Farming Simulator is not an easy game. As a matter of fact, I’m not sure I would classify it as a game so much as a… well, the title is pretty accurate. How accurate? John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson are going to hold a benefit concert for me.
I suck at farming.
The game is downloadable for the PC (where it might be referred to as Farming Simulator 2013), PS3 or Xbox 360 with versions available on the 3DS and PSVita (I played the PS3) and it is exactly as the title suggests – a simulation. Much less a game than a lesson in what it takes to grow some crops and not go bankrupt in the process. Remember The Oregon Trail? That history lesson disguised as a game? That was much more of a game than Farming Simulator.
It may be appropriate for all ages, but after a couple of hours my 10 year old was done with the game. My 6 year old barely lasted an hour. My 8 year old wanted to watch My Little Pony.
Alright, so I may be coming across a bit harsh here, and I don’t meant to be, really. The thing is, Farming Simulator is pretty much what it advertises, for good and bad. I am unfamiliar with the game and franchise on the PC, so I really have nothing to compare Farming Simulator to other than my own experience playing the game. Normally I am not a fan of simulation games and usually avoid games with extensive farming or crafting mechanics (such as the Harvest Moon franchise). Take that into account while reading this.
What makes Farming Simulator so frustrating is its realism. The economics of farming as presented here seem as realistic as possible from what I can tell. Loans and debt are the order of the day. Unfortunately it is far too easy to quickly be drowning and not be able to get out from under a mountain of debt.
Instead of hitting a command to harvest a field of wheat, players will actually need to crawl into the combine harvester and physically move along in rows to gather the crop. And that action is repeated with planting. You’ll get used to moving up and down the fields because there’s so much of it to do. Selling your crops is a bit of an odd procedure as well since there’s not many options and little competition. It’s not that Farming Simulator is unbalanced, but there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of room for negotiation.
A number of side-jobs to earn money almost make it seem as if you’re not supposed to succeed as a farmer. If you’re a successful farmer, chances are you wouldn’t need to be doing all of these side jobs, or too busy to do them. On the other hand, if these side jobs are so lucrative, why bother with the farm?
Done with the complaining. Farming Simulator may be a bit tough and unforgiving, but it delivers enough of what the title promises to make the curious want to purchase it. This isn’t “Arcade Farming” or anything of the sort, it’s a simulation of what it takes to maintain a farm.
Featuring a number of real-world licensed vehicles and equipment, Farming Simulator feels realistic, but I can’t attest to how the handling or whatever for the various pieces of machinery operate relate to their actual counterparts. I wonder if any actual farmers have played this game and what they think of it. There is a sort of zen monotony to much of the proceedings once you get the hang of the gameplay mechanics. The tutorial does a decent job of starting you off, but don’t think that Farming Simulator will show you everything you’ll need to do and then be set. More than once I had to go online to search what to do or how to get out of a tricky situation (which usually boiled down to economics or soil).
I recommend Farming Simulator, but with a heavy caveat – be prepared for frustration. This is a farming simulator, and life on the farm is less than glamorous.