Developer: GIANTS Software
Publisher: GIANTS Software, Strictly Limited Games
Platform: PC, Mega Drive/Genesis
Tested on: PC, Mega Drive/Genesis
Farming Simulator 16-Bit Edition – Review
It’s been a while since we last discussed an actual new physical release for a retro console. Last time, we hooked up our almost-ancient NES to play through Roniu’s Tale, which proved to be a very amusing puzzle title that managed to captivate us from start to finish. This time, we’re changing sides from Nintendo to SEGA for Farming Simulator 16-Bit Edition. This so-called ‘demake’ has now received a physical edition for SEGA’s Mega Drive / Genesis via Strictly Limited Games. We were lucky enough to receive a review copy in the mail, and we have been spending quite some time with this simplified version of Farming Simulator. For the following review, we’ll be ditching our traditional format and also discussing the actual physical product.
Strictly Limited Games’ version of Farming Simulator 16-Bit Edition comes in three different versions, namely the regular version with the black cartridge, the Limited Edition with the green cartridge, and the Deluxe Edition with additional goodies thrown into the mix. For our review, we were given the regular retail version, which is already a cool product by itself. You’ll be treated to a traditional clamshell case that’s the same size as those of old-school Mega Drive / Genesis games. The box art is also reminiscent of other games from the ’90s, and it wouldn’t look out of place in-between your actual retro SEGA games. On the inside, there’s a manual and a black cartridge, once again, very much in the same style as other Mega Drive releases. If you used to have a Mega Drive or Genesis at home but sold it ages ago, you can still pick up this one as a cool display piece, as there’s also a download code that allows you to download an emulator with the game for PC. This piece of software also comes with additional save states, key rebind options, and so on. It’s a well-rounded package, and it gives you the option to play the game on a vintage console or PC.
Now, to delve into what the game is actually like: Farming Simulator 16-Bit Edition is a ‘demake’ of the Farming Simulator series. In essence, this would be how Farming Simulator could have looked and played if the game had come out in the ’90s for SEGA’s Mega Drive / Genesis. In the game, you’ll still manage your own farm, albeit in a more limited scope. You’ll have to plow the field, sow seeds, wait for them to grow, harvest, and then ultimately sell what you harvested. It’s a fun gameplay loop that was actually a lot more expansive than what we would have expected to be possible on a 16-bit cartridge. There are quite a few vehicles to choose from, and there are even different farmlands to work on. There are several maps to unlock, and even new vehicles can be bought. You can manage these via your garage. It’s very nice to zone out with this one. There are still a surprising number of managing options in the game, which is certainly a nice bonus for those looking to do more than just casually work the pixelated fields.
Even though the capabilities of a retro console are extremely limited by today’s standards, Farming Simulator 16-Bit Edition looks great. We were impressed by the realistic representations of real-life machinery and vehicles. While the proportions of the buildings are off, we still loved the overall backdrops and map layouts. Animations are also a bit basic, but that’s to be expected from a title that works on hardware that came out in 1988 in Japan. North America and Europe had to wait until 1989 and 1990 to get their hands on the SEGA Genesis / Mega Drive. The UI is clear and easy to work with, and everything is very accessible, even with the limited button options of a Mega Drive controller. On PC, via the emulator, there are more options available. The sound design wasn’t amazing, but the vehicles have nice audio feedback. This is probably also one of those games where you simply put on your own playlist and just relax.
Conclusion
Farming Simulator 16-Bit Edition is a great product for retro enthusiasts, not only for collecting purposes but also when looking at the game itself. We were able to easily zone out with the laid-back gameplay, allowing us to either play the game on our vintage hardware or our PC with some additional comfort features. We were able to sink in quite a few hours while still unlocking new vehicles for our pixelated farm. On top of that, the clamshell case looks great as an additional title in our ever-growing Mega Drive collection. Feel free to check out the Strictly Limited Store if you’re curious about the different versions of Farming Simulator 16-Bit Edition.
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