Harvestella is a New RPG with Farming Simulator Mechanics
Harvestella is a new farming simulator being developed by Square Enix. Much like Animal Crossing and other games of that ilk, players will take control of an avatar who will be overseeing the nourishment of the village. There is a basic synopsis of what this world is about. With every passing season, an event takes place called the “Quietus.” When this happens, all the crops wither up and die. Not to mention that the air itself begins to become poisonous. With each passing year, the Quietus keeps getting longer. There is a way to stabilize the fluctuating seasons, that is by traveling to the distant place called “Seaslight.” This is where four magical crystals control the patterns of the seasons. Of course, getting there will be a grand adventure, full of places to explore, danger to face, and destinies to fulfill. This game is a mix of genres that offers a playthrough that isn’t seen too often.
This will be a single-player game. Which, by the way, will be enough to give the player a rich, epic story. Harvestella will also be an RPG, offering real-time ‘hack and slash’ combat. Much like Final Fantasy before it, this game will have a cast of interesting characters and colorful realms. Players will traverse the world by using the overworld feature, which is something that isn’t seen too often. By going the old-school approach, this game shows how it is “ok” to not follow current trends. The gameplay appears to be fairly simple. There won’t be any complexities on how to farm, fight and craft. Hence, this new title is aimed at a younger demographic of gamers who might not have had the chance to play an older RPG. Even though the general gameplay is modern, the overall UI is reminiscent of games that were around during the 90s.
Weather Warrior
Harvestella has a world full of dungeons, landscapes, and towns to explore. Everything from the charming to the challenging. The town of Nemea rests deep within the woods, surrounded by cherry blossoms that never wither. Thus, the Holy Captial Argene rests within a tundra and has frozen-themed items. These are examples of just a couple of places to find in this game. On top of these locations, let’s not forget that players will be tasked with looking after their own village. They will need to grow crops, tend to the animals, and do chores. This feature will be the prime way to gather money and resources. Depending on the types of plants and animals the players are raising, different rewards will be available. Most notably, there will be ingredients available on the farm where players can use them for cooking recipes.
Yes, cooking is another feature of Harvestella that will need to be utilized. Gamers will concoct different potions that can increase HP and enhance stats. Not to mention that there will be ways to juice up the combat, which is rather nuanced. There will be three distinct fighting styles; the “Mage”, “Fighter” and “Shadow Walker.” So, using magic, melee weapons and ninja skills are all optional ways to fight in this game. Enemies will be within the cryptid variety. Everything from insectoid beings to dark wizards. Of course, they will all have their own strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, the strategy of using the different fighting styles will be essential in beating sundry foes. Some enemies might be resistant to magic, but weak against sword attacks, for example. There will be many encounters across this land and this includes boss battles. However, let’s not ignore the fact that players will be able to make friends while on their journey, too.
Beastie Buds
Everything from classic animals like unicorns to more original designs like a “totokaku” will make an appearance in Harvestella. There will also be comrades to join up with during this adventure. Such characters that players can team up with will be “Aria.” She is a mysterious being that appeared out of nowhere, claiming to be from a future timeline. Another character is “Asyl.” This person is a Wind Reader who can garner the secrets of the air and talk to nature. All of these characters offer a unique storyline and also perks with their abilities. These friends will be very important when the gameplay is concerned. Because they will offer ways to help smite enemies during combat. The goal during battles is to break down the enemies until they are vulnerable. Once the enemy is stunned, players can unleash the “Double Break” attack to finish them off. It is a very satisfying way to crush evil, even in RPG standards.
Certainly, Harvestella is offering an old-fashioned grand adventure that is within the same vein as Legend of Zelda. There is an interesting plot here that gives a sense of urgency to the player. The 90s format with its overworld and crafting design gives this game a certain level of charm to it. The gameplay is rudimentary enough for this game to be a nice icebreaker for younger gamers who are thinking about trying an RPG. This game is a light-hearted mix of other genres that tend to be catered to more seasoned gamers. This game is scheduled to be coming out fairly soon and fans of Final Fantasy and similar titles might want to have Harvestella on their wishlist. It may not be a mainstream title, but it has potential to go a long way depending on whether or not the gaming community gives it a chance.
Seasonal Struggle
There is something kind of special with Harvestella. It is a trip down memory lane while also offering contemporary angles to RPGs. It appears not to be the most technical with its farming and crafting system. Therefore, it is probably a good recommendation to try this title out for gamers who dabble in this genre. Harvestella will be available on Nintendo Switch and PC on November 4th. Any gamer out there who like farming simulators, but with more of a story associated with them might want to have this game on their radar.