#STRANGE HORTICULTURE NORWOOD TRIAL#

The hints are well done in that they give you enough information without giving too much away.TREATY. You have to do a lot of self-exploration and use your head to follow the trail of breadcrumbs in order to discover everything. You are essentially dropped in at the deep end to figure things out by yourself, but there is an argument to be made that it’s part of the game’s interest. Another small gripe is that the tutorial is lacking. It is unfortunately quite clunky and difficult to use but the fact that it is even available is commendable. The developers have built in a system to allow you to zoom in on small text. Hearing the rustle of the paper as you flip through the various documents or the scrape of wood against wood when you open the desk drawer seems so insignificant but it really aids the immersion of the game.Īccessibility is a shining point in Strange Horticulture. The background music is soft and soothing which often stands at odds with the unsettling nature of the story. The sound design is absolutely on point as with most of this game it is simply done but the execution is wonderful. Maybe I’m just a nerd but flipping through the ‘Strange Book of Plants’ was what I spent most of my time doing, just looking through all of the identifications and uses to compare them to the plants I’d collected. The art pairs so well with the various tools, I am obsessed with using the magnifying glass for absolutely no reason other than because it’s fun to use. It lends itself quite nicely to the atmosphere and is reminiscent of antique botanical encyclopedias. Though fairly simple in design, the art style is absolutely lovely. Red alert! Red alert! YOU CAN PET THE CAT, I REPEAT, YOU CAN PET THE CAT and it even purrs when you do! Hellebore, your feline shop assistant, is the cutest little black blob ever, and it sits on your counter, getting startled whenever the bell rings for your next customer. Add on creepy sound effects, like the heartbeat, and Strange Horticulture really nails the sense of unexplained impending doom. The ‘death’ mechanic doesn’t kill you but it shatters your mind, so to revive yourself you have to put the broken pieces back together. Some underlying themes are surprisingly dark with a lot hiding beneath the surface for example, an encounter on the map brings up a dead deer and shows the cycle of how life comes from death. The humour is on point and very dry, but unfortunately doesn’t last long as you delve deeper into the game. The main story is subtle but filled with intrigue and has three endings to discover. Breaking out the Bryer’s Disk (a tool used in coded messages) while exploring the map fulfils my younger self’s dream to be a treasure hunter, solving mysteries like the one surrounding the strange murders in the area.

#STRANGE HORTICULTURE NORWOOD TRIAL#

You need to pay attention, as many of the puzzles can be quite tricky and involve a lot of trial and error, but the fact that there is little hand-holding makes it more immersive. The temptation to turn a little boy into a toad can almost be too great.

There is some opportunity for mischief or straight-up murder I truly appreciate the option to poison rude customers by choosing to give them either the plant that causes memory loss or the one that leads to insanity and then death. You play as the Horticulturist, owner of the local plant shop in the town of Undermere, providing various herbs, flowers, and plants to your customers and identifying them along the way. You don’t tend to the plants quite the same, but setting up a little greenhouse is a fun distraction if you can get through all the puzzles.Īn air of mystery and fear follows you throughout the story. If you’ve ever played Plants vs Zombies and enjoyed the Zen Garden more than the zombie killing then I’d highly suggest giving Strange Horticulture a whirl. Reviews // 20th Mar 2022 - 2 years ago // By FluffyAxe Strange Horticulture Review

Strange horticulture norwood