed. The amount of clones that come out each year continue to bewilder me, but I’m happy that more people are getting into the game development space. It’s not simply a farming life simulator anymore, the genre has exploded to incorporate lots of other elements from RPG to horror (okay, I’m saying horror, but I don’t actually know if one exists). All that to say, Luma Island falls into that expanding category. But what I played on Luma Island slightly changed my mood.
First off, no pixels. I’m big when it comes to visual presentation. Pixel art is hard for me to enjoy. Luckily, Luma Island presents itself in a Nintendo 64 retro polygon style with a lower-than-above-head isometric angle. The characters feel inspired from the MySims Wii era, as do the cartoonish and whimsical landscapes. Their most recent update includes a pirate theme, packed with new aesthetics for the characters and the land. The update brings more to the rest of the game including its minigames, housing management, and farm.
Luma Island is equal parts exploratory as it is domestic management. I was thoroughly impressed at the amount of gameplay variety there was. What really impressed me was the small change in equipment that I usually see in other games. Your tools don’t break. I couldn’t remember the last time a game just let me have one pickaxe from beginning to end. Indefinite collecting is my jam. Luma Island lets me upgrade these tools to better stats as well. Better stats plus unbreakable tools equals a happy gamer.
The game’s story is pretty similar and safe to the genre. Players arrive on a mysterious island, occupied with people, a mysterious energy source used without question, and unexplored ancient ruins. As players delve deeper, they’ll find more mystery, and a prophecy that will hopefully hook players to keep playing until the end. What I found was that there’s a choice that requires another playthrough. I won’t spoil anything for players heavily invested. I can tell you my experience was enjoyable.
The last thing I think is worth mentioning are the professions. Very early in the game players will have to choose one to work with and master throughout the game. These will unlock special recipes through mentors that will give you better items to sell and make Gold. This is the best way to earn money, but each class comes with a difficulty rating. I chose the hardest profession first, Archaeologist, but I was also playing on a chill difficulty, so I didn’t have a problem advancing through the game. It took longer, but just vibing with how chill the game is, I was enjoying the grind. There are certainly other games out there with unforgiving grind mechanics (stares at RuneScape).
I certainly do have some gripes. Getting a new profession gets progressively expensive. I suppose the developers didn’t want players maxing out too quickly. Luma Island still suffers from the genre’s padded gameplay for lack of depth. By this point though, it’s a staple, so it feels moot. But finally, there’s no sprinting. Getting around after a while felt like a slog. I get the decision, but having to travel so much became a chore. The Luma pets are cute, but I didn’t invest in them too much. They’re not a bad thing, I simply didn’t care.
Overall, my impression came away more positive. The decision to play safe and make a solid farm/explore sim was a good choice. I will happily recommend Luma Island.
