Have You Tried… making friends with pigs in a post-apocalyptic wasteland in No Place Like Home?
God, there’s too much trash. The towering monolith of dirt, plastic bottles, rubber ducks, tote bags and other disposable items is the only visual language on the planet you see in No Place Like Home. You play as Ellen, a young woman who returns to Earth from a spaceship to find her grandfather. However, she returns to a shabby farmhouse that is basically left with trash after a garbage storm.
While this may sound like a nightmare – and some subtle commentary on the current state of the world and our pollutants – there are still some traces of life in between the garbage. Homes here, fox burrows over there, and even a handful of humans trying to survive inside barricades full of garbage. And fortunately, there are tools to help.
(Image credit: Realms Distribution)
Ellen is armed with a backpack containing a vacuum cleaner, a water hose and a drill. Only video game logic can explain how everything fits into a package that you can carry on your back, but that’s all you need to get rid of all that crap. I’m sure we can all agree that in real life throwing away garbage is something we all put off, but there’s a satisfying loop of clearing up debris in No Place Like Home, so I’m actively looking forward to it. Each new realm you discover is filled with dirt, objects that need to be drilled into parts and vacuumed. Anyone who enjoys Zip Flipper will enjoy it. Because it’s a beautiful, plain, meditative piece backed by a calming soundtrack. And you have to get everything. Otherwise, it will only make the animal sad.
little pig here
(Image credit: Realms Distribution)
Because it’s not just about garbage. Beneath the (literally) garbage lies a world awaiting resurrection. Beneath the soil are the seeds and animals that the palace longs to call home. So, using the objects and creatures you find, you will start turning the land around your grandfather’s house into your own farm, starting with crops. Then there are chickens, pigs, and even cute little robots and mechanical llamas, building materials and other useful items. There are also some cool props for your home base, such as the option to name the animals and little hats, from bunny ears and sombreros to prop hats and flower garlands.
The more you explore the area, the more you meet other people – residents who have decided to stay behind as the rest of the world evacuates to Mars. It’s really fun to see an architect who suddenly gets stuck in a tree surrounded by piles of garbage while cleaning out garbage. He also never admits to his plight. These NPCs have other missions besides finding their grandfather and building an agricultural pasture. Clear toxic waste areas, create bizarre creatures, save foxes or befriend ducks.
(Image credit: Realms Distribution)
There is also a fight. Evil robots trying to poison you or trample your legs are also lurking in the garbage. There aren’t a lot of nuances except for a few hits with the drill and a bit of crouching and dodging, but there’s always something pretty lovely about feeling in control. With some kind of skill tree you can become more powerful and even support certain progress in the world. Enemies become slightly stronger as you unlock new realms.
It’s also a vast area to explore with a huge variety of biomes. I’ve been out for about 20 hours and feel like I’m just scratching the surface of other things in between the piles of garbage. There are so many things to see and do, all in just one more day. Or “Another Mystic Mushroom” that makes games like this and Stardew Valley goofy.
I admit it’s not the most polished game. There are misspellings in the text, awkward camera angles, and pieces of garbage that don’t disappear. It’s also often terrifying to explain how to make money or how to do more basic things in a game. Still, anyone who wants to scratch a very specific gaming itch will find gaming sessions stretch from minutes to hours. I blame the garbage.
No Place Like Home is now available on PC.
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Have You Tried… making friends with pigs in a post-apocalyptic wasteland in No Place Like Home?
My god, there’s so much garbage. Towering monoliths of dirt, plastic bottles, rubber ducks, carrier bags, and other disposables are almost the sole visual language of the Earth you land on in No Place Like Home. You play as Ellen, a young woman who’s returned to Earth from her spaceship home to try and find her grandfather. But, what she returns to is a ramshackle farmhouse that’s been basically flattened by a trash storm that’s left nothing but rubbish in its wake.
While that might sound like a nightmare – and a less than subtle commentary on the current state of the world and our pollutants – underneath the trash there are still some remnants of life. A house here, a fox den there, and even a few humans attempting to exist within the waste-filled barricades. And thankfully, you’ve got the tools to help.
(Image credit: Realms Distribution)
Ellen is armed with what’s essentially a backpack containing a vacuum cleaner, a water hose, and a drill. While only video game logic will explain how that all fits together into a package that you can carry on your back, it’s everything she needs to start clearing all that detritus. I’m sure we can all agree that in real life, taking out the trash is a job we all put off, but there’s such a satisfying loop in clearing the debris in No Place Like Home that I actively look forward to it. Each new area you discover is chock full of the stuff, mountains of muck that’ll need to be drilled down into its parts, and then sucked up with your hoover. It’s exactly the sort of thing that anyone who likes House Flipper will enjoy, because it’s beautifully banal, meditative work, backed by a soothing soundtrack. And you’ve got to get every bit, otherwise, you’ll just make the animals sad.
Here little piggy
(Image credit: Realms Distribution)
Because it’s not all about trash. Underneath (quite literally) the garbage is a world that’s waiting for revitalization. Among the dirt, you’ll find seeds and animals desperate for a palace to call home. So using the things and critters you find, you’ll start to turn the land around your grandfather’s house into your own farm, with just crops at first, but then chickens, pigs, and even cute little robots and mechanical llamas that’ll bring you building materials and other useful items. There are lovely little touches for your home base too, like the option to give your critters names and tiny little hats, which range from bunny ears and sombreros to propeller caps and flower crowns.
