At EA's last fanday, on the occasion of the release of "Vivre Ensemble", Graham (associate producer of the game), explained why the new add-on would not contain any secret locations: according to the data collected, the majority of players don't explore the hidden terrains and therefore don't enjoy the full gameplay... Too bad, because these secret locations are often graphically very beautiful and offer multiple possibilities! Just in case you're one of those players who's never been there before, I'd like to take you on a tour. You'll see, I'll convince you!
The forest clearing
Let's start with the Forest Glade, located in the world of Willow Creek, in the less upscale part of town. You'll need to be a bit observant to find the entrance. You'll have to look for a magical tree with a special appearance, located between the "Daisy Slum" and the "Torticollis Cottage". Here, you'll need to inspect the tree at length. Granted, it's not very exciting, but you can always look at the patterns in the bark. After that, new possibilities will appear as you wait: "Watering", "Complimenting the leaves", "Discussing the roots" or "Discussing nature". I know, I know, you can't talk to roots you don't know, but you have to. Finally, "Explore" appears! You'll then have to make several choices to finally arrive at this famous clearing. You'll have to: "Follow the noise", "Go down the stream", "Enter the mist" and finally "Go to the clearing".
This is it! You've arrived in a vast clearing lost in the middle of a forest, the landscape is bucolic and picturesque to perfection! A pretty waterfall with a fishing spot lies at the bottom of the field. This is not the only fishing spot, as there's also a small pond in the middle of the clearing, where you can catch rare fish, gnomes and cow plant berries. The rest of the terrain is vast, and at dusk, the fireflies add an enchanting air to the setting. Beware, however, as mysterious red eyes gleam from the other side of the stream, and it's a little unsettling. As you wander around, you can also pick up frogs and collect trees and plants. This clearing is well worth a visit!
The forgotten cave
The second secret place to discover is in Oasis Springs: the Forgotten Cave. There are 2 ways to get there: either via an entrance in Bloom's Desert Park, or via a second access at the rear of the Plenozas estate. You'll then have to force your way through the entrance, which is blocked by wooden planks. Note that to succeed in this feat, your DIY skill must be at level 10. Next, you'll need to "Take the wide path", "Use the ladder", "Walk on the ledge" and finally "Go to the Grotto". Tada! Now you're in that mysterious, dark cave.
The terrain opens onto a huge stone cavity, illuminated by mysterious blue lights coming from the sky, a stretch of water covers the edges and you have to progress along rocky paths to reach the fishing spots. On your journey, you'll discover traces of ancient human occupation, such as remnants of wooden crates, crockery and forgotten furniture. Numerous crystals also adorn the cave, allowing you to make atypical discoveries. Frogs, rare plants and fish are also to be found, along with many unusual objects such as treasure maps, capsules and fossils.
I hope these images have inspired you to explore these hidden places further, if you haven't already done so, and to make full use of their possibilities. Why not, for example, propose marriage in the romantic forest glade, or make the forgotten grotto the ideal place for a young person's drinking party? The possibilities are endless! Happy exploring!
