The farming simulator that gives Farming Simulator a run for its money
Professional Farmer 2014 is a farming simulation in which you need to manage your farm in all its aspects (preparing, cultivating and harvesting the fields, selling your products, and supplying your vehicles and changing models…). It arrives in a genre that’s dominated by the famous Farming Simulator, so does Professional Farmer have everything in hand to become a reference point in the genre?
A simulation that’s more than comprehensive
Professional Farmer is a great simulation that forgets nothing when it comes to specifics of the genre. All aspects relating to the profession of farming are present, as well as many models of tractors. If you like precision, Professional Farmer is most definitely for you: nothing is left to chance, and the required tasks are often long and repetitive (you don’t plow a field in a pinch like you do in Farming Simulator 14).
If you’re a zealous farmer, you can sell your products so you can develop and expand your operation. Note that the great strength of Professional Farmer is the changing of the seasons as well as the diversity of climates that allow a never-before-seen level of realism. Don’t forget about crop rotation to optimize the performance of your virtual farm!
Gameplay slow and sometimes hit and miss
The promises of Professional Farmer are many, but the gameplay sometimes struggles to keep them. But there are many good points to report: in addition to the range of possibilities, Professional Farmer offers interesting aspects (like walking around in first person) .
However, driving the vehicles leaves a lot to be desired, amplified by the inadequacy of the engine. Collision handling is not very precise and tractors have a nasty habit of floating a few inches above the ground rather than sticking to the road. The direction of tractors is itself too simplistic and doesn’t allow you to precisely place your wheels like in Euro Truck Simulator 2.
Professional Farmer is, above all, a game characterized by slowness. If this is a sign of realism, some players may quickly get impatient because of the time required to perform certain tasks. This is not a fault in itself, but you should be aware of the rhythm of the game before you start!
Graphically magnificent
Professional Farmer is beautiful, much more so than any other of its competitors. The 3D engine used by Playway does wonders with the effects of light and the beautifully rendered models. Travelling this vast environment is truly a treat for the eyes, seeing the sunset on the horizon of a winter landscape is the icing on the cake. Lagging, however, on some machines, is a real shame (and we even saw lag on more powerful machines than the recommended minimum), a problem that we hope the developer will sort out soon.
Our verdict: the top (sheep)dog in farming simulators
Comprehensive and graphically stunning, Professional Farmer is simply the best simulation of its kind. As long as you are willing to ignore its few flaws (inadequate engine and slow gameplay), the game has a lot to offer in the long term.