The further afield you explore, you’ll also meet up with other humans – residents who decided to stay behind when the rest of the world evacuated to Mars. It’s pretty hilarious when you’re sucking up trash to suddenly come across an architect trapped by a tree surrounded by trash mounds. He never acknowledges his predicament either, which somehow just makes it even more bizarre. These NPCs will give you other missions to take on alongside your quest to find your grandfather and build your farming idyll. They can range from ridding an area of toxic waste and building bizarre creations, to saving some foxes or making friends with ducks.
(Image credit: Realms Distribution)
There’s combat too. Evil robots looking to poison you or ram your legs also lurk in the garbage. There’s not much nuance to it, beyond a few swipes of your drill and a little ducking and dodging, but there’s something pretty endearing about always feeling in control. A skill tree of sorts does let you get more powerful and underpins certain progress through the world too, and as you unlock new areas, the enemies get – slightly – tougher.
It’s a huge locale to explore too, with an incredible variety in its biomes. I’m some 20 hours in and feel like I’ve only scratched the surface of what else there is between the trash piles.. There’s so much to see and do, and all geared towards that mentality of “oh just one more day” or “one more mysterious mushroom” that makes games like this and Stardew Valley so moreish.
I’ll admit, it’s not the most polished game. There are spelling mistakes in the text, awkward camera angles, and some patches of trash that just won’t disappear. It’s also often terrible at explaining how to make money or do some of the more basic things in-game. Still, anyone looking to scratch a very specific gaming itch will somehow find their play sessions turn from minutes to hours. I blame the trash.
No Place Like Home is out now on PC.
#making #friends #pigs #postapocalyptic #wasteland #Place #Home
Have You Tried… making friends with pigs in a post-apocalyptic wasteland in No Place Like Home?
My god, there’s so much garbage. Towering monoliths of dirt, plastic bottles, rubber ducks, carrier bags, and other disposables are almost the sole visual language of the Earth you land on in No Place Like Home. You play as Ellen, a young woman who’s returned to Earth from her spaceship home to try and find her grandfather. But, what she returns to is a ramshackle farmhouse that’s been basically flattened by a trash storm that’s left nothing but rubbish in its wake.
While that might sound like a nightmare – and a less than subtle commentary on the current state of the world and our pollutants – underneath the trash there are still some remnants of life. A house here, a fox den there, and even a few humans attempting to exist within the waste-filled barricades. And thankfully, you’ve got the tools to help.
(Image credit: Realms Distribution)
Ellen is armed with what’s essentially a backpack containing a vacuum cleaner, a water hose, and a drill. While only video game logic will explain how that all fits together into a package that you can carry on your back, it’s everything she needs to start clearing all that detritus. I’m sure we can all agree that in real life, taking out the trash is a job we all put off, but there’s such a satisfying loop in clearing the debris in No Place Like Home that I actively look forward to it. Each new area you discover is chock full of the stuff, mountains of muck that’ll need to be drilled down into its parts, and then sucked up with your hoover. It’s exactly the sort of thing that anyone who likes House Flipper will enjoy, because it’s beautifully banal, meditative work, backed by a soothing soundtrack. And you’ve got to get every bit, otherwise, you’ll just make the animals sad.
Here little piggy
(Image credit: Realms Distribution)
Because it’s not all about trash. Underneath (quite literally) the garbage is a world that’s waiting for revitalization. Among the dirt, you’ll find seeds and animals desperate for a palace to call home. So using the things and critters you find, you’ll start to turn the land around your grandfather’s house into your own farm, with just crops at first, but then chickens, pigs, and even cute little robots and mechanical llamas that’ll bring you building materials and other useful items. There are lovely little touches for your home base too, like the option to give your critters names and tiny little hats, which range from bunny ears and sombreros to propeller caps and flower crowns.
The further afield you explore, you’ll also meet up with other humans – residents who decided to stay behind when the rest of the world evacuated to Mars. It’s pretty hilarious when you’re sucking up trash to suddenly come across an architect trapped by a tree surrounded by trash mounds. He never acknowledges his predicament either, which somehow just makes it even more bizarre. These NPCs will give you other missions to take on alongside your quest to find your grandfather and build your farming idyll. They can range from ridding an area of toxic waste and building bizarre creations, to saving some foxes or making friends with ducks.
(Image credit: Realms Distribution)
There’s combat too. Evil robots looking to poison you or ram your legs also lurk in the garbage. There’s not much nuance to it, beyond a few swipes of your drill and a little ducking and dodging, but there’s something pretty endearing about always feeling in control. A skill tree of sorts does let you get more powerful and underpins certain progress through the world too, and as you unlock new areas, the enemies get – slightly – tougher.
It’s a huge locale to explore too, with an incredible variety in its biomes. I’m some 20 hours in and feel like I’ve only scratched the surface of what else there is between the trash piles.. There’s so much to see and do, and all geared towards that mentality of “oh just one more day” or “one more mysterious mushroom” that makes games like this and Stardew Valley so moreish.
I’ll admit, it’s not the most polished game. There are spelling mistakes in the text, awkward camera angles, and some patches of trash that just won’t disappear. It’s also often terrible at explaining how to make money or do some of the more basic things in-game. Still, anyone looking to scratch a very specific gaming itch will somehow find their play sessions turn from minutes to hours. I blame the trash.
No Place Like Home is out now on PC.
#making #friends #pigs #postapocalyptic #wasteland #Place #Home
Synthetic: Vik News
