Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin (PS4)

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin holt den Spieler zu Beginn recht gut ab, aufgrund sympathischer Charaktere, etwas an Charme und einer durchdachten Reisanbau-Simulation. Leider geht der Reiz an den Action-RPG-Elementen recht schnell wieder verloren und wird durch viele Faktoren zu mühsam und repetitiv gestaltet.

Even if it's a little rough around the edges, Sakuna is a genuine gem. Its rewarding and engaging sim gameplay, exciting freeform combat, and just the way it feels like a warm and comforting experience while you play it are what makes it one of the best life-sim style games to release in quite some time.

Even though the combat encounters and level design fail to ramp up and stay fresh, I was captivated for a good long while. I never fully checked out even when the game was at its most repetitive. There's a time, place, and mood for this. If a quirky action game with RPG progression and relaxing agricultural activities seems like your kind of thing, trust your gut on this one.

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin has a lot going for it, from a fun and quirky protagonist to snappy combat and gorgeous visuals. Above all else, though, it's one of the most immersive and rewarding farming experiences in gaming.

Some trade-offs prevent Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin from delivering its full bounty, but you can still reap the benefits of its novel ideas.