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[Nzyme32]

UPDATE 1 - Along with a whole host of bug fixes, the update also adds some new things to the game, that extends the game's longevity too -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO9c5XoeVpM

- Some rare flora and fauna has been recently detected on the alien planet.
- M.O.M has a new side quest for B.U.D to investigate these new additions.
- Success will unlock an advanced galactic gardening skin.

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Really enjoying this game so far, so thought I'd give it some love.

Launch Trailer (Gameplay) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR-4ZoDo_yg
Announcement - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM2OikSbnos

Description

In Grow Home you play as BUD (Botanical Utility Droid), a robot on a mission to save his home planet by harvesting the seeds of a giant alien plant. On his quest BUD will discover a beautiful world of floating islands that are home to some rather strange plants and animals.
Grow the giant plant and use your unique climbing abilities to reach ever higher ground, but be careful…one wrong move and it’s a long way down!

Key Features

Climbing: Procedural animation allows you to move BUD's hands independently, creating a unique and unrestricted climbing experience.

Growing: Guide and ride the giant alien plant as you create your own pathways in the sky. Everything you grow can be climbed on. Use it as a bridge, a safety net, or simply as a tool for artistic expression.

Exploration: Explore every nook and cranny of the alien world as you hunt and collect crystals that can enhance BUD's abilities. It’s a physical playground and many of the alien plants have unusual properties that can help you on your quest.

My Brief Thoughts

- No Uplay!

- Runs very well, no issues at all other than lack of AA options - but you can enable that via Nvidia/AMD control pannels

- This game is a really relaxing exploration game.

- Only several hours in, so not sure where the game will take me, but it is a lot of fun so far, well worth the price to explore my own alien paradise, grow plants and sky dive / jump / fly to crazy places.

- Lots of islands, caves, plant life and wildlife - Massive vertical expanse to explore rather than simple ground level

- Use these resources to explore and grow the large "Star Plant", guiding it's branches to new areas high above, using the alien paradise environment to help you along the way. Grow it into any shape you want!

- Climbing/grabbing mechanic is great. Uses triggers to control each arm. Demands that you pay attention to where your hands are, how you move, and what you hold on to.

- More usable items and abilities as the game progresses, gives you more freedom to fly around and generally be a tit. Great fun!

Edit: I would recommend a controller, as it is really well suited to the climbing / grabbing mechanics and understanding what your hands are doing

Game also includes Steam Achievments, Trading Cards & Steam Cloud

 

[SteveWinwood]

- No Uplay!

Well hey that's all I needed to hear.

I'm excited to try it. It looks good. Probably buy it tonight.

 

[GeoGonzo]

I probably won't have time to play this till the weekend, but I might as well buy it right now: Simply not using Uplay is something worth encouraging.

 

[Amir0x]

Ubisoft developed this but no Uplay?

Just wondering because I like the way this game looks but Ubisoft has been so shady lately wondering why no Uplay (thankful, just wondering why this game is unique for them)

 

[Nzyme32]

Ubisoft developed this but no Uplay?

Just wondering because I like the way this game looks but Ubisoft has been so shady lately wondering why no Uplay (thankful, just wondering why this game is unique for them)

It's a small project by 8 or so Ubisoft folks from the studio - Reflections (the guys that used to make Driver).

It's been developed in house by a small team of 8 employees at our Ubisoft Reflections studio in Newcastle [JW]

Not sure why they managed to avoid Uplay, I've asked the devs, and they side step most conversation about it other than in one thread - http://steamcommunity.com/app/323320/discussions/0/613948093877129641/?insideModal=1

The official word on the street is...you don’t need a Uplay account to play Grow Home [JW]

and then later:

Just repeating what was said earlier - you don't need a UPlay account to play Grow Home. [PY]

I'd like to hope this might be something that continues

 

[Eolz]

You probably don't need uplay because it's on unity, and they can't make it work with this engine (so far).
My guess.

 

[pakkit]

Bought. Can't wait to play tonight. It seems like the sort of relaxed platformer that I can play while listening to audio books or podcasts. Although the music seems really good, too.

 

[Nzyme32]

Bought. Can't wait to play tonight. It seems like the sort of relaxed platformer that I can play while listening to audio books or podcasts. Although the music seems really good, too.

