Developer: Giants Software
Publisher: Giants Software
Available On: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC
Reviewed On: Xbox Series X
HARVEST THOSE CROPS!
Before I begin, I want to mention that I’m a massive Farming Simulator fan. These games have always been a blast and I find time flies during my gaming sessions. I’ll try to provide both the positives and negatives, too. Hopefully, that will help you decide whether the game is for you. I honestly think that it will be!
A LITTLE OF THIS AND THAT!
During the review process, I tried playing as many different roles as possible to ensure I could cover various gameplay areas. There’s so much to do in many ways that I’m hoping I can give you a general idea as opposed to just a road map.
In total, I played roughly 30 hours to get a feel for everything, but again, remember that I’ve enjoyed past Farming Simulator titles. I already had a basic understanding of what to do, so your mileage may vary. Regardless, after those 30 hours, you should have an idea of what needs to be done and how to make some nice bank in the process.
I want to start with things I really liked. As with any game, starting fresh can be a challenge. The reason can be many factors, like having no money or resources. You begin with generic items, and even the environment isn’t upgraded. With Farming Simulator, you’ve got the option to choose either the Easy, Normal, or Hard difficulty. By default, the game will have you at the middle ground. I advise choosing the easiest option, however, especially if this is your first time playing this franchise.
You’re off to the races once you select the setting, bringing me to my first point. It’s important to note that the cash you start with is tied to whatever you pick. If you go Normal, you’ll get a whopping 1.5 million dollars to spend, which even I, a veteran, wasn’t expecting. This lump sum allows you, the player, to acquire everything needed to indulge in farming immediately. You can buy a pretty Tractor, Plow, Cultivator, Seeder, and Harvester - you’ll be producing crops in no time. Any money left over should also be enough to get your first field, which isn’t always the case initially.
HIRE ME, PLEASE!
If you’re not ready to dive into your fieldwork quite yet, Farming Simulator 22 has done a fantastic job in incorporating other mechanics like Contracts. These allow you to perform tasks for other farmers and are the day-to-day jobs you can complete without the stress of figuring out what to do. Another lovely feature is the ability to borrow items, in case you forget what you need to bring. It provides you with everything you might need to get the job done without coordinating and figuring it out beforehand. It’s a beneficial quality-of-life tool for new players.
When you’re ready to start the farming process and get to Baling, Plowing, Cultivating, Harvesting, or Seeding, you’ll quickly come to see that Farming Simulator has given you generous plot sizes. Hell, some of these can take upwards to an hour of real-time to tend, in case you’re looking for a challenge. Before you ask if it’ll get tedious, let me mention that you can hire AI workers to do whatever you need. It's important to know that they charge for their time, so make sure you save some money and don’t splurge on machinery in the beginning!
YOU SEE THAT!?
Now, let me tell you about the visuals. When you get onto the field, you’ll quickly see how stunning the graphics are. Not only the environments but also the details of your machines. The sunrises and sunsets that tell you when days start or end are, dare I say, breathtaking, even for a video game. I’m impressed with how the shadows roll in and out, to the darkness slowly lifting or consuming the land with dusk.
As a nice treat, Farming Simulator takes the time to even map the shadows of wildlife and how they’ll reflect off the ground during each step of the sun’s descent. Not only that, but they bounce off your machines and look so realistic, helping you feel like you’re in the game. After you finish your task, fields change to show that, like leaving stumps after harvesting trees, leaving lines in the dirt after you’re done cultivating, and so on. It’s a small detail, but it has been perfected to give you a truly immersive experience.
THAT’S NOT GOOD!
As promised, Farming Simulator isn’t all smiles and good times. I want to prepare you for a few drawbacks, although some may not apply to you as they’re strictly from a disability standpoint. I’m a one-handed gamer and, as such, accessibility is extremely critical. Remapping controls is a must, not only for enjoyment but for functionality. Sadly, that isn’t one of Farming Simulator’s strengths. For example, the throttle happens when pressing the Right Trigger. However, with my hand lying flat so I can access all of the front-facing buttons, how am I supposed to efficiently and consistently reach behind my controller without losing my placement?
