As a very successful business simulation game, Stardew Valley allows players to farm, fish and develop relationships with the town residents, which can make players feel very healed.
However, if the player has never reached Pelican Town, the farm may be abandoned, and the town residents can only solve their life crises by themselves without external intervention.
In this case, the development of the town depends entirely on the status of its internal members, but it can be noted that the situation of the residents allows Pelican Town to be in a state of balance.
It not only avoids the collapse of the city, but also makes it difficult to develop. The emotions and social interactions of many residents will be suspended, and then the entire town will enter a dormant state.
The appearance of players prevented this from happening. The addition of new farmers changed the dynamics of the town, but the plot of Pelican Town does not all come from one person. Even without the injection of fresh blood, there should be characters who can solve their own problems.
What Characters Can Solve Problems?
For example, Emily and Sandy, even without the player’s intervention, they have developed self-awareness and independent emotions. Emily already has her own spiritual support: creation, which allows her to obtain emotional satisfaction on her own.
From her relationship with Sandy, we can see that she can establish deep relationships with other residents even without the help of others.
Similarly, Sebastian and Sam, who represent the younger generation in Stardew Valley, their friendship with Abigail does not rely on the help of players. Players only serve as catalysts to accelerate their growth. Even without players, I believe they can support each other to cope with family, career, and emotional pressures.
There is also a character who is often regarded as a representative of fragility: Penny, who often shows an unstable state when confronting her mother, but the act of daring to confront her family is powerful in itself.
Perhaps her strength will attract Maru or Caroline, and then let herself take a different path.
Close Relationships Among Residents
If the player does not enter Pelican Town, we can see that the residents have close relationships with each other. Jodi and Caroline are neighbors and have a deep friendship; George and Evelyn are both determined to make progress towards a goal: to contribute to the community; Haley doesn’t have many friends, but she has her sister, Emily, and so on.
All of this already existed before the player arrived in Pelican Town. The player just gave Stardew Valley Items to the residents to keep them in a good mood and help themselves.
Each character here has his own social circle and life. They can solve some problems by supporting themselves or supporting each other, but they may still be unable to cope with the rigidity of the city.
Joja Will Take Over
If the player does not reach Pelican Town and does not inspire everyone to rebuild Pelican Town’s Community Center, then Joja may control the town.
Joja is the owner of MegaCorp Joja Corporation. He always seems to be wise. But if Joja rules the town, he may monopolize everything in Pelican Town, and Pierre will not have the opportunity to compete with Joja at a low price. Then, in the end, the economic pressure of the town will all be tilted to Joja.
If the player has not arrived at Pelican Town, the town will not collapse, but it may gradually become rigid and they will fall into an unchangeable state.
This may be what the game wants to express. What you are helping is not a town, but one person after another who has his own life. You keep them away from rigid thinking and the unchanging life. How can this not be saving yourself?