Review: Farm Heroes Saga

They Have Me Hooked

Would you believe that a strategy boardgamer like me, who's played some of the most complex games imaginable, whose computer had never hosted a video game before, is enjoying the Candy Crush sibling, Farm Heroes Saga?  

That's right, I am.  

We're talking about a game system that gradually draws you into its vortex, charming you with lovely graphics, wonderful sound effects and gradually increasing complexity, all the while tempting you to spend money.

What's it like?  The 'saga' is a series of abstract puzzles, which, when you successfully solve one, admits you to the next.  Each puzzle is a grid of 'cropsies' (apples, beets, carrots, etc.) that challenge one to find 3-of-a-kind by switching a carrot in one square for water in the next, for example.  Puzzles each identify a goal of a number of these matches that must be accomplished in a specified number of moves.  

As the saga unfolds, complexity is added in the form of strangely shaped grids, tools to make play easier (which can cost $), blockades along the way (that require help from one's on-line friends), and so on.  I just completed the 45th level, which is nothing compared to some of said friends, who're two and three times further along.

I've promised myself I won't spend money, and so far I've been successful.  Why?  I've asked myself that question many times.  I don't mind spending money on a good movie, book or other work of outstanding art.  And though the storyline is a bit abstract and barebones (a player is supposedly battling Rancid the Raccoon, who represents the urban sprawl threatening to compromise a rural eden), the characters that assist the player (a cute pig, a tweety bird and an energetic dog who wears red rubber boots), along with the fun squeals and sighs that accompany success, make for an entertaining world.  But the game is built on the 'first one's free' principle, which is meant to make addicts of us, as we inevitably confront our own level of ability and then need an extra 'oomph' to get beyond that.

The plan I have is to play Farm Heroes (the name refers to what we become when we triumph over Rancid the Raccoon) during times when I'm by myself (so far, I've only played in the 7:00 PM hour), and to give up as soon as I reach a level that's too hard to conquer--the game system allows one to retry, when unsuccessful.

A few last thoughts: there are playing hints that one can find posted on-line (google).  I ran into them after I'd discovered through trial-and-error how best to play, which is how I'd want it if I were to do it again--discovery is an underrated high.  What I'd add to this advice is that the game system seems to sense when one is overly eager and also when one is just barely interested.  If you're hoping for a little luck, try waiting a few days before returning to King corporation's admittedly fun pastime.

Also, I think they'd have a bigger hit on their hands if they allowed players to leave the 'saga' and set up a farm complete with crops, animals and wondrous, old-time machinery.  This'd be something like Farmville (a game I've admittedly never played), but acquiring each additional component would be done by completing a puzzle.  Players would pay for a half-dozen or so puzzles and could earn 'free' puzzles, in addition to those they pay for.  Players would 'see' their farm for a brief twenty seconds or so at the beginning of each puzzle.  I might pay for something like that.

Update: I've now been trying to succeed at level 78 for about a week.  Is this where I get off the merry-go-round?  My supply of 'magic beans', which one earns by doing well--either a 75, 150 or 250 gain for success in a given puzzle, now stands at about 4,000.  But it had been 6,000.  The decline is due to my buying 'shovels' to assist with the puzzle.  All other tools cost 'gold', which can only be purchased with a credit card.  But not to fear, even though my Facebook friends who also play in this game (3 out of my 31 friends!) are ahead of me in the saga (#88, #124 and #136), I shall not waiver.

Update II: Have advanced up to level 88 and had a peek ahead (when one hits the special bonus level within each grouping--a grouping is a dozen or so puzzles organized around an alpine, desert, underwater, etc., theme--one can look ahead to future special bonuses or prizes that can be won) to see that there are so many more levels that I could play the game for many more years--if I don't run out of magic beans, though I'm now over 7,000, since my special bonus was 3,000 extra--yay!

Update III: Now at level 141 and have found that puzzles plateau in complexity after a certain point and there is therefore nothing to stop me from playing, for free, for years, at about one puzzle a day.

Update IV: I'm now at level 506, and have to say the secret to my success (still no $ spent in all my playing) is enjoying just one puzzle a day.  That's because one receives special tools which replenish every 24 hours.  Also, a 'cheat': I'm able to buy shovels (using magic beans, which are generated when one solves a puzzle) twice before the screen registers the first purchase, meaning I usually have extra of these tools when tackling a particularly difficult puzzle experience.  And I'm only halfway to what I imagine is the endgame 1,000th puzzle.