Developer: BitQuest Studio
Publisher: BitQuest Studio
Platform: PC
Tested on: PC
Ashfield Hollow – Preview
Recently, we have looked at what happens when you mix Stardew Valley with the occult in Moonlight Peaks. Now, BitQuest Studio’s upcoming game, Ashfield Hollow, changes things up by setting our beloved cozy farming simulator in a post-apocalyptic world. Ashfield Hollow features a fun pixelated world where our character has been trying to survive ten whole years since an outbreak happened. Let’s have a look at what we can do to survive, as well as what Camp Ashfield has to offer for us.
We immediately jump in, with our character knocked out after being ambushed. Luckily, a few survivors of Camp Ashfield rescued us and kept us locked in a room, just in case we were secretly bitten. Once a few days have passed and we are still human, we get to meet all fourteen other survivors of the camp. Not everyone is as welcoming, thinking we will loot the place and leave when we get the chance, but the mutual consensus is that more hands to help are necessary. We are assigned a small outpost right outside the camp’s main area and are free to use it as we like. We get a ‘nice’ cottage and greenhouse, and are told to get to work.
The setup of the story feels very typical for an apocalypse setting, but that’s what makes the game so charming. It doesn’t try to deviate from the usual horror recipe, as it utilizes every aspect of the worldbuilding whenever possible. Not being friendly with the other survivors from the get-go feels uber-realistic, and being left to fend for yourself whilst also being part of the group gives the player just enough freedom whilst still being part of a community. All this makes it so that the recipe of a cozy farming simulator works well with the zombie setting we play in.
Ashfield Hollow uses the well-known 2D pixelated art style we’ve come to love with games such as Stardew Valley. The game plays in a 3/4 top-down angle, leaving players to see the world and characters move around freely. What caught our eye the first time was how toned-down the colours are in this game. Unlike other cozy games, everything the eye can see just looks rather bleak and dilapidated. In any other setting, this would be unappealing, but given we’re ten years into a zombie outbreak, it just fits and clicks. The game isn’t pretty, and it doesn’t need to be. The city is trashed, your cottage looks like it might break down any second, everything is one cohesive picture.
At the time of writing, Ashfield Hollow’s soundtrack isn’t its main selling point. The game plays the same two songs when you’re wandering around your own outpost or the campsite. The songs are alright, but without guidance, players will tire of them very quickly. We couldn’t help but notice a continuous tone in one of the songs as well, giving us a headache the first time around. When going into the city area, where the real danger lurks, the music luckily changes to a more ominous tune. The change was noticeable almost immediately and very welcome.
Furthermore, the game itself feels alive, ironically enough. Zombies will growl and grunt on the map, and interacting with items will make a matching sound effect. Another fun element that BitQuest Studio has implemented is the weather sounds. When it is windy outside, the player will be greeted with an occasional gust of wind going through their ears, adding to the immersion. This is a tiny, yet fun detail that makes the game all the more fun to play.
As mentioned earlier, Ashfield Hollow is a post-apocalyptic farming simulator. Though the initial premise is different, the gameplay isn’t. You have a plot that is your own, seeds to plant, and a crafting table. By looting abandoned buildings, the player can complete quests or sell items to gather more resources for both themselves and Camp Ashfield. By doing so, the player progresses the story and gets the chance to upgrade their outpost into something bigger. Eventually, there’s also the option to keep animals and set up traps for wild animals. The player can utilize all of these options however they please to survive.
When going outside Camp Ashfield, the player can go into abandoned buildings and loot cabinets. This is at first sight a simple task, until they run into a building with zombies. Upon seeing you, these creeps will slowly follow you and lunge at you to attack. You can shoot or hack at them, or simply choose to outrun them if you please. A health bar atop their heads will indicate how close they are to their second demise. On occasion, these zombies will persist in their chase and follow you outside their initial building, leaving you no choice but to engage with them. This adds personality to what would otherwise be a copy-paste NPC sprawled around the map, leaving us giggling and screaming at the same time.
Conclusion
Even though farming simulators are a bit overdone at this point, Ashfield Hollow manages to change things up enough to differentiate itself from its competitors. The game might not have the same coziness factor as many other farming simulators, but that’s part of the charm here. This, along with the struggle to survive in a harsh environment, makes the game a unique experience for players to enjoy, and we do recommend giving this one a go. It isn’t necessarily a cozy farming sim, but definitely a pleasant one.
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