My Time at Sandrock polishes Portia’s mistakes, for the most part

My Time at Sandrock polishes Portia’s mistakes, for the most part

Ahead of the early access release of My Time at Sandrock on Steam, we got the opportunity to spend a few sunny afternoons in Pathea’s new desert location. Following the mixed reception to the first game in the series, My Time at Portia, Sandrock delivers a lot of the same again, but with a little bit more attention to detail, and a good bit more shine. 

The first thing that will catch your eye, and keep it for a good while, is the picturesque world design of Sandrock. The densely packed town area is a Ghibli-esque celebration of colour and architecture, while the sparse and sprawling desert where you collect your craftables serves as a refreshing yin to the town’s yang.  Still, the beauty of the game world isn’t too much of a surprise, as while Portia was dug out for its technical issues, there was always a lot of praise for the aesthetic of Pathea’s architectural and geographical design.  

The characters, in comparison to the scenic Sandrock, are a mixed bag, but they get better as time goes on. Mi-an, a companion in the same vein as Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire’s May, is the exposition machine from which you learn about why you’ve ended up in Sandrock, and what it is you’ll be doing there. She does, however, have a touch of the uncanny valley about her, as does retiring builder Mason. 

RELATED LINKS: My Time at Sandrock preview

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