While the game is still in the alpha phase, Roots of Pacha looks like it has some serious potential. From the trailer, it's obvious the upcoming indie game takes a lot of inspiration from the ever-growing Stardew Valley, and this isn't a bad thing. After a highly successful run on Kickstarter, the developers at Soda Den are in the home stretch with Roots of Pacha's development.
One of the main differences that sets Roots of Pacha apart from Stardew Valley is its tool systems, which make for a more communal-like farming experience. While Stardew Valley is a phenomenal game, it does seem to be missing a few key aspects that Roots of Pacha has included, filling in the gaps for those looking for a well-rounded farming simulator with a captivating narrative.
Players begin the game in the sweet little farming town of Pacha, a serene and primordial settlement. The town takes several diverse cultures from around the world and meshes them all together to form the perfect basis for a stone age-type farming simulator. Since the farming genre is usually set in the modern era, it's a lovely change to go back to the human race's roots and start entirely from scratch. Roots of Pacha brings players back to a time when there were no forms of machinery or modern tools to complete their work -- only sweat, hard work, and perseverance.
While most games include an in-game shop to help players make their start, this game forces players to forage for their needs. This includes foraging for seeds, root vegetables, and other necessities to raise a field of thriving crops. Players must also set out to dazzle the wildlife with the seductive sounds of music, almost as though they are trying to share a language of compassion and understanding.
Roots of Pacha and Stardew Valley both have players mine, raise livestock, and maintain a healthy relationship with the residents. Unlike other farming games, however, Roots of Pacha makes players start from the birth of agriculture and evolve as a clan. Players must set out to discover irrigation systems, new and improved tools, and even learn how to tame wild animals.
Amazingly, unlike most farming sims available today, Roots of Pacha implements co-op from the get-go -- even Stardew Valley didn't implement this feature until after its initial launch. The reason for this is that Roots of Pacha's developers want all players to work together as a growing community. After all, it takes a village to raise a farm. Since the developers plan to release this co-op feature alongside the game's launch, it will make for a more cohesive experience, and it won't feel like the multiplayer aspect takes away from the rest of the gameplay.
The players' hand axe is the core of this game and is handcrafted by each player. Luckily, even if players don't have an axe, hammer, or fishing pole, they can still use their hand axe for most tasks. They say "teach a man to fish, and he will eat for a year." Well, Roots of Pacha has that aspect covered as well, and although the fishing system is a little tricky to grasp at first, it's smooth sailing once players get their bearings with their newfound fishing pole. Players will need to carefully calculate how they intend to improve the overall quality of their village. They can do so by tracking the sun or even building a magnificent bridge to help settlers cross the open waters.
The farming part of the game is simple yet intricate. Players can collect a multitude of crops and use them as contributions to their clan. This opens up ample opportunities to expand upon ideas to improve each player's settlement. If players would rather keep their fruitful bounty to themselves, they can opt to create recipes, preserve their food by smoking it, or gift food to a local friend in need. Roots of Pacha has also made it impossible to gather crops accidentally. While this may seem like a useless feature, it's beneficial to those picking weeds around their crops without the worry of uprooting their harvest before it's ready.
While the developers aim to release the game entirely in late 2022, this is always subject to change. In the meantime, players can look forward to collecting mounts and building new and improved tools to help them reap a plentiful harvest. The developers have also stated that several new features will be added to the game before its launch, meaning that gamers should stay tuned to see what's in store for Roots of Pacha. This may very well be one for the books, hopefully becoming yet another game players can't get enough of.