(Review written by Scott Dirk.)
Yonder is an open world exploration game that really delivers on its premise. You begin your journey on a ship your parents have sent you away on in an attempt to keep you safe from danger. After talking to the crew, a storm rolls in and the ship is quickly struck by lightning. A Sprite then intercedes and makes a deal with you to help you if you help the spirit find its children. These Sprites help you to combat the Murk that is littered across the land in which you are now stranded.
The game has a relaxed atmosphere of letting you explore your surroundings with childlike wonder without fear of monsters or traps. The game has a lot to explore, from huge plains, forests, and towns for trading and quests. Once you obtain tools, you’ll be able to collect various resources which you can use for crafting. The main mission is to restore the land from the infection of the Murk, but you do so at your own pace. The game gives you a lot of side quests to do as well as having farms and ranching.
The graphics in the game are very lush, but are not too demanding. The landscape is very enjoyable to look at while traveling between locations, and you can get lost in simply exploring what is around you. The world music is relaxed, but cycles between varied motifs, so it’s not just one tune set repetitively. There is also a day-night cycle which seems to have little effect other than the wild animals sleeping; the NPCs seem to be night owls.
The mechanic I enjoyed most was fishing, where you cast your line and use WASD keys to move the bobber. Once a fish bites, you then pull in the opposite direction of the fish. There is an arrow to help you with the direction, which made me feel like I was pulling in the fish. The fishing mechanic does seem better suited to a controller with thumb sticks but combing WASD keys worked well; you can also customize the key bind commands.
This is one of those expansive games that may take players a while to complete depending on how they pace themselves during gameplay. I think it’s worth the time to explore Yonder in this world.
Yonder is available on PC and PlayStation 4.
… how can being nude drive a podcast’s ratings up? Now, if you were to be doing a videocast … now that’s something.
@Electronic Arts responds to expiring Online Pass:
Oh boy 🙂 … this seems to point out some serious issues at EA. I mean it feels like they automated a little bit too much of their systems.
@Divided memory pool causes lag for Skyrim PS3
The total is the same (256 + 256 versus 512), the reason of the split is not financial. It is technological/design.
@Skyrim Creation Kit landing in January
Hmm, Steam Workshop … it’ll most likely kill the other mod sites. Not in a year, not in 3. Maybe in 4 though.
@QOTW: none. When we go on vacation (1) we don’t go by car, so there is not enough room in the luggage to squeeze in a console, and (2), you don’t really need to go someplace else in order to sit in a room in front of the TV to play games.
“… how can being nude drive a podcast’s ratings up?”
That was the joke, just like a ventriloquist on the radio.
I would really like to see how this South Park RPG is going to turn out, but I’m not getting my hopes up one little bit.
Well seeing that there’s nothing in the news I want to discuss, I tried to leave you an iTunes comment, but apparently I need to give them my credit card number to create an iTunes account. -.-
Anyway, QOTW: No. Can you please come up with better questions of the week that can’t be answered simply with yes or no? =)
And Paul, you miss so many podcasts it’s not even funny anymore. Consider this as official hate mail.
dude paul is gone again , what the hell paul skipping podcast is getting more serious now, we need a good reason when you come back. I guess that’s my first hate mail..
@south park the game .
Wew I didn’t see that coming .ill probably w8 for the trailer or gameplay but I won’t buy the game coz I hate southpark and their stupid animation
@qotw whaaaaatttt this is stupid bringing a console whaaattt impossible good luck on carrying a big bulky system on your way to a resort..
I haven’t been downloading your podcast because of the tests its the first day of test and I’m already tired.
I just started listening. Didn’t know Jordan was from Oregon! I’m originally from Roseburg/Eugene area and moved to Cleveland for school/work now. Great podcast and can’t wait to hear more.
Thanks Justin! I grew up in Eugene and now I live and work just outside of Portland (Clackamas and Beaverton respectively…)
I went to school at UO before heading to the Midwest and have family in Beaverton. Listening to your latest show now. Great stuff!