Yeah the music is good, but they use it sparingly, which actually works out really well. The music kicks in at certain locations or if you find something important. For the most part the game has this kind of peaceful ambient noise, which really suits the vast space of the alien paradise you are in.

 

[Chuck]

look at all dem triangles

 

[Modest Mauser]

To anyone who's played it: does it feel worth $8? It looks lovely but I'm afraid it might get old after an hour or so.

 

[NIN90]

You probably don't need uplay because it's on unity, and they can't make it work with this engine (so far).
My guess.

Nah M&M X is hella Unity (including its performance issues) and there's Uplay all up in that game.

 

[Giger Pilot]

Just picked this up, will probably get into it later. It's just so cute!

 

[Nzyme32]

To anyone who's played it: does it feel worth $8? It looks lovely but I'm afraid it might get old after an hour or so.

To me it certainly feels worth it. Despite having not reached the end of the game, I can see the progression and concept of the game is a lot of fun. The exploration and freedom you have is a big seller for me.

To reach new islands and get higher, you have to grow the Star Plant, and you do that by grabbing and holding a red tipped branch and guiding it to a "energy source" island. You are free to make the plant grow in any shape or direction with any amount of branches, or into any islands you can reach.

Diamonds are another collectable that enhance you, and give you more abilities as you go, such as rocket jumping, as shown in the trailer. There are also several plants that act as tools to get around, and you can store for later use. So when you inevitably fall, or need to get to an island with no connections, you have the power to make many solutions, like rocket jumping, skydiving and then gliding

I don't know if it is for everyone, it's not exactly action packed. The point is more exploration in your own way and traversing this rather massive vertical expanse with weird life to it. It is also very pretty over different times of day, caves, waterfalls etc

 

[Funyarinpa]

Looks kind of like Tearaway.

Spoiler

That's a compliment

 

[tesqui]

This game is pure exploration bliss. Every time I encounter a cave or other hidden area it's extremely exciting and cool!

 

[Ingueferroque]

Looks gorgeous. Love high resolution flat shaded games. Some Chibi Robo influences?

 

[Banjo-Kazooie]

Controller support right? I may have to pick this up.

 

[PranooY]

This looks lovely. Lemme read some reviews before i get it tho.

 

[Nzyme32]

Controller support right? I may have to pick this up.

Oh yes. Controllers are the recommended way to play. I'll post a screencap of the control screen in a moment

Edit:

The controller is actually better to play with, just because it connects well with the climbing mechanic and how you understand what your character is moving and grabbing towards. Super important if you have only one hand on a ledge and you don't want to fall a million feet

 

[derExperte]

To me it certainly feels worth it. Despite having not reached the end of the game, I can see the progression and concept of the game is a lot of fun. The exploration and freedom you have is a big seller for me.

For some reason I got it in my head that this is more like an endless affair but having an end makes it instantly much more interesting. Perfect contrast right after finishing Dying Light.

 

[Nzyme32]

For some reason I got it in my head that this is more like an endless affair but having an end makes it instantly much more interesting. Perfect contrast right after finishing Dying Light.

Actually, I honestly have no clue if there is an end to the game. I am assuming there is, since there is a mothership of sorts (M.O.M) that still gives info on new things and such.

Edit: Apparently there is an end

 

[More_Badass]

Controller support right? I may have to pick this up.

Yeah, a controller is recommended, although it plays pretty well with keyboard and mouse

Played it for 2 hours already and I'm really enjoying it. The climbing and jumping is great, especially when you make a massive leap and then just latch onto a handhold. Wonderful artstyle

 

[Caayn]

Wow, I just bought this game on Uplay. It appeared nicely in my library on Uplay but when I started it it started Steam .

I'm not complaining, I just find it a bit funny that a Ubisoft title that I bought on Uplay wants me to use Steam.

 

[Nzyme32]

Wow, I just bought this game on Uplay. It appeared nicely in my library on Uplay but when I started it it started Steam .

I'm not complaining, I just find it a bit funny that a Ubisoft title that I bought on Uplay wants me to use Steam.

Kind of funny that that happens the other way round to the norm

 

[Coconut]

Can't wait to get home and monkey around with this game. I so happy the low poly aesthetics is a in right or is going to be in.

 

[TheChits]

Bought this as soon as I heard no Uplay. Very relaxing in the beginning, but my hands started sweating once I started climbing on the underside of platforms high in the sky haha. This game is an absolute joy so far.

