We have typically averted posting about issues that exist within the intersection of “games, things that are enjoyable and we love” and “the global pandemic, a thing which is terrible”, principally as a result of this intersection is kind of bizarre and grim. I’m, nevertheless, making an exception at this time to be able to spotlight a mod that provides each a slight pandemic slant to Stardew Valley, and an excellent dose of much-needed humour.
Though Nexus Mods person kingliamb’s coronavirus mod was first uploaded in May, I solely stumbled throughout it the opposite day because of a put up in one in every of many Stardew Valley teams that I observe. All it does is add a number of face masks to the hat mouse’s hat store – you’ll be able to see my farmer modelling the blue masks up there – and a few very occasional mentions of coronavirus to NPC dialogue. I believe that’s why it really works. The complete factor is in such stark distinction to the Stardew world, however its deadpan implementation means it circles again round to being humorous.
The dialogue, you see, is so occasional that regardless of putting in the mod, I haven’t run into any of it but. Everyone is simply speaking about how a lot they like autumn, like they do in regular Stardew Valley. Sample dialogue from the web page on Nexus Mods consists of the dramatic Haley saying “Oh my gosh. Emily sneezed today. Ugh, I’m going to die today,” and Emily saying “Haley is a picky eater. It’s so hard to cook for her. And she won’t shut up about the coronavirus either.”
It simply appears so true to how the village would react to the pandemic in actual life. Like, speaking about cranberries, and having so as to add an “And, yeah, fuckin’, the virus as well” on the tip. The juxtaposition of the mundane and bleak. Obviously your mileage might fluctuate relying on an entire host of things, however I learn a few of the dialogue out on a group name and ended up in tears of laughter.
kingliamb has stopped updating the mod on account of their very own well being (unrelated to virus), although they’d tentative plans so as to add hand sanitiser and a quarantine. I believe, although, that gamifying it to any additional extent would push it again into the grim territory talked about earlier.
The different risk is that I’ve lastly cracked and now not have any grasp of what’s really humorous. Example: I’m nonetheless going all in on hens in Stardew, and so this was my stall for the competition:
I laughed at my ALL EGG ALL THE TIME show, out loud, on my own, for a while. I additionally began singing “Mayo mayo, you’re made of an egg” to the tune of Rebel Rebel by David Bowie.
That’s a gold star egg within the center, I’ll have you recognize. Came third. Not unhealthy.
Stardew Valley is a favorite right here at RPS. You can discover it on our lists of best RPGs, best co-op games and best management games for laptop. If you’ve got simply began taking part in and need a cheeky head begin, try our Stardew Valley cheats and console commands, and we will hold you updated with Stardew Valley news on the most recent free updates and mods.
