Youda Games is back with a rare sequel to one of the its most interesting time management games, Youda Farmer. In Youda Farmer 2: Save the Village, you reprise the role of a male or female farmer trying to save a struggling town by farming as farmingly as you can. This time, though, the stakes are much higher, as a real estate tycoon is trying to buy up all of the property, so each delivery you make is an important step to help save the small businessman as well as the town!

If you've played the original Youda Farmer, you'll immediately notice a number of fixes incorporated into the sequel that practically eliminates all of the shortcomings of the first game. The series revolves around producing goods and delivering them to the businesses in town that need them, amassing a tiny profit with each sale. The baker needs flour, for example, so you send your little truck to the flour mill to pick up some bags, then drive back down to fulfill the order. Combos are possible for picking up/delivering three or more of the same product, and later on, you can sell groups of products in the form of recipes that allow expensive items to be made.

Everything is handled with simple mouse clicks in Youda Farmer 2. No need to actually drive your rusty old rig around the country roads. Little tabs pop up at the base of the map, much like an old cash register, that show you when a product is ready to be harvested. Click on the tabs and the camera darts to that location. Simply drag the product into a crate and your truck automatically loads it in the back. When someone needs something from your farm, an icon appears in the top left corner of the screen. With product in tow, click their icon, select the items from your truck's inventory, and the delivery takes care of itself.

Purchasable buildings are available in many levels, expanding your available products and allowing you to earn more money. Cash plays an important role in Youda Farmer 2, as it allows you to buy up chunks of the map to keep the real estate tycoon at bay. It's fun unlocking new zones, and each one provides nice bonuses that really help push the gameplay along.

Analysis: It's always nice to see a time management game that doesn't play like every other time management game on the market! Youda Farmer 2 preserves the unique setup of the original release, dividing your attention between farm and town but blending the two into a seamless dash of deliveries. It's more about being efficient than pleasing customers, though keeping people happy is part of the experience.

Youda Farmer 2 will receive no criticism for being too much like its predecessor. Although the gameplay and design are the same, the layout, goals, and level of complexity are completely different, allowing game number two to oust the original as Most Beloved Game in the Series. Expect a longer game with Youda Farmer 2 (70 levels in all), as well as plenty of bonus touches like hidden spare parts to find scattered around the farm, puzzle breaks, and frantic "party levels" that test your speed with making deliveries.

If there's anything to say about Youda Farmer 2 in the negative, it's that the game gets a bit too complicated towards the end. Dealing with new products ready for harvesting, vendors who have little patience when it comes to getting their goods, and recipes to memorize and utilize on-the-fly gets frantic fast, and it's a little frustrating until you wrap your head around it and approach it with a cool temper.

Another fine release from Youda Games, another great time management experience you'll have a great time mastering!

Windows:
Download the demo Get the full version

Mac OS X:
Download the demo Get the full version