Ubisoft’s AAA titles last year were plagued with problems. However, their smaller titles were absolutely brilliant. Child of Light and Valiant Hearts were two of my favorite experiences of 2014, and Ubisoft might be doing it again early on with Grow Home.
According to its announcement blog, Grow Home is inspired by the likes of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Wall-E.
Grow Home is the story of BUD, a Botanical Utility Droid sent on a mission across the galaxy to seek out a new species of flora to help oxygenate his home world. He finds the perfect specimen in the Star Plant. “We think of the Star Plant like a giant beanstalk,” says Producer Pete Young. “BUD’s mission is to grow it to maturity and harvest the seeds it produces. The plant ends up being a towering two-kilometer-high bridge from the ground to his space ship.”
Taking control of BUD, you climb your way up to the top, traveling through floating islands and riding branching vines along the way.
According to the development team, it’s a game best experienced using a game pad. By mapping the hand controls to the left and right triggers, the immersion is elevated, making the grabbing and climbing feel more real.
Using BUD’s hands, you’ll push, pull, and grab onto objects, as well as climb the massive Star Plant that will become your path through the sky. As you climb higher and higher, you’ll encounter offshoot branches that you can ride to various floating islands scattered throughout the sky. This entire process is physics-based and procedurally animated, so everything you do and see is able to adapt to any part of the environment.
With a variety of gameplay elements as well as what sounds like a sweet and intriguing story, I’m amped to play this game. Luckily, we don’t have long to wait. The game is coming to PC on 4 February. Good thing my PS4 controller is already up on and running on my PC – I can’t wait to play this, and I don’t have long to wait long!
Considering how impressive Valiant Hearts and Child of Light were, are you excited to play Grow Home? I hope Ubisoft keeps making these awesome smaller games – they are truly a joy to play and show how talented their developers really are, when given breathing room beyond the company’s annualised franchises.
Here’s the trailer!
Last Updated: January 23, 2015
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 23, 2015 at 08:36
I’ve read all that twice and I still don’t understand what the game is about. :/
HairyEwok
January 23, 2015 at 08:38
I think it’s still way to early to read anything, we need the coffee. For instance i read the header as Go home is Ubsisoft……
Kromas Votes LAG WCMovie Event
January 23, 2015 at 08:39
I am still reading it as “F off Ubisoft!” 😛
Kromas Votes LAG WCMovie Event
January 23, 2015 at 08:38
Ubisoft title. Are you still interested?
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 23, 2015 at 08:41
Yes, I like their indie-type stuff. EA can get lost.
Kromas Votes LAG WCMovie Event
January 23, 2015 at 08:45
I am more of a complete boycott person. Once they sort their shit out Ill happily buy their games again.
Quo Vadis?
January 23, 2015 at 08:41
It is a tutorial game on growing old. Tend to plants/ vegetables as relaxation.
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 23, 2015 at 08:42
It’s a bit late for that tutorial, I’m already more than half way through the game.
Admiral Chief
January 23, 2015 at 09:13
OOBI BOOBI BAD BAD
Quo Vadis?
January 23, 2015 at 09:17
You probably own every single ubisoft title there is, don’t you? C’mon! ‘Fess up dammit!
Admiral Chief
January 23, 2015 at 09:18
I’ve got a few (less than 10) out of 167 according to Steam
Quo Vadis?
January 23, 2015 at 09:21
Your nose is growing, you Ubi puppet! LOL
Admiral Chief
January 23, 2015 at 09:27
Go back to the console hole you crawled out of, BEGONE I SAY
Quo Vadis?
January 23, 2015 at 09:30
Shifting from the issue at hand I see….
Hammersteyn
January 23, 2015 at 08:39
Colour me intrigued
Ghost In The Rift
January 23, 2015 at 08:40
Colour me day 1 bud patch?:
Mandom (Umar)
January 23, 2015 at 08:39
I just read Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Wall-E and got goosebumps. Sounds awesome (if not a bit confusing)
Pieter Kruger
January 23, 2015 at 08:55
Also read Hitchhiker’s Guide and got all excited, but then……nothing?
Ghost In The Rift
January 23, 2015 at 08:43
Ill try it at least, until uplay screws with me.
Talledega Knight
February 5, 2015 at 14:15
Dude it does not use U-Play 😉
ToshZA
January 23, 2015 at 08:57
Grow Home Ubisoft, you’re Trunk!
hairyknees
January 23, 2015 at 08:57
I grabbed Valiant Hearts and Child of Light on Steam Christmas sale and I don’t regret either purchase for a second! Ubisoft are doing amazing things with their smaller titles 🙂 I hope this is good!
RinceThis
January 23, 2015 at 09:57
I still have no fokking clue what you do in this game…
RinceThis
January 23, 2015 at 09:57
I still have no fokking clue what you do in this game…
Happy Meal
January 23, 2015 at 13:39
I needs to gets this
Joe Black
January 23, 2015 at 14:32
Looks seriously beautiful