Not in a dream would I have imagined that it would come to Fury, a hack and slash with enormous bosses, it would be a romantic JRGP. But this is The Game Bakers, a studio that does what it wants, like an octopus game before that was also very good, and that has to be applauded. Does your diversity guarantee you will always do well? Not very much.
Haven is the story of Yu and Kay, young lovers who fled their home planet and left everything behind to be together. Because they come from a tradition where relationships are forcibly established through the designs of a mysterious entity called the Matchmaker. The departure is a journey of discovery, both inside this forbidden love and in the place where you have arrived. But with a twist on Black Mirror’s Hang the DJ chapter, whether or not it is a source of inspiration for the video game writers.
The first consideration to consider is how to deal with love stories because this game is just that. Kay and Yu are practically the only characters that have significant exposure, and the whole game is about what with them happens what you think or what you feel. It’s a nerdy game in general and a bit spicy at times. But the characters are very cute and their relationship is believable, which is what matters. He’s a bit small but has a very good background and she has a lot of character, but she is also caring and loving. They complement each other very well and I was amazed how they broaden the conversations about routines like cooking or camping.
That goes for the story, but there is gameplay here too. Shortly after meeting the couple, their ship is destroyed by an earthquake and the main task is to travel the surface in search of parts. The bad thing is that it is quite boring as the main activity because all you have to do is explore the map until you find what you need and get back to base. The mistake is that teleportation to advanced points is not activated until well into the game, so you have to repeat the passages too often in the first few hours.
The good news is that the way you get around the world is like sliding on the surface instead of walking or running is fun. To get to higher areas you have to find paths in the form of a ray of light that are scattered across the islands until you absorb all of their energy. Because the planet is not completely open for walks, but consists of small areas with loading times between them. They’re pretty common and it was a step for me to play on an Xbox Series X, but it can be a nuisance for those who choose other versions.
I have a love-hate relationship with the combat system because I like that it’s rare, but it was orthopedic. If you’re playing solo instead of doubles, you’ll need to manage Yu and Kai at the same time, each with half the command. From there, The Game Bakers has provided a hybrid format between rounds and real time where you have to choose one of your four options, but the enemies go at their own pace and attack when they want. The concept is very good, but when you have to be aware of your rivals and manage two middle managers at the same time, sometimes you are better than you. I suppose the problem ends in the cooperative, but I haven’t had a chance to test it.
Crafting and cooking are important parts of the game as life does not regenerate itself even if you fall in battle. With what you collect on your travels, you need to take medicine and groceries with you, with enough freedom in trying out recipes to see what happens and what benefits are obtained with each combination. It sounds great, and it’s a good incentive not to be alone to get from one point to another on the map. What happens is that at the time of defeat in battle it punishes a lot because it forces you to leave, calm down and come back.
These swimming rides also become much more bearable thanks to the beauty of Haven. It’s one of the nicest indie games my Series X has gone through in that first month. With bold colors and a graphic style that is sometimes reminiscent of Gravity Rush. It seems a lot during the conversations that are cartoonish and would be criticism in other cases, here’s a plus thanks to the contrast it achieves. Because the text is entertaining, this format eliminates its drawbacks.
Unfortunately, with the list of pros and cons, it can’t be said to be a great game. Because when you’re playing alone, the struggle is an unnecessary complication, and even worse when the life system keeps you busy and the routes around the planet lengthen. Fortunately, it’s a beautiful setting and Haven’s love story is one of the good ones because it deserves a hug.
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