Far: Lone Sails (stylized as FAR: Lone Sails) is an
exploration adventure videogame developed by the FAR: Lone Sails Swiss development company Okomotive. The game was released for Windows and macOS in May 2018, for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in April 2019, for Nintendo Switch in August 2019, and for Android and iOS in October 2020. A sequel, Far: Changing Tides, was released in March 2022.
Gameplay
Developer(s) Okomotive Publisher(s) Mixtvision[a] Engine Unity Platform(s) macOS Windows Screenshot from FAR: Lone Sails PlayStation 4 showing the cross-sectional view of the player's vehicle Xbox One Nintendo Switch
In FAR, the player controls the driver of a large vehicle Android
as they search through a post-apocalypse setting.[2][3] iOS The game is played from a side-scrolling perspective, Release macOS, Windows with the vehicle interior seen as a cross-section. To May 17, 2018 control the vehicle the player must move around inside PlayStation 4, Xbox One it, operating stations and pressing buttons to perform April 2, 2019 various functions that keep the vehicle moving, such as Nintendo Switch engaging the engine or filling the boiler with fuel August 18, 2019 sources found over the course of the player's Android, iOS journey.[3][4] The various parts of the vehicle can take October 22, 2020 damage, requiring the player to stop and extinguish Genre(s) Adventure fires and repair damaged systems. They are also Mode(s) Single-player required to solve puzzles in the world to allow the vehicle to pass and collect upgrades for it.[5][6] The game has no enemies, though the player-character can die due to environmental hazards, and will restart at the last checkpoint.[7] While the game starts with a burial scene,[4] the rest of the background story is intentionally vague, with the developers intending for the player's curiosity to motivate them to explore. The landscapes passed during the game show the ruins of a technologically-advanced civilization, and a world where the oceans have dried up, leaving massive ships scuttled on dry beds and bouts of extremely hazardous weather.
Development and release
FAR began in 2015 as the Bachelor's degree student project of lead developer Don Schmocker at the Zurich University of the Arts. During his master's degree he continued the development together with his fellow student Goran Saric. They founded the game studio Okomotive in February 2017 and expanded the team with other students and friends from University.[8] Schmocker was inspired by Strandbeests, the book Stephen Biesty's Incredible Cross-Sections, The Straight Story, and games such as Journey and LittleBigPlanet when designing FAR. Looking to take a new approach to the use of vehicles in video games, the developers aimed to create a game where the player was dependent on their vehicle, forming an emotional attachment to it over the course of the game.[9] The game is developed in Unity, and the developers use Blender and Adobe Photoshop for the 3D and 2D graphics respectively.[9]
FAR was released for macOS and Windows on May 17, 2018,[10] for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on April 2, 2019,[11] for Nintendo Switch on August 18, 2019,[12] and for Android and iOS on October 22, 2020.[13]
FAR received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.
Writing for Mashable, Anna Washenko named the game as one of her favorites from E3 2016, calling it a "simple but lovely game".[5] After playing the game at GDC 2017, Chris Livingston of PC Gamer described FAR as "one of the most intuitive games" he had played, also praising the visual design and music.[21] On Polygon, Charlie Hall described the game as having "more meaning, conveyed silently, than many major AAA games released so far this year".[4] Kyle Hilliard of Game Informer praised the game's ability to connect the player to their vehicle, the world building, and the puzzles.[6] GameSpot scored the game 8/10, praising the visual style and ease of play.[19] Edwin Evans-Thirlwell of Eurogamer recommended the game, describing it as an "enormously warm-hearted adventure" and commenting positively on the game's pace and environments.[20] Writing for IGN, Tom Marks described the game's music as "stunning" and "incredible". He noted that Lone Sails was a "gorgeous little game" and "a journey packed full of both stressful and serene moments alike".[18]
The game was a finalist in the Best Student Game category at the 2017 Independent Games Festival.[22][23] It was also nominated for "Best Visual Design" at the 2018 Golden Joystick Awards,[24][25] and for "Game, Puzzle" at the National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers Awards.[26]
Sequel A sequel, titled FAR: Changing Tides was announced in June 2021 and released 1 March 2022.[27][28]
Notes a. Distributed by Assemble Entertainment since 2022.[1]
