My Time at Sandrock is, fairly aptly, a sandbox sport the place you tackle the position of a fledgling builder who has left residence looking for new adventures in a brand new city. After arriving in Sandrock you’re shortly set duties of crafting objects for the townsfolk.
Set in the identical universe as My Time at Portia, My Time at Sandrock is a sister sport, not a sequel. Sandrock is likely one of the ‘free cities’, identical to Portia and the sport seems to be set in the identical time as properly – a future publish apocalyptic world which accommodates deserted buildings and ‘relics’ – lengthy forgotten objects from the previous occasions.
The sport additionally follows the identical gameplay as Portia – you begin out with fundamental weapons and machines which limits the sorts of objects you possibly can craft. You collect assets – akin to wooden, rock, rubber and steel out of your environment and course of them in machines to construct objects. As time progresses you unlock new machines and acquire entry to beforehand restricted areas, which let you collect extra supplies and create extra superior constructions.
There is no such thing as a requirement to have performed My Time at Portia to get pleasure from My Time at Sandrock however you probably have already performed it, then you definately may discover the beginning of My Time at Sandrock a bit too acquainted and subsequently repetitive, as you undergo the identical motions. Nonetheless, issues do diverge fairly shortly.
The one actual distinction between Portia and Sandrock is the placement. Whereas Portia was verdant and inexperienced, Sandrock is about in a desert, which provides further perils of sandstorms and having to fret about water provide. There’s additionally a marked enchancment within the look of the sport, with extra life-like characters, higher animated cutscenes and all the foremost characters being voiced.
My Time at Sandrock very subtly reminds you of the environmental points we’re going through in the actual world. The theme of restricted assets is obvious. Fairly than reduce down timber to collect wooden, you kind by means of wooden piles that seem within the desert panorama. You can even course of wooden, steel and rubber scrap in your ‘recycler’ machine and break down previous constructions and machines to reuse their constituent components. Water provide is an enormous situation within the sport. Your machines will use water to run, and also you want it to water your crops, however you’ll have to useful resource it your self, both by amassing dew from crops, putting in a ‘dew collector’ in your yard, or shopping for from the native water tower. We discovered that taking part in the sport actually did make us take into consideration the longer term we might be going through, however with out it being too ‘in your face’.
In addition to resourcing, crafting and farming, you’ll have a little bit of spare time to satisfy the residents of Sandrock – each human and animal (you may spot just a few acquainted faces from Occasion Animals). Increase relationships takes a number of time, persistence and a complete lot of speaking and present giving. However, as you get to know folks you begin to discover out extra about them, akin to what items they like and are capable of go on playdates, which additional boosts your relationship. In the end that is value it although, as a result of as relationships progress, extra aspect quests open up. There’s additionally the chance for romantic relationships as properly, with the choice of marriage and youngsters.
There are many locations to discover, and as you progress new areas will open up. At first you’re kind of confined to the city, which accommodates a number of outlets the place you should buy or promote items, the Commerce Guild the place you decide up commissions and the Blue Moon Saloon the place you possibly can seize a chew to eat. Additionally, you will quickly unlock ruins, the place you possibly can mine for assets and uncover relics or helpful bits of equipment for constructing. The sheer quantity of operating round to get from place to position can get a bit tedious at occasions, even with the choice of sprinting. You’ll be able to lease or purchase a horse however you’ll should construct up some money to do that – anticipate to spend a good proportion of the sport operating a minimum of at first.
You’ll tackle commissions from residents to earn cash (and improve your relationship with them). You should utilize your hard-earned money to purchase new garments, broaden the dimensions of your yard or enlarge and adorn your home. In the primary storyline you’ll tackle larger commissions, normally to assist the city out when bother comes alongside.
There’s additionally a component of fight in My Time at Sandrock, utilizing each melee and taking pictures. You’ll should kill a number of the native wildlife to get assets like fur, and combat the baddies together with a race of lizard-like creatures which are intent on inflicting bother for the city. At first fight is difficult however as you play you acquire expertise, which ranges up your well being, stamina, assault and defence. These will also be modified by the weapons you employ, what garments you put on, and what furnishings you place in your home.
Rising expertise additionally earns you factors to spend on 4 completely different talent timber. Numerous completely different nodes on every tree give you advantages akin to extra methods to extend expertise and stamina (which is painfully low firstly of the sport), faster routes to constructing relationships and rising fight abilities.
The sport follows a calendar, with every day passing through sped up time (which you’ll be able to change within the choices to make the day shorter or longer). Because the seasons change, completely different yearly occasions happen, like a dance-off and festivals such because the Day of Reminiscences, which is akin to Halloween, the place you get to play a spooky sport along with your neighbours. That is one space the place My Time at Sandrock falls down barely. You’re given a warning about when a pageant goes to occur, however typically the place you want to enroll in occasions just isn’t clear and will depart you at risk of lacking out. We additionally had been unable to compete within the dance-off as a result of we couldn’t join. In the event you do miss an occasion there’s all the time subsequent yr although.
Enjoying My Time at Sandrock is at present a solo pursuit however there’s the potential of a multiplayer mode sooner or later. This characteristic is at present within the beta testing part for PC and is totally separate from the one participant story, happening on the delivery of the city. We don’t have a date but for when this characteristic is coming to Xbox, however we do know it’s not out there at launch.
Whether or not you’re new to the Alliance of the Free Cities or a frequent customer, My Time at Sandrock is a extremely playable sport. The storyline flows at an honest tempo, there’s all the time someplace to discover or a brand new gadget to construct that retains you eager to return. Anticipate the odd frustration – whether or not that’s a minor bug, having to run backwards and forwards an terrible lot or the sheer period of time spent speaking to the residents.
Nonetheless, you’ll actually by no means get bored along with your life as a Sandrock builder.
