Harvest Moon is considered one of my favourite online game sequence. I’ll admit I don’t play the newer ones practically as a lot as after I was youthful, so I’ve missed out on a few of the current titles. I used to be excited to assessment Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos not solely as a result of it’s the latest title within the sequence, but additionally as a result of it’s type of a celebration for the twenty fifth anniversary of Harvest Moon. The first farming sport, like ever.
Harvest Moon has developed a lot through the years; typically for higher, and typically for worse. How will the most recent installment fare in comparison with different newer farming sims? Let’s have a look.
I stumbled upon this sequence accidentally. A good friend’s mother purchased it for her on the Nintendo 64, and we assumed it was going to be probably the most boring sport ever. Cut to a few weeks later, after we are completely obsessive about a online game about farming and beginning a household. It sounds boring, but it surely was so enjoyable, and so chill. One of the perfect components for me had been the random interactions you would set off with the varied characters and bachelorettes. They make each playthrough a bit bit completely different, they usually make you wish to type relationships with the entire villagers.
Over time, Harvest Moon began to turn into rather less thrilling and much more difficult. I’m nonetheless thinking about what the sequence has to supply, however nothing beats the primary few video games.
The Winds of Anthos undoubtedly feels new in a number of methods. First and foremost, the perfect a part of this sport is the exploration facet. This is the primary open-world Harvest Moon sport, which was very attention-grabbing.
In order to discover, although, you need to first full the prologue. This might be the worst a part of the sport. You’re simply beginning out, so that you don’t have a lot and it’s important to full some major quests with a purpose to unlock the whole lot the sport has to supply. Something you’ll actually recognize are the warp statues. These are positioned all through the map, and often in each city. They are available actually useful when it’s worthwhile to get someplace quick. You will find yourself utilizing them rather a lot later within the sport. It felt like there was a number of wasted area within the discipline areas, and also you received’t wish to waste vitality climbing round all day for no motive.
Speaking of vitality. You begin out with 5 hearts (you ultimately achieve extra, however this takes a while). As you’re employed and transfer across the map, your hearts will deplete. In my opinion, they dwindle away fairly rapidly. You can replenish your vitality by consuming meals you prepare dinner or purchase from the native restaurant. Or, you possibly can forage for meals/elements across the map to snack on. I all the time tended to expire of vitality type of early on within the day. Days final round quarter-hour, so it’s arduous to make your vitality final your entire period. Literally the whole lot takes vitality, in addition to speaking. You can discuss all day, however watch out when strolling, operating, chopping down bushes, smashing rocks, tending to crops and the whole lot in between. Thank goodness you possibly can warp and get a horse later within the sport, or I don’t suppose I might have taken it for much longer.
Everything else is just about the identical so far as the farming and forming relationships go. The one distinction is that that is the primary Harvest Moon sport the place you possibly can marry a identical intercourse companion (how futuristic of them). You can discuss to folks or give them presents to extend their relationship with you. Once you get them to a sure level of affection, you possibly can marry them and even begin a household. The good ol’ American dream!
There are 5 completely different cities to find, every with their very own themes and terrain to discover. There are additionally a number of completely different animals you possibly can befriend or use as a substitute mount to your horse. For instance, you possibly can journey a zebra or perhaps a unicorn in case your coronary heart wishes.
As far as your farm goes, you’ll need to water your crops day by day, feed your animals—you recognize, the same old stuff. You can ultimately improve your farm and add new buildings or transfer issues round. There’s a bit little bit of customization, however not a lot, particularly in relation to creating your character. You can edit pores and skin shade, gender, hair shade, and eye shade. That’s it. No facial options or clothes (till later within the sport when you should purchase a number of outfits).
When it involves aesthetics and efficiency, Winds of Anthos is missing. The sport froze twice on me at first of my playthrough; the whole lot I did that day needed to be performed yet again. It was fairly annoying, and I didn’t know when or if, it was going to occur once more.
I additionally observed some body charge stutters. This didn’t occur typically, but it surely occurred sufficient to note and be irritated by. I additionally am simply not a fan of those graphics. They really feel low-cost and overused by so many video games. It feels a bit generic, in my view. And as I discussed earlier than, there are numerous open areas on this sport that I don’t really feel are being utilized correctly.
What I did like was seeing the seasons change, interacting with wild animals, watching the beautiful night time sky, and experiencing the completely different number of terrain and climate.
Overall, Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos is similar to current Harvest Moon titles. I truthfully choose the “old-fashioned” gameplay and graphics; they had been straight to the purpose, and the whole lot didn’t seem to be such a chore. However, I’ve to offer Winds of Anthos props for attempting out an open world farming sport. I really feel prefer it provides rather a lot to the story and offers the participant many extra choices when planning out their day.
Once you get by way of the prologue, the sport is much more tolerable and enjoyable. If you’ve some persistence and also you’re a fan of Harvest Moon, I undoubtedly advocate trying out this newest installment. But for gamers searching for one thing fast-paced, like Stardew Valley, you might wish to skip The Winds of Anthos for now.