 

[Lijik]

Watched a bit of a stream this morning but stopped because it just made me want to play the game and explore on my own. Might not get to it tonight but Im definitely playing this soon.

 

[Corpsepyre]

THE most awkwardly, clumsy controlling character in quite some time. Pissed me off to no end. Sucks, because I was looking forward to this.

 

[Krappadizzle]

I was excited for this until I just looked it up and realized it's not coop. I was hoping I could play this with my wife.

 

[Blablurn]

That looks beautiful

 

[King_Moc]

Just downloaded this, so will try it in a minute. Not seen any solid impressions, but it looks good and it's cheap, so whatever.

 

[More_Badass]

THE most awkwardly, clumsy controlling character in quite some time. Pissed me off to no end. Sucks, because I was looking forward to this.

How long did you play? Takes some time to get used to. I can jump-climb up cliff faces and chain big leaf and mushroom bounces across the world after about 2 hours

 

[TheHollowNight]

You probably don't need uplay because it's on unity, and they can't make it work with this engine (so far).
My guess.

That's exactly why I think it probably is.

 

[Doug Heffernan]

If controller is the preferred method, why is their no console versions?
Seems odd to me, especially for a Ubisoft game.

 

[Intru]

Hmm, I really want to buy this, but steam reviews are saying that it's only ~3 hours long. That seems a bit short.

 

[More_Badass]

If controller is the preferred method, why is their no console versions?
Seems odd to me, especially for a Ubisoft game.

This whole release was weird. No pre-release hype, no gameplay footage till today. It was a very quiet under-the-radar launch

 

[More_Badass]

Hmm, I really want to buy this, but steam reviews are saying that it's only ~3 hours long. That seems a bit short.

People must be speed running. I'm 2 hours in and I'm only up to the 6th checkpoint and only 20% upgraded. If you explore, etc., I think it should last longer than 3 hours

 

[Ramenman]

If controller is the preferred method, why is their no console versions?
Seems odd to me, especially for a Ubisoft game.

This whole release was weird. No pre-release hype, no gameplay footage till today. It was a very quiet under-the-radar launch

Apparently it really is something 8 guys did in their Newcastle studio, with no real plans of releasing it at first it seems. If they're going for the fastest, lowest risk way of releasing it to the world, no consoles make sense.

Releasing a game on consoles really adds more fluff, time and effort (= money) to the process, be it only for the additional QA, all the manufacturer-specific TRCs which can be a real pain in the ass to work back in if you haven't developped with them in mind, submissions that can take time, etc.

Whereas putting it on Steam is really as simple as seeing that it's good, phoning Gabe, zipping up the build and that's it (well maybe not, but clearly faster and less expensive, which is what they're going for judging by their super minimalist "marketing plan").

Now maybe if it's a hit they'll port it on consoles.

Who knows, we might even get Grow Home 2, a dark and gritty reboot with an open world the size of the earth developped over 7 studios and 800 staff with MMO social co-op xp perks !

Spoiler

please don't

Anyway, can't wait to try this.

People must be speed running. I'm 2 hours in and I'm only up to the 6th checkpoint and only 20% upgraded. If you explore, etc., I think it should last longer than 3 hours

Isn't it kind of procedural too ? Like when you get to the "end" if there's one, supposedly you can start over and it's different ?

We have litteraly no info on this game xD

 

[Nzyme32]

Hmm, I really want to buy this, but steam reviews are saying that it's only ~3 hours long. That seems a bit short.

Completely depends on the player. If you just see it as a game of "get to the end" and literally speed run it, you can probably do it in such a time. I am 3.5 hours into it and only have around 50% gem/diamond things, and having a blast exploring, hanging, finding diamond things, and now gliding everywhere with some crazy power up. There is a lot more to see do, and importantly explore and alien paradise thing, which is the mindset I had.

Simply connecting the branches and literally growing home does sound like it would be a waste. If you are solely objective based, you may not like it. I have a feeling this would be a similar experience to No Man's Sky.

If controller is the preferred method, why is their no console versions?
Seems odd to me, especially for a Ubisoft game.

