Star Sand Island Preview
What do you get when you mash up just about every cozy game out there and then turn it up to eleven? Probably something like Seed Labs. Star Sand Island. It's as if in Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley, The Sims, My Time at Sandrock, Fantasy Life, I and others had an adorable mutant baby and came home to an island paradise.
On Star Sands Island, you return to your childhood home, ready to start a new life with old and new friends. This game is a collection of activities. If you're a seasoned gamer, you'll likely find your favorite feature here, with more depth in every facet. From farming, crafting, fishing, decorating various homes to romance, mounts, land, water and air vehicles. Plus a lot of functional little things. I honestly can't tell you how many times I've been convinced that something random would just be decoration and turn out to be interactive. It's crazy how excited I was to see a usable vending machine in the wild.
So much to do, so much to see
Returning home to Star Sands, you begin the usual way. You create your character. There's a pretty cool character creation system with lots of adorable clothing and accessories for both body types. Get yourself a living space, a small desk and the like – that's apparently all you need to become a successful islander. From day one you are involved in a mentoring system. You will learn many activities and skills from these mentors. They will teach you farming, fishing, crafting and much more. And you'll maximize your skills in these things with good investments and seals of approval once you complete whatever requests they want.
Crafting and farming turned out to be my favorites. This is a common process taken from the formula of the My Time At games, where you need certain tools, blueprints, and tool levels to be able to perform certain tasks. But it's more than just a job.
More and more
You can chat with your island friends, build relationships and romance, and give gifts. Drive around the island and see the sights alone or with a companion. Driving in this game is very smooth and comfortable. Even people who have not played auto mechanics can easily get into the flow. You can also stop at a vending machine, grab a snack or drink, take a selfie with a great view of the day and night cycle, and more. Get a cute pet. Build and customize your land and home with a truly well thought out and extensive system. I once had my character sit on a swing he was fixing for just a few hours at a time and take pictures of him.
You not only earn money by working and trading. But there appears to be a separate points system, reminiscent of Animal Crossing Nook Miles. They are used for mentoring programs and other fringe benefits. You get them by completing individual tasks around the island. Some big or small. From decorating the house to picking a certain amount of vegetables. Or create your first fishing rod. And all this at your own heavenly pace.
Still cooking
While there's a lot I like about Star Sands Island, it's definitely a little lacking. This is understandable given that this is an ambitious project. Although, to be honest, I don't have much to complain about. Just a few kinks. Some grammatical errors, spelling errors and user interface texts are not fully translated. Character models are still a bit wobbly and givey, especially when interacting with the environment. My character's hair, eyes and skin changed when he went to bed. But to be honest, these are small things that will most likely be fixed for release.
Star Sands Island allows you to completely lose yourself for a long time. There is something to do at any pace you wish. Many systems go deeper than the usual formula. I'm really excited to see the final product if it's this good in development. There's a lot promised after the launch of this already impressive game, so I'm looking forward to it.
***PC Code Provided for Preview***
