![]() For example, I tried to feed a jelly and wondered why their hunger and mood didn’t improve, only to find out their trait means they actually need to compete over food to gain experience and happiness.Įven now, I can’t really tell you what stats and experience entirely mean for jellies and their development. It’s pretty normal to fumble around for the first few in-game days in these kinds of simulator games, but I felt particularly lost and confused here. Early tutorials just about cover the basics, such as how to get jellies to fall in love and tell if they’re hungry or sad, but vital things like jellies’ stats, traits, and statuses, as well as the different effects of items are all left for you to discover. Here is where my biggest problem with Alchemic Cutie sneaks in: it doesn’t seem to want to explain anything to you. They have patterns and can only offer specific services - like shops, cooking, and ticket sales - depending on the day or time, but there’s no incentive to do these quests other than a little bit of money, which I barely spent after unlocking the first new area of the island. The characters, simply put, aren’t engaging. You can pick up quests from the nearby town, but I seemed to keep rotating through the same handful of errands, like parcel delivery, lost-and-found retrieval, or returning library books. Alchemic Cutie isn’t a farming sim in the traditional sense, nor does it allow you to forge any personal relationships. I think this is one area where the Stardew Valley comparisons are unfair. All of Yvette’s friends and neighbours are unmemorable, and the only way you can find out more about them is through dialogue options and not any kind of progression.Įvery location is vibrant and pretty to look at. The writing is clearly aimed at kids, but the sometimes juvenile humour coupled with the more complex gameplay didn’t sit right with me. I don’t play these games for their stories, but the writing and characters usually hook me, and Alchemic Cutie lacks in both areas. She’s curious, excitable, and capricious - precisely what you’d expect of a kid who’s on her way to alchemic supremacy. Your adventure revolves around Yvette, a newly trained alchemist raising jellies on her family’s farm who is trying to uncover the secrets of her home, Wimba Island. It’s nothing you haven’t seen or heard before, but all together, it’s successful at easing you into a cosy world that is inviting on the surface. ![]() Dale North’s soothing soundtrack is the perfect, gentle accompaniment to your daily life. Each season looks and feels different, and it’s always exciting to see just how Wimba Island changes as the calendar moves forward. This gives the game a quirky yet familiar feel. It oozes bright colours and adorability from almost every facet, with a rainbow of pastel and vivid shades that help to create a warm atmosphere. Visually, at least, Alchemic Cutie fits the wholesome “genre” to a tee. Alchemic Cutie tries to join the ranks of these other giants, but it soon becomes a sticky exercise that is often more overwhelming than relaxing. Within this wholesome category, farming and life sims have often been my comfort food games of choice Animal Crossing, Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life, and Stardew Valley have all taken up hundreds of hours of my time as I attempt to grasp some kind of routine and solace in my evenings. With an entire industry direct-style presentation promoting these games, they’re enticing more and more people to pick up a console and play to unwind. It’s used for games that feel like a warm hug, with soothing music, a lack of responsibility, and freedom of choice, all wrapped up in delightful colour palettes and soft, encouraging morals. ![]() There’s been a noticeable rise in the term “wholesome” in the video game industry over the past few years. ![]()
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