The answer is I can’t. I will include a partial point for including Cruise Control. This one aspect does help drive in a straight line. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work for sharp turns on narrow fields or when navigating obstacles or tough terrain. It’s weird because, in general, gaming was starting to incorporate the ability to remap, not only through the game itself but also the console’s settings, but that isn’t a thing here. All I ask is for a simple remap of my vehicle’s throttle, something that’s critical to all of farming. It would save me a massive headache while bringing me that accessibility that I need. I would love to see this change in future Farming Simulators.
WHAT DO I DO!?
While discussing areas of improvement, I’ll add a few more. There’s a lot to learn to run a successful farm effectively. Like I said previously, without prior knowledge of this series, it’s easy for me to see how someone can get frustrated and opt to steer clear. For that reason, every Farming Simulator, without a doubt, must have a tutorial, yet Farming Simulator 22 missed the memo. Yes, there have been tutorials in past entries, which makes it strange it’s not now. With the complexity of the tasks, every player should be briefed on what they’re doing and what’s needed to, for instance, plant seeds or plow the till.
I remember when I first began years ago. As a newbie, the proper order of finishing the tasks was a big question. I can agree that not everyone wants a tutorial, so maybe putting in an option to skip them is a requirement, but otherwise, the bottom line is that they need to be incorporated.
My other biggest issue comes with the Stations where you sell your crops. These Driveways and parking lots are so narrow that you have to be a professional driver just to have a chance to deliver the goods flawlessly. It made me ask if it would kill them to widen the areas because right now, it’s very hard to back a trailer with a transport. I have to dock it points for not being realistic. I don’t recall ever seeing an 18-wheeler having to do a 30-point turn just to deliver merchandise. While on the topic of not making sense, when was it decided that a lamp post could bring a 5-10 tonne vehicle going 40-70 km/h to a bone-numbing halt?
Furthermore, sometimes, when that happens, it causes the equipment to perform a wild circus stunt of flips. It feels like lamp posts should have feet and do everything in their power to move out of the way if they're going to be so powerful!
Alright, I know I'm not the only one squinting and dreading the nighttime due to how the world goes pitch black. Even with the tiny glow stick worth of illumination with the headlights on each machine, it’s almost impossible to see. I understand it’s supposed to be dark when the sun disappears, but this is a total blackout. I can see it causing players to forgo doing any kind of farming after the sun is gone. What I think is strange is that in the past, in Farming Simulator, the night was dark, but players were able to clearly see fields and crops. It’s why PC folks have taken it upon themselves to modify this title and, at a minimum, double the brightness.
102.5, 108.5 FARM FM!
That’s enough of the negative because there are more positives. While you’re going about your farming, Farming Simulator has decided to insert a radio. It’s amazing, too, having not just a lone station but six. You’ve got a choice of a buffet of genres, everything from Country to Rock, to Pop, and Classical. I mean, who doesn’t want to rock out and head-bang while you’re playing and doing these chores?!
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!
You know, there are additional ways to earn money when you need a break from tending fields. It’s a nice bonus and includes activities like raising animals, creating other types of farms, and even building factories if you’re feeling saucy. While I don’t want to give away too many secrets, I have a tip. If there’s one thing that you should keep in mind if you want to be swimming in that green paper, it would be Solar Panels!
AND THE SUNNY VERDICT IS…
Farming Simulator 22 is definitely a niche game. It brings players a unique but simple experience, yet it’s done in a captivating style. I think that it’s easy enough for anyone to pick up. Thanks to the replay value being through the roof, this game will keep you busy for hours upon hours. If you’re looking for your next addiction, then look no further!
FARMING SIMULATOR 22 IS RECOMMENDED!
The Publisher provided the code used for the purposes of this review.