Harvest Moon is one in every of my favourite online game collection. I’ll admit I don’t play the newer ones almost as a lot as once I was youthful, so I’ve missed out on among the current titles. I used to be excited to overview Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos not solely as a result of it’s the latest title within the collection, but in addition as a result of it’s form of a celebration for the twenty fifth anniversary of Harvest Moon. The primary farming recreation, like ever.
Harvest Moon has advanced a lot over time; typically for higher, and typically for worse. How will the most recent installment fare in comparison with different more moderen farming sims? Let’s have a look.
I stumbled upon this collection accidentally. A buddy’s mother purchased it for her on the Nintendo 64, and we assumed it was going to be essentially the most boring recreation ever. Minimize to 3 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. Probably the greatest components for me have been the random interactions you could possibly set off with the assorted characters and bachelorettes. They make each playthrough just a little bit completely different, they usually make you need to type relationships with the entire villagers.
Over time, Harvest Moon began to change into rather less thrilling and much more difficult. I’m nonetheless taken with what the collection has to supply, however nothing beats the primary few video games.
The Winds of Anthos positively feels new in a variety of methods. In the beginning, the perfect a part of this recreation is the exploration side. That is the primary open-world Harvest Moon recreation, which was very attention-grabbing.
With the intention to discover, although, you have to first full the prologue. That is most likely the worst a part of the sport. You’re simply beginning out, so that you don’t have a lot and you must full some most important quests to be able to unlock every part the sport has to supply. One thing you’ll actually admire are the warp statues. These are positioned all through the map, and often in each city. They arrive in actually helpful when it’s essential get someplace quick. You’ll find yourself utilizing them quite a bit later within the recreation. It felt like there was a variety of wasted house within the area areas, and also you received’t need to waste power mountain climbing round all day for no motive.
Talking of power. You begin out with 5 hearts (you finally acquire extra, however this takes a while). As you’re employed and transfer across the map, your hearts will deplete. For my part, they dwindle away fairly shortly. You may replenish your power by consuming meals you prepare dinner or purchase from the native restaurant. Or, you may forage for meals/components across the map to snack on. I at all times tended to expire of power form of early on within the day. Days final round quarter-hour, so it’s arduous to make your power final your entire period. Actually every part takes power, in addition to speaking. You may discuss all day, however watch out when strolling, working, chopping down timber, smashing rocks, tending to crops and every part in between. Thank goodness you may warp and get a horse later within the recreation, or I don’t assume I might have taken it for much longer.
All the pieces 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 recreation the place you may marry a similar intercourse accomplice (how futuristic of them). You may discuss to folks or give them items to extend their relationship with you. When you get them to a sure level of affection, you may marry them and even begin a household. The nice 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 variety of completely different animals you may befriend or use as a substitute mount to your horse. For instance, you may experience a zebra or perhaps a unicorn in case your coronary heart needs.
So far as your farm goes, you will have to water your crops every day, feed your animals—, the standard stuff. You may ultimately improve your farm and add new buildings or transfer issues round. There’s just a little little bit of customization, however not a lot, particularly with regards to creating your character. You may edit pores and skin coloration, gender, hair coloration, and eye coloration. That’s it. No facial options or clothes (till later within the recreation when you should buy just a few outfits).
In relation to aesthetics and efficiency, Winds of Anthos is missing. The sport froze twice on me at first of my playthrough; every part I did that day needed to be accomplished another time. It was fairly annoying, and I didn’t know when or if, it was going to occur once more.
I additionally observed some body price stutters. This didn’t occur usually, 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 just a little generic, for my part. And as I discussed earlier than, there are various open areas on this recreation 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 gorgeous night time sky, and experiencing the completely different number of terrain and climate.
Total, Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos is similar to current Harvest Moon titles. I actually want the “old school” gameplay and graphics; they have been straight to the purpose, and every part didn’t appear to be such a chore. Nonetheless, I’ve to present Winds of Anthos props for making an attempt out an open world farming recreation. I really feel prefer it provides quite a bit to the story and offers the participant many extra choices when planning out their day.
When you get by way of the prologue, the sport is much more tolerable and enjoyable. In case you have some endurance and also you’re a fan of Harvest Moon, I positively suggest testing this newest installment. However for gamers searching for one thing fast-paced, like Stardew Valley, chances are you’ll need to skip The Winds of Anthos for now.