Work Can Be Fun
Computer games have a long history of taking tasks that are usually regarded as hard work and making them a lot of fun. You see a lot of games that revolve around running a business, like a lemonade stand or a restaurant, and you'll find a lot of fans that love playing these. It's something about having fun doing something feels productive. That's the same concept behind Farm Mania 2 and it works really well. I would never consider working on a farm to be fun. I like to get my hands dirty from time to time and a bit of hard work can give you piece of mind, but it's not something I would consider when trying to relax.
So why is operating a virtual farm so addictive?
She Bought The Farm
In the beginning of our adventure, Anna buys the farm. Not in the metaphorical sense, she literally purchases a farm to live on. She wants to get far away from the city, breathe the fresh air, and take care of a farm, just like her grandfather. Fortunately for her, her grandfather is ready and willing to help her out.
You'll primarily control Anna as she runs back and forth tending to all of her duties. In the beginning, you'll need to plant crops, water them, weed them, harvest them, and then send them to the market in a cart pulled by a donkey. That is not a joke! Even though we're in the 21st century, and she drove out to the countryside in a convertible, you will send your goods to the market in a donkey-pulled cart. He'll even make a donkey noise as he gets going. It's fantastic.
As time goes by, your farm will expand and you'll offer new goods. You start out with just pumpkins, and then you go to the market and buy some cabbage to plant. You grow it the same way you grow pumpkins, so there's no big change there. Next up, you'll buy some baby geese that you can raise to start an egg supply. This is your farm's first big evolution. Not only do you have to tend to crops at this point, but you also have to feed and water your animals to keep them healthy.
Grandpa Isn't Dead Yet!
Your grandfather, despite his old age, is not out of the game yet. He's spry and full of life and he's a tremendous help on the farm. While you're planting crops, you can click on the well to have him start pumping water into a bucket, to make it easier for you to water the plants. He can also plant and harvest grain for the animals while you're doing other things. He's invaluable!
Another Excellent Sim
Farm Mania 2 is a "sim" game in that it's a farm simulation. But don't let that term put you off; it's an incredibly fun game. Chances are, if you play a lot of computer games, you've played something similar to this before and you know what I'm talking about. Even if you've never stepped foot on a farm in your life, give this game a try.