References 1. "Assemble Entertainment Assumes the Distribution of Mixtvision Games Portfolio" (https://w ww.gamedeveloper.com/press-release/assemble-entertainment-assumes-the-distribution-of- mixtvision-games-portfolio). www.gamedeveloper.com. September 15, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2024. 2. Foxall, Sam (5 February 2017). "Sail the literal open ocean in solitary adventure game Far: Lone Sails" (https://www.pcgamesn.com/far-lone-sails/far-lone-sails-gameplay). PCGamesN. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20201028204046/https://www.pcgames n.com/far-lone-sails/far-lone-sails-gameplay) from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2017. 3. Lahti, Evan (16 June 2016). "Take a weirdly charming roadtrip through the post-apocalypse in Far" (http://www.pcgamer.com/take-a-weirdly-charming-roadtrip-through-the-post-apocaly pse-in-far/). PC Gamer. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20170308061536/http://www. pcgamer.com/take-a-weirdly-charming-roadtrip-through-the-post-apocalypse-in-far/) from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017. 4. Hall, Charlie (16 May 2018). "Far: Lone Sails is a poem disguised as a video game" (https:// www.polygon.com/2018/5/16/17357762/far-lone-sails-game-pc-mac). Polygon. Archived (htt ps://web.archive.org/web/20180516172335/https://www.polygon.com/2018/5/16/17357762/f ar-lone-sails-game-pc-mac) from the original on 16 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018. 5. Washenko, Anna (20 June 2016). "The 10 best independent games at E3 2016" (http://mash able.com/2016/06/20/e3-best-indies-2016/#1B_RNDE_skqn). Mashable. Archived (https://w eb.archive.org/web/20170503110751/http://mashable.com/2016/06/20/e3-best-indies-2016/ #1B_RNDE_skqn) from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017. 6. Hilliard, Kyle (18 May 2018). "Far: Lone Sails" (https://web.archive.org/web/2018052007553 6/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/far_lone_sails/b/pc/archive/2018/05/18/far-lone-sails -game-informer-review.aspx). Game Informer. Archived from the original (http://www.gamein former.com/games/far_lone_sails/b/pc/archive/2018/05/18/far-lone-sails-game-informer-revi ew.aspx) on May 20, 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2018. 7. Nielsen, Holly (2017-08-25). "The 11 best games at Gamescom: Mario Odyssey, new Assassin's Creed and more" (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/aug/25/gamesc om-best-games-mario-odyssey-assassins-creed-cuphead-monster-hunter-video-games-eve nt). The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077 (https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077). Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20170904044434/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/201 7/aug/25/gamescom-best-games-mario-odyssey-assassins-creed-cuphead-monster-hunter- video-games-event) from the original on 2017-09-04. Retrieved 2017-09-04. 8. "Okomotive wins prize at Swiss game awards" (https://www.s-ge.com/en/article/news/20191 -games-okomotive). Switzerland Global Enterprise. 19 February 2019. Archived (https://we b.archive.org/web/20200129205210/https://www.s-ge.com/en/article/news/20191-games-ok omotive) from the original on 29 January 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2023. 9. Couture, Joel (15 February 2017). "Road to the IGF: Student project FAR: Lone Sails" (htt p://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/291303/Road_to_the_IGF_Student_project_FAR_Lone_ Sails.php). Gamasutra. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20170216101423/http://www. gamasutra.com/view/news/291303/Road_to_the_IGF_Student_project_FAR_Lone_Sails.ph p) from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2017. 10. Hall, Charlie (2018-05-16). "Far: Lone Sails is a poem disguised as a video game" (https://w ww.polygon.com/2018/5/16/17357762/far-lone-sails-game-pc-mac). Polygon. Retrieved 2024-01-26. 11. Anstadt, Nathan (2018-05-17). "Far: Lone Sails Gets Some Company With Console Release" (https://web.archive.org/web/20190807202936/https://www.gameinformer.com/201 9/03/18/far-lone-sails-gets-some-company-with-console-release). Game Informer. Archived from the original (https://www.gameinformer.com/2019/03/18/far-lone-sails-gets-some-comp any-with-console-release) on August 7, 2019. Retrieved 2024-01-26. 12. Juba, Joe (2018-05-17). "Far: Lone Sails Coming To Switch This Month" (https://web.archiv e.org/web/20190813163307/https://www.gameinformer.com/2019/08/05/far-lone-sails-comin g-to-switch-this-month). Game Informer. Archived from the original (https://www.gameinform er.com/2019/08/05/far-lone-sails-coming-to-switch-this-month) on August 13, 2019. Retrieved 2024-01-26. 13. Smith, Olly (2020-10-20). "FAR: Lone Sails out on mobile this week" (https://www.pocketga mer.com/far-lone-sails/far-lone-sails-out-on-mobile-this-week/). www.pocketgamer.com. Retrieved 2024-01-26. 14. "FAR: Lone Sails for PC Reviews" (https://www.metacritic.com/game/far-lone-sails/critic-revi ews/?platform=pc). Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20190 428215524/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/far-lone-sails) from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2020. 15. "FAR: Lone Sails for PlayStation 4 Reviews" (https://www.metacritic.com/game/far-lone-sail s/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4). Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived (https://web.a rchive.org/web/20210123073942/https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/far-lone-sai ls) from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2020. 16. "FAR: Lone Sails for Xbox One Reviews" (https://www.metacritic.com/game/far-lone-sails/cri tic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one). Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived (https://web.archive.o rg/web/20200905113152/https://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-one/far-lone-sails) from the original on 5 September 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020. 17. "FAR: Lone Sails for Switch Reviews" (https://www.metacritic.com/game/far-lone-sails/critic-r eviews/?platform=nintendo-switch). Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived (https://web.archiv e.org/web/20201023041352/https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/far-lone-sails) from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020. 18. Marks, Tom (16 August 2019). "Far: Lone Sails Review" (https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/ 08/16/far-lone-sails-review). IGN. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20211023153506/ht tps://www.ign.com/articles/2019/08/16/far-lone-sails-review) from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 23 October 2021. 19. O'Connor, James (15 May 2018). "FAR: Lone Sails Review: Come Sail Away" (https://www.g amespot.com/reviews/far-lone-sails-review-come-sail-away/1900-6416909/). GameSpot. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20180517123424/https://www.gamespot.com/review s/far-lone-sails-review-come-sail-away/1900-6416909/) from the original on 17 May 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2021. 20. Evans-Thirlwell, Edwin (29 May 2018). "FAR: Lone Sails review - outsailing the apocalypse" (https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-05-15-far-lone-sails-review). Eurogamer. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20180526021602/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-05- 15-far-lone-sails-review) from the original on 26 May 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2021. 21. Livingston, Chris (4 March 2017). "This week's highs and lows in PC gaming" (http://www.pc gamer.com/this-weeks-highs-and-lows-in-pc-gaming-march-3rd-2017/). PC Gamer. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20170308151938/http://www.pcgamer.com/this-week s-highs-and-lows-in-pc-gaming-march-3rd-2017/) from the original on 8 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017. 22. "Finalists and Winners" (http://igf.com/finalists-and-winners). Independent Games Festival. 22 September 2016. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20180109165419/http://www.igf. com/finalists-and-winners) from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2017. 23. Chalk, Andy (9 January 2017). "Independent Games Festival Awards finalists announced" (h ttp://www.pcgamer.com/independent-games-festival-awards-finalists-announced/). PC Gamer. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20170314134836/http://www.pcgamer.com/in dependent-games-festival-awards-finalists-announced/) from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017. 24. Hoggins, Tom (24 September 2018). "Golden Joysticks 2018 nominees announced, voting open now" (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gaming/news/golden-joysticks-2018-nominees-ann ounced-voting-open-now/). The Daily Telegraph. Archived (https://ghostarchive.org/archive/2 0220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gaming/news/golden-joysticks-2018-nominees-annou nced-voting-open-now/) from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 6 October 2018. 25. Sheridan, Connor (16 November 2018). "Golden Joystick Awards 2018 winners: God of War wins big but Fortnite gets Victory Royale" (https://www.gamesradar.com/golden-joystick-awa rds-2018-winners/). GamesRadar+. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2018111621590 4/https://www.gamesradar.com/golden-joystick-awards-2018-winners/) from the original on 16 November 2018. Retrieved 17 November 2018. 26. "Nominee List for 2018" (https://archive.today/20190213220549/http://navgtr.org/archives/35 66/). National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers. 11 February 2019. Archived from the original (http://navgtr.org/archives/3566/) on 13 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019. 27. Watts, Rachel (13 June 2021). "Far: Changing Tides is a lonely post-apocalyptic voyage, coming late 2021" (https://www.pcgamer.com/far-changing-tides-is-a-lonely-post-apocalyptic -voyage-coming-late-2021/). PC Gamer. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/2021061400 3002/https://www.pcgamer.com/far-changing-tides-is-a-lonely-post-apocalyptic-voyage-comi ng-late-2021/) from the original on 14 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021. 28. Nightingale, Ed (2022-01-11). "Far: Changing Tides now has a release date" (https://www.e urogamer.net/articles/2022-01-10-far-changing-tides-now-has-a-release-date). Eurogamer. Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20220317081413/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/ 2022-01-10-far-changing-tides-now-has-a-release-date) from the original on 2022-03-17. Retrieved 2022-01-11. External links Official website (https://www.far-game.com/) Website Okomotive (http://www.okomotive.ch) Website Mister Whale's Game Service (http://www.misterwhale.ch)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Far:_Lone_Sails&oldid=1261953922"
