Video games have a bit of an odd track record with romance. There are some genuinely great ones that tie into the narrative or otherwise make you remember that character, but the thing about games is that they really like their reward systems, and relationships framed that way often have sex as the end goal, as the big thing that happens and that must happen, and so we end up with stuff like awkward clothed sex scenes or collectible cards earned from sleeping with people.
On that same note, it's really rare to see established relationships in games, probably because not only they are a handy way of creating conflict within the narrative, but also because it runs counter to the idea of having as blank a slate as possible for the player to self insert into. It's easier if you focus on having the relationship develop over the course of gameplay, be it through the narrative, navigating dialogue trees or showering the other character with gifts of foraged items and homemade dishes.
It was a surprise to find a game that purported to do both of those things: present two characters that begin the game as lovers, and have that relationship tie into the mechanics. Haven puts you in the role of Yu and Kay, a couple who fled their homeworld in order to escape their arranged marriages and live together in peace. The two land on a mysterious, deserted planet called Source and quickly realize that the planet is not only dangerous, but that they are far from being the first people to live there.
The story that unfolds from the couple exploring the planet is pretty fun on its own: you get to learn more about the civilization Yu and Kay come from, how it is organized, and why there is no way they could have stayed. You also get to unravel a bit about what went on in Source and how the planet reached its current state. However, the real treat in Haven is in the main characters' relationship, as well as the incredible amount of scenes and dialogues, all fully voiced, that occur between the two.
Some of these scenes trigger from story events and from exploring the world, but most of them come from performing certain tasks while at home or camping. Haven shines in its focus on the mundane happenings in the daily life of a couple together. The food they eat, dreams had at night, the awkward flirts, the small arguments, the big fights, the in-jokes... there is a feeling of domesticity all throughout Haven that confers upon its protagonists an organic and authentic feel, as fantastic as the situation they find themselves might be.
This blends into the gameplay as the game ties that relationship into the mechanics. Experience points, for instance, can come both from fighting battles together and for experiencing scenes at home. Leveling, in turn, is a rare occasion and expressed as a celebration, kind of like an anniversary of sorts. Last, but definitely not least, combat centers around synchronizing movements between characters and, if you're playing co-op, communicating timings and strategies. It's simple and feels almost experimental, but it's very appropriate and suits co-op play surprisingly well.
Since everything is focused on the characters being a couple, being able to get into their roles is central to enjoying the experience. If you don't identify with the default Yu and Kay, it's possible to change their genders. In what's one of the gutsiest moves I've seen from an indie studio, The Game Bakers took to including alternative versions of Yu and Kay so to allow playing as a same-sex couple. This was added with an update published in early 2022, and it's not just a reskin of the game, but rather, involved redubbing every single line from the main characters, some lines now having three separate versions, one for each couple. All of the 2D art, such as the ones in menus, loading screens and such, gets replaced as well, to reflect the current pairing.
I say the move is gutsy not because the potential public reaction -- people who would complain about such an addition probably wouldn't have liked the game anyway -- but because, considering the amount of dialogue there is in the game, it's an insane undertaking from such a small developer, one which would get shot down fast in product meetings elsewhere simply because of the amount of work involved. Yet, it was executed so smoothly, when playing as one of the new couples, it's easy to forget the game usually features a straight pairing. It's incredibly pleasant to see.
Moving away from Yu and Kay, though, the other way in which Haven felt unique is that, which so many games to play in so little free time, it's rare that a game manages to make me relax and take in the sights. Somehow, the fragmented land of Source succeeded. In part, this is due to the amazing art direction: the game's use of color in its natural landscapes makes everywhere the camera is facing into a beautiful picture. There's also the incredible and unique soundtrack that sets the mood for many of the game's locations, as well as some of the story beats.
The mechanics also help a lot. There's an idle animation where the characters embrace each other if left alone, and in doing so, the one with the lowest HP is healed -- this has the side effect of giving the player a moment to slow down and look around. In addition there's the choice of traversal mechanics: instead of characters running and climbing through the fields and mountains of source, which a lot of games would do, they smoothly glide above the ground, later in the game getting the ability to do so through the air in certain situations. It not only feels great, it looks visually stunning and makes for a lot of pretty screenshots.
Haven is just such a marvelous experience. Its overall simplicity might make it not click with everybody, but it felt wonderful to me, and I'm left wanting more of those comfy vibes and that sweet awkwardness it gave me. Maybe one day there will be a sequel, or a spiritual successor, or maybe other people might be inspired by The Game Bakers' work and decide to put some of that spice into their games. I can only hope.
