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.
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