Sun haven reviews12/14/2023 It goes without saying then, that I’m a fan of farming/life sims as well. Because despite how overpowering these feelings can be, if both parties work for it, love always prevails.I’m a huge fan of anything zen in games – from pretending fast-travel doesn’t exist in Skyrim or Ping as a taxi driver in GTA, to intentionally zen titles like the underwater exploration game Abzu, the original Strand-type game Mudrunner and its sequel Snowrunner, to the indie darling A Short Hike- these are what I play to unwind after a stressful day or when my anxiety picks up. But even then, the two of them grow from it. Kay roasts himself to make Yu giggle, whereas Yu coaxes out whatever might be bothering Kay a moment later. I couldn't help but see past relationships of mine reflected in their spur-of-the-moment interactions that pop up no matter what you're doing. And without getting into spoilers, they've gone to hell and back for the life they now share. By the time we meet Yu and Kay, they're already together. What sets Haven apart from so many other games about romance is it's not about the pursuit of love. It's somewhat meta that Haven, which is about two characters growing closer, does precisely that in co-op with your real-life company. But as the two of you start recognizing each other's quirks while playing, cohesion begins to set in like a hilarious team-building exercise. Sure, the shared camera can get a bit wonky if one of you strolls right while the other insists on going left, but it's only an issue during exploration.Combat faces no such camera woes, thankfully, even though it's a smidge nerve racking relying on someone else for aid at first. ![]() Sharing laughter with a loved one over what dialogue options to choose or which fork in the road to take is an utter joy. When you’re each controlling one character, decision making and combat actions are split straight down the middle between yourself and (hopefully) someone special. While I spent the overwhelming majority of Haven’s roughly 15 hours in single-player, its creative local co-op mode etched out a decent chunk of my time, too. ![]() What's particularly fun about Yu and Kay's dynamic is either of them can take the lead: you can swap between them at any time, so choosing an expedition leader can be done in a snap. You'll play as the couple (yes, both of them), exploring this strange, semi-open world in search of food and materials for the Nest, a cutesy nickname for the lovebirds’ spaceship. It's beautiful but also a dangerous, untamed frontier full of thunderous mid-air collisions between floating mountains and hostile wildlife eager to give outsiders a good thrashing. Yu and her boyfriend Kay have been gallivanting about celestial bodies searching for a new home, eventually settling on Source, the stunning watercolor-pastel planet where Haven takes place. But every healthy relationship means being willing to put up with faults, and in Haven’s case that means turning a blind eye to long stretches of mandatory, monotonous resource gathering across barren landscapes.Haven sets itself apart from many other spacefaring tales by opening on what feels like the second act of a story (without being confusing, thankfully). And those highs hit that much harder in the brilliant co-op mode. Whether I was joyfully catching ethereal waves on anti-gravity boots, blitzing alien critters during exciting turn-based battles, or just zesting up meals, it was delightful witnessing its protagonists’ adorable relationship bleed into every activity. ![]() Haven weaves that affection into a beautiful science-fiction RPG about the misadventures of two star-crossed lovers. Support is essential in healthy relationships because no matter how turbulent shared lives can be, your partner is always there to offer a steady hand.
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