• 8 People made the game at Ubisoft as a side project (Reflections - the guys that made Driver).
• The game was made on a PC (probably Unity), thus already existed on the Platform.
• Steam is the easiest way to get a game out, at no cost, with next to no advertising and still actually get somewhere or simply test the waters. Many folks do this with many controller only games.
• I wouldn't be surprised if the game is a success, that they push it to which ever console is most likely to receive it well, as is also typical

 

[Coconut]

If controller is the preferred method, why is their no console versions?
Seems odd to me, especially for a Ubisoft game.

my gut tells me it'd be because they want a lot of people to play the game so they could track how the procedural animation tech breaks and if they were to release the game on consoles they'd have to jump through a buncha hoops to get the information that they wanted out of it.

Pretty much this is beta test for tech that we will see in an up coming Ubisoft release.

 

[Nzyme32]

my gut tells me it'd be because they want a lot of people to play the game so they could track how the procedural animation tech breaks and if they were to release the game on consoles they'd have to jump through a buncha hoops to get the information that they wanted out of it.

Pretty much this is beta test for tech that we will see in an up coming Ubisoft release.

Sincerely doubt that.

Forgetting that they could easily have taken more time or gone through early access, or indeed are "beta testing" a complete game. The nature of the game doesn't demand that the procedural animation do anything more or less than it already does. Bud is a Robot, his limbs don't need to bend specifically or move and contort in such a way that it could considered a "break" or broken. It works, and you always move where your indicators signal. It is complete as it is.

Speaking to the devs yesterday, they suggest the game is and has been an experiment. If things go well, they may well do a follow up.

It's definitely a bit of an experiment. A tiny project like this means we can take bigger risks than we're used to. It's really exciting and I really hope you like it.

Obviously the better this game does, the more chance we'll have of doing similar stuff in future. So on Wednesday if you do like it then tell everyone you know! And if you don't like it... well, perhaps you'll like the next one

[JC]

 

[Unicorn]

This looks really cool. Wishlisted

 

[Shaanyboi]

Will download tonight

 

[Coconut]

Sincerely doubt that.

Forgetting that they could easily have taken more time or gone through early access, or indeed are "beta testing" a complete game. The nature of the game doesn't demand that the procedural animation do anything more or less than it already does. Bud is a Robot, his limbs don't need to bend specifically or move and contort in such a way that it could considered a "break" or broken. It works, and you always move where your indicators signal. It is complete as it is.

Speaking to the devs yesterday, they suggest the game is and has been an experiment. If things go well, they may well do a follow up.

I'm not saying the game is a beta I'm saying the animation tech is and that's what we are testing the limits of it.

 

[lefantome]

I'm very interested in it but I prefer to play it on console, so I'll wait for the reviews to see if I really want it now.

 

[grandwizard]

Completed it in a couple hours, short but cool game. The controls do seem clumsy at first but soon make a lot of sense, the climbing is actually really intuitive and simple once you get the hang of it. The sheer scale of the game is insane, eventually it becomes hard just to know which way is up or down without referencing gravity.

Really neat game but whether it's worth 8 bucks is up to the individual since it is quite short.

 

[Nzyme32]

Completed it in a couple hours, short but cool game. The controls do seem clumsy at first but soon make a lot of sense, the climbing is actually really intuitive and simple once you get the hang of it. The sheer scale of the game is insane, eventually it becomes hard just to know which way is up or down without referencing gravity.

Really neat game but whether it's worth 8 bucks is up to the individual since it is quite short.

Yeah, not sure about the relative pricing in the US. In the UK it is £6, which ordinarily I would say is a bit steep. However, I am a sucker for games with an interesting world to explore. The comparison may sound ridiculous, but this gave me the same kind of feeling I got with Metroid Prime and other games, in terms of exploration of a unique world. The mechanics giving great freedom is the icing on the cake.

 

[tesqui]

I'm 3 crystals short of the last upgrade! I wish they were marked on the map.. although the sound they make when you get closer to them is pretty helpful already.

But yeah really enjoying this game! I beat the main objective, now I'm on to 100% it.

 

[SteveWinwood]

I really like it so far.

Also I'd advise turning off steam broadcasting for now. I got like 5 or 6 teleporters in and never used them and someone joined my broadcast which crashed the game. It doesn't autosave so now I'm back at the beginning

 

[HowZatOZ]

Grabbed this as soon as it came out, looks god damn amazing. Can not wait to play.