Release Date: 07/02/2019
Played On: Win
Available On: iOS / Lin / Mac / NS / Win
Time Played: 2h 56m
Progress: Completed
Developer: Memory Of God / Lambic Studios
Publisher: Fellow Traveller
Generally speaking, art has the ability to teach us so much about the world and the diversity of human experience, and games are no different. In fact, games offer that special kind of interactivity that allows us to experience the foreign, or the unknown, while putting a little more of ourselves into the subject itself.
I'm a bit believer in the way that games are able to tell stories in unique and nuanced ways that are unavailable to other mediums, so it stands to reason that those stories would have the ability to educate in their own way as well. Not only can we have information delivered to us, but we can be asked to put ourselves into these scenarios and virtually take part and be immersed for even a little while. To this end, I'm always interested in finding a game that advertises itself as culturally accurate and significant in its delivery.
Although I can't remember it being set in any specific location, The Stillness Of The Wind tells a story that would be familiar to anyone living regionally on a farm, and being self-sufficient. We play as Talma, who is the last remaining resident of her village after everyone else has moved to the city. Talma lives alone on her small property where she raises goats and chickens, while growing her own vegetables and maintaining her life on the land.
Talma seems quite capable of taking care of herself, but the harsh life living alone in the middle of nowhere can be demanding. Not only is there the daily routine to complete, but wolves and bad weather bring their own set of complications. If it weren't for a travelling merchant who visits every few days, Talma would never see another soul.
However, one of the most important parts of the game are the series of letters that Talma receives from big city folks, telling her of all their success and failure. In fact, throughout the course of the game I started to resent the letters a little, as the content often spoke of hardship in the city and fond memories of the farming life, but they stayed in the city either way. Meanwhile poor old Talma is struggling to keep it together on her own, especially as she grows older and can only achieve a few goals in the time she has available.
Mechanically speaking the game plays on a daily cycle where we are tasked with completing our errands and duties however we see fit. Obviously there is only a certain amount of time in each day, so it's up to us to allocate our efforts in ways that will ultimately benefit us and help Talma survive on her lonesome little farmstead.
Goats need feeding, but can be milked and eaten. The milk can be made into cheese and stored for long periods of time, while chickens lay eggs, and seeds can be grown for flowers and vegetables. These and other tasks will quickly take up each day and you'll find yourself prioritising what matters most to you. Maybe the chickens are too much hassle, so you're better off eating them and focusing on the goats. Perhaps feeding the goats turns out to be too expensive with all the hay they go through, so you're better off growing plants instead.
Each day is simply a process of balancing out tasks and deciding on what you want to do before the sun goes down. It's a simple system that provides a certain amount of elegance to the gameplay look, as this is isn't the kind of game that will have you on a knife's edge no matter what you do. When I played, Talma had prosperous times of plenty, mixed with lean periods of basic sustenance.
When the cupboards are full and the animals all fed, Talma can go for a little wander outside of her property and visit a few nearby landmarks. Some take the whole day visit, but they're worth the effort if you like to add more depth to the story and find some sentimental items and trinkets from Talma's past. Just make sure that you're back home in time for the regular visits from a lone trader, who is Talma's only social interaction for miles.
The trader brings goods with him that can be sold or bartered for with Talma's own goods and produce. At one point I was overflowing with eggs from my chickens, so I used most of them to trade for a new goat and some feed. These trades are essential if you want to be able to split your time between multiple needs, while still prospering and sustaining Talma's way of life. Although, after some time I found myself looking forward to the trader's visit, just so that I could have a short conversation with him and experience a moment of human interaction.
Speaking of which, the regular stream of letters from everyone who has left for the city, bring Talma's life into a harsh context that is often taken for granted by those who write her. I suppose that's kind of the point in the end, as The Stillness Of The Wind is less about keeping a farm running, and more focused on the very real-world experience of being left alone on a remote farm, away from human contact.
This is where the game really shines, as the combination of the simple aesthetic and beautiful soundtrack, really help draw you into the state of isolation that coats the entire game like a melancholy blanket. There's beauty in your everyday routine, and genuine joy whenever a new letter arrives, or you get another conversation with the trader. Contrasted heavily by the sheer dread that I felt when I (as Talma) was woken in the middle of the night and had to try and stop wolves taking my one and only goat.
The Stillness Of The Wind might play like a fairly casual little farming simulator, but that is merely the vehicle for what the game is actually about. There are many people all over the world experiencing the impact of urbanisation, and many poorer countries are seeing large issues arising from all their regional population moving to big cities. While this is a game that celebrates the beauty of Talma's life, it also highlights just how desolate and alienating it can be for a village of people to relocate out of what is essentially a necessity.
Overall though, this is a beautiful game with a lot of heart that tells a simple story with a quiet dignity that pays respect to its themes. I've never lived the life of a self-sufficient regional farmer, but thanks to this special little game, I feel like I have a greater appreciation for what that life might be like. It's clear that this was made with some kind of personal knowledge and experience, as the focus eventually shifts away from the gameplay altogether and immerses you into the human experience of it all.
Such is the genuine pleasure of playing The Stillness Of The Wind, as I found myself one hundred percent emotionally invested by the time the credits rolled. After living through many days and weeks and years with Talma, I couldn't bear to see things change and come to their inevitable end. My perspective had not only changed since I began playing, but I could feel my heart ache for Talma, while simultaneously admiring the philosophical stoicism that truthfully inspired me to really think about what I value in my daily life.
These are the kind of games that get me excited, as they offer more than just a great story, or a great work of art. Games like The Stillness Of The Wind show us a tiny glimpse of what it might be like to step into someone else's shoes, and understanding the human experience has to be one of the most valuable lessons we can ever learn. In fact, this is the kind of game that I'd like to see included on a school curriculum or something similar, as I'm sure it would be a great way to show kids that there are so many ways of living in this world.