On that same note, it's really rare to see established relationships in games, probably because not only they are a handy way of creating conflict within the narrative, but also because it runs counter to the idea of having as blank a slate as possible for the player to self insert into. It's easier if you focus on having the relationship develop over the course of gameplay, be it through the narrative, navigating dialogue trees or showering the other character with gifts of foraged items and homemade dishes.
It was a surprise to find a game that purported to do both of those things: present two characters that begin the game as lovers, and have that relationship tie into the mechanics. Haven puts you in the role of Yu and Kay, a couple who fled their homeworld in order to escape their arranged marriages and live together in peace. The two land on a mysterious, deserted planet called Source and quickly realize that the planet is not only dangerous, but that they are far from being the first people to live there.
The story that unfolds from the couple exploring the planet is pretty fun on its own: you get to learn more about the civilization Yu and Kay come from, how it is organized, and why there is no way they could have stayed. You also get to unravel a bit about what went on in Source and how the planet reached its current state. However, the real treat in Haven is in the main characters' relationship, as well as the incredible amount of scenes and dialogues, all fully voiced, that occur between the two.
Some of these scenes trigger from story events and from exploring the world, but most of them come from performing certain tasks while at home or camping. Haven shines in its focus on the mundane happenings in the daily life of a couple together. The food they eat, dreams had at night, the awkward flirts, the small arguments, the big fights, the in-jokes... there is a feeling of domesticity all throughout Haven that confers upon its protagonists an organic and authentic feel, as fantastic as the situation they find themselves might be.
This blends into the gameplay as the game ties that relationship into the mechanics. Experience points, for instance, can come both from fighting battles together and for experiencing scenes at home. Leveling, in turn, is a rare occasion and expressed as a celebration, kind of like an anniversary of sorts. Last, but definitely not least, combat centers around synchronizing movements between characters and, if you're playing co-op, communicating timings and strategies. It's simple and feels almost experimental, but it's very appropriate and suits co-op play surprisingly well.
Since everything is focused on the characters being a couple, being able to get into their roles is central to enjoying the experience. If you don't identify with the default Yu and Kay, it's possible to change their genders. In what's one of the gutsiest moves I've seen from an indie studio, The Game Bakers took to including alternative versions of Yu and Kay so to allow playing as a same-sex couple. This was added with an update published in early 2022, and it's not just a reskin of the game, but rather, involved redubbing every single line from the main characters, some lines now having three separate versions, one for each couple. All of the 2D art, such as the ones in menus, loading screens and such, gets replaced as well, to reflect the current pairing.
I say the move is gutsy not because the potential public reaction -- people who would complain about such an addition probably wouldn't have liked the game anyway -- but because, considering the amount of dialogue there is in the game, it's an insane undertaking from such a small developer, one which would get shot down fast in product meetings elsewhere simply because of the amount of work involved. Yet, it was executed so smoothly, when playing as one of the new couples, it's easy to forget the game usually features a straight pairing. It's incredibly pleasant to see.
Moving away from Yu and Kay, though, the other way in which Haven felt unique is that, which so many games to play in so little free time, it's rare that a game manages to make me relax and take in the sights. Somehow, the fragmented land of Source succeeded. In part, this is due to the amazing art direction: the game's use of color in its natural landscapes makes everywhere the camera is facing into a beautiful picture. There's also the incredible and unique soundtrack that sets the mood for many of the game's locations, as well as some of the story beats.
The mechanics also help a lot. There's an idle animation where the characters embrace each other if left alone, and in doing so, the one with the lowest HP is healed -- this has the side effect of giving the player a moment to slow down and look around. In addition there's the choice of traversal mechanics: instead of characters running and climbing through the fields and mountains of source, which a lot of games would do, they smoothly glide above the ground, later in the game getting the ability to do so through the air in certain situations. It not only feels great, it looks visually stunning and makes for a lot of pretty screenshots.
Haven is just such a marvelous experience. Its overall simplicity might make it not click with everybody, but it felt wonderful to me, and I'm left wanting more of those comfy vibes and that sweet awkwardness it gave me. Maybe one day there will be a sequel, or a spiritual successor, or maybe other people might be inspired by The Game Bakers' work and decide to put some of that spice into their games. I can only hope.
Reviewed on Sep 07, 2022