Test - Farming Simulator 25: Test: The new part does justice to the legendary franchise

We could make it damn easy for ourselves with the Farming Simulator 25 test. It would easily be possible to summarize the core statements in a single paragraph: The LS 25 is definitely the best and most well-rounded game in the series so far. But that wouldn't do the game justice at all and would also miss out on a lot of things that are definitely worth a closer look. However, don't celebrate too early, because there is a "but" that is worth mentioning. More on that later.

Let's first turn to the gameplay and, above all, the innovations. At first glance there don't seem to be that many of them. Those familiar with the predecessor will have one or two déjà vu experiences in the opening minutes. If you choose the Farming Simulator 25 campaign, you will find yourself in an editor after selecting the scenario. This is strikingly similar to its counterpart from the? both in terms of structure and scope.

When grandpa calls

You shouldn't expect the choices of a role-playing epic at this point. The options are still sufficient to create an individual hobby farmer. As part of the campaign, he follows the call of his grandfather, who wants to hand over his laboriously built farm into the hands of his grandson. Yes, that doesn't sound particularly innovative, but Farming Simulator games have never been known for a deep story anyway.

You should also be familiar with the term “campaign”. It's better not to attach too much importance to it. Although a variety of tasks await you in every scenario, a campaign in the classic sense looks different. Apart from that, you will be more or less thrown into the deep end at the beginning. Although there are numerous help functions and explanations available to provide you with the most important information in an emergency, you won't exactly be given a hand after the short tutorial.

Beginners in particular are likely to feel a bit overwhelmed due to the enormous amount of features and content. Connoisseurs of the franchise, on the other hand, feel right at home from the first second and will take a closer look at the innovations? and Farming Simulator 25 has a lot to offer.

As beautiful as Clarkson's Farm

A large part of it immediately catches the eye? We mean that literally. Because developer Giants Software has put a lot of effort into it, especially when it comes to presentation. At this point we would like to particularly emphasize not only the pretty representation of bodies of water, but also the weather system. Recently you have had to deal with hail and hurricanes, among other things. These natural phenomena are not only nice to look at, but also have an impact on the gameplay. Hailstones can destroy a large part of your harvest, the same applies to twisters.

The field work itself is also presented more authentically through stylish effects. When chunks of earth splash around when plowing, it may seem like a nice detail at first glance. But it adds enormously to the atmosphere. It's a shame that the developers lacked the last bit of courage or a little more time when it came to their graphics all-round project. Because no matter how stylish the new details are, the huge game world seems lifeless. We also continue to have to deal with popping textures, invisible barriers and some graphic bugs. Maybe next time.

There's rice, baby

But a lot has also happened outside of the optics? albeit in more detail in this area. This ranges from a significantly expanded fleet with a variety of authentic machines to a broader range of crops. You can now cultivate large rice fields in an Asian scenario or try growing peas, spinach and beans, which always comes with new challenges.

Thanks to some useful auxiliary functions such as the new GPS system, drawing precise paths in your own fields is much easier than before. long live comfort. You can now also demonstrate your skills as a goat and water buffalo breeder.

The proven system with production branches, commodity cycles and the general appeal of mastering the challenges of modern agriculture continues to serve as the foundation of the game. Developer Giants Software hasn't changed anything about this basic concept in Farming Simulator 25? why? By the way, you can once again work in the fields together with friends in cooperative multiplayer mode.