Stephen Hawking once said, “Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious”. Not many aspects of life instill a sense of mystic and wonder that designates deep within us, let alone a video game. Sure, we may find ourselves in an adventurous state every now and again but unless something really clicks, it doesn’t stick. I found myself enthralled with Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles and I highly recommend that anyone reading this, hops aboard the voyager train with me.
Source: Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles
Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles is a game that follows a sea explorer after their ship was wrecked in a storm. Lost with nothing but their trusty compass, they must set off to make friends and thrive on a strange island full of magic and strange beasts. Sprinkled throughout this land is quests, fishing, farming, taming of the creatures, and puzzles galore. Animals migrate based on the seasons which are captured in an authentic and eye-catching manner. This causal RPG is stunning and has all the elements a gamer such as me could ask for.
Source: Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles
To be completely honest, I purchased Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles when it came out on Steam in 2017. I was excited for a different take on my usual farming simulator and saw how adorable the bison-like critters, Groffles, were. However, I instantly hated it. The camera angles killed me, I couldn’t walk straight without having to use my trackpad to switch the angle. This angered me, and I counted it as a loss, never to play it again. That is, until spring break 2019 when I remembered my computer had Xbox controller capabilities. I feel ashamed to admit this never crossed my mind in my state of distress and I thought I’d give Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles another whirl. Oh boy, I am so glad I did.
Source: Screenshot of Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles
After creating my beautiful blue-haired girl I was quickly working through events that gave me problems my first go around, I could walk around without ripping my hair out and I fell in love. The graphics are crisp and colorful in what can only be described as an animated reality, meaning I wish the world looked like the land of Gemea. I met countless villagers, befriended several mythical creatures, and began the journey to find my character’s roots all with the help of the goddess Aaerie. Hours were spent on this game and I still have a plethora of puzzles to conquer and quests to find. Overall, I am glad I got over myself and embraced the world of Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles.
In the end, Stephen Hawking was right, being curious should remain with us well into adulthood. Prideful Sloth perfectly displays Hawking’s words in everything they created within Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles. The beautiful graphics, cheery music, and unique characters just barely scratch the surface. These are the superficial aspects, while the deep storyline conveys a message we should all hold near and dear to our hearts. Stay curious.
Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles can be found on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Steam.
Source: Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles
