Thinking about buying, is this good without nostalgia goggles?

[REDMVGE]

I've never played the original, or any Harvest Moon for that matter, and my only farming experience with Marvelous games is RF4S on the Switch, which I enjoyed. Would this game still be enjoyable or rather, would you recommend it? I will say that I'm sceptical about there being no combat at all. Not that it's a turn off, but the combat was a big reason why I enjoyed RF but I also enjoy Animal Crossing a lot so it's not like I'm against a no-combat game.

[Sazie]

I've played the original and now this, but I wouldn't recommend it. Even if it does bring nostalgia, it also brings disappointment with it, not completely being like the original in gameplay.

Never thought they'd remove the most important thing about being responsible for your animals. No animal dies even if you leave it out by accident for a day the HP bar is just milk quality/wool. The Animals also don't age, so they'll be young forever. I really hate that, also the food trays being flat (which in the original they weren't and animals couldn't step on them) makes it annoying that animals step all over it when trying to fill their food. Also the Sheep look stupid and ugly not like the original, I wish they kept the normal looking sheep from the original.

Huge rant sorry, I'm just that disappointed with it.

[Rikurii]

I wouldn't recommend it. I bought it for nostalgia reasons and regret it because the game is just very boring. There isn't much to do and the farming side of things isn't very fun or rewarding in my opinion. The social aspect is boring too when everyday you talk to the characters and they just repeat themselves over and over again for years.

[xAlphaStarOmegax]

AWL is like my favorite Story of Seasons game, but I played the original, so it's nostalgia for me.
There are some quality-of-life things, better graphics, and a few new things, but there are also some things they changed that I don't really like.

Would I recommend this game for you? Hmm, honestly, I would suggest watching some Let's Plays on Youtube first. This game plays out in chapters; it's hard to explain, but some people could find it drawn out and boring.

[Mabbie]

I didn't play the original version, and I must say I'm pretty disappointed. The seasons are way too short; the chickens give eggs whenever they feel like, not first thing in the morning; the recipes are given easily everyday by the harvest sprites; the valley is small and there's not much to do; you MUST marry someone by the end of year 1...... the list goes on.

Those are only a few of the reasons I didn't like it. It's very different from the other HM and SoS.

[ShockedHearts]

weird how everyone here is SO disappointed about a remake that adds a lot and improves a the graphics.

i dont think its a bad game, so far im having a pretty good time. i have my nitpicks but generally as someone who played the original as a kid. I find it rather nostalgic. the music is great and the atmosphere is good. its a chill game with a chill gameplay loop. it does something very unique for the genre where you actually age from youth to old age and see big changes in your family and the town etc. the animal mechanics are more involved than most farming games Ive played as well, even the farming has a deep hybrid system.

id say if you arent a huge fan already or are generally unsure wait for a sale.

[Ritsuka]

Originally posted by Mabbie:

I didn't play the original version, and I must say I'm pretty disappointed. The seasons are way too short; the chickens give eggs whenever they feel like, not first thing in the morning; the recipes are given easily everyday by the harvest sprites; the valley is small and there's not much to do; you MUST marry someone by the end of year 1...... the list goes on.

Those are only a few of the reasons I didn't like it. It's very different from the other HM and SoS.

play the original than , but seeing how you didnt like this you'll hate the original. its meant to be harder and more of a challenge. not like poot or SOS or TOT

[mutantbeth]

if ur only experience is rf4 u will be very disappointed. The community and your family are the main focus of the game but outside of limited events no one is really fleshed out, and tedious dialogue doesn't help. The nostalgia does help me enjoy the game though + Gordy + raising a child but the farming and ranching is lacking so it isn't for everyone. If you just want something chill and simple this is for you.

[Rule34_Sniper]

This is really the only Harvest Moon game I enjoy because of its slower relaxing pace and characters.
It's aged a bit being a gamecube title, but the tedium is waaaay toned down from the original. The added/combined/QOL features are simply fantastic, and I don't think I'll ever touch the older version again because of these.

If you never played the original, I'd probably wait for a discount because you might not get the value you want out of the game compared to people who've played older versions.

[xAlphaStarOmegax]

Originally posted by Mabbie:

I didn't play the original version, and I must say I'm pretty disappointed. The seasons are way too short; the chickens give eggs whenever they feel like, not first thing in the morning; the recipes are given easily everyday by the harvest sprites; the valley is small and there's not much to do; you MUST marry someone by the end of year 1...... the list goes on.

Those are only a few of the reasons I didn't like it. It's very different from the other HM and SoS.

In the original, the seasons were only 10 days; that's why it's this way in the remake.

As for the recipes, in the original you had to find them out on your own, so this is actually a good change in my opinion.

The valley is small because it was made the exact same way with the exact same villagers as the original; the only change is with some of the villagers names and appearances.

As for having to get married by the end of the first year, yup, this is how it was in the original. The game is based on chapters, so a part of continuing on is to get married, have a child, and watch them grow up, all while tending to your farm and trying to earn a living.

Originally posted by ShockedHearts:

weird how everyone here is SO disappointed about a remake that adds a lot and improves a the graphics.

I never said that I was disappointed; sure, there are some changes that leave me scratching my head, but other than that, AWL has always been my favorite HM / SoS game.

Originally posted by mutantbeth:

if ur only experience is rf4 u will be very disappointed.

I have a feeling that they will be disappointed as well. I love AWL, but it's definitely not for everyone.

Originally posted by Seven:

If you never played the original, I'd probably wait for a discount because you might not get the value you want out of the game compared to people who've played older versions.

^ This.

[Mabbie]

@Alpha
@Ritsuka

I didn't get the chance of buying a GC growing up, so I didn't play the original game. I play Harvest Moon for over 20 years and I love the series, this one just happened to feel really different from the others that I've played (Snes, BTN, FoMT, IoH, ToT, AP, GrB, ToTT, ANB, TrOT, SoSFOMT)....

[xAlphaStarOmegax]

Originally posted by Mabbie:

@Alpha
@Ritsuka

I didn't get the chance of buying a GC growing up, so I didn't play the original game. I play Harvest Moon for over 20 years and I love the series, this one just happened to feel really different from the others that I've played (Snes, BTN, FoMT, IoH, ToT, AP, GrB, ToTT, ANB, TrOT, SoSFOMT)....

No worries; AWL is really different compared to the other titles. It's one of those games that you either love or hate; it can get boring for some people pretty quickly.

[ShockedHearts]

Originally posted by Mabbie:

@Alpha
@Ritsuka

I didn't get the chance of buying a GC growing up, so I didn't play the original game. I play Harvest Moon for over 20 years and I love the series, this one just happened to feel really different from the others that I've played (Snes, BTN, FoMT, IoH, ToT, AP, GrB, ToTT, ANB, TrOT, SoSFOMT)....

yeah this is a sort of black sheep. but in a good way. (I think this is why it has a sort of cult following)

it was very different even back on the GC. and focused more on simulating the life of an actual farmer getting used to a new life in a small valley. its goal atleast back in the day seemed to be realism (of course nowadays realism is a WHOLE thing now. but back on the GC having to wait for animals to grow up and having different milk amounts and qualities based on various factors was advanced for a farm game. even factors like hunger sleep, learning how to cook etc was based in a sort of realistic manner where you had to just get a feel for it.

nowadays it doesnt shine as something unique and super engaging but it does represent what made it so good back in the day while being a LOT more quality of life lol

[xAlphaStarOmegax]

Originally posted by ShockedHearts:

yeah this is a sort of black sheep. but in a good way. (I think this is why it has a sort of cult following)

it was very different even back on the GC. and focused more on simulating the life of an actual farmer getting used to a new life in a small valley. its goal atleast back in the day seemed to be realism (of course nowadays realism is a WHOLE thing now. but back on the GC having to wait for animals to grow up and having different milk amounts and qualities based on various factors was advanced for a farm game. even factors like hunger sleep, learning how to cook etc was based in a sort of realistic manner where you had to just get a feel for it.

nowadays it doesnt shine as something unique and super engaging but it does represent what made it so good back in the day while being a LOT more quality of life lol

I actually remember when the game was first bought for me; I think it was for Christmas. Anyway, it was the PS2 version, and I was just wowed back then at how realistic it was for a game. I liked how the bull could impregnate your cow, and then when the calf was born, you could feed it from the mother's milk. I liked the realism of having to mate your cows to keep them in milk. I also liked how your rooster could cause your hen to lay a fertilized egg. I liked how you were pushed to actually take care of your animals because if you didn't, they could die. Yeah, the game would get slow from time to time, but all in all, it was so relaxing and charming.

There are a lot of SoS games that I love, but in terms of realism, none of them hit me the same way as AWL did, if that makes sense. I wish they didn't take away that realism. I also wish that the villagers names and appearances didn't have to be changed as much as they are.

[ShockedHearts]

Originally posted by xAlphaStarOmegax:

Originally posted by ShockedHearts:

yeah this is a sort of black sheep. but in a good way. (I think this is why it has a sort of cult following)

it was very different even back on the GC. and focused more on simulating the life of an actual farmer getting used to a new life in a small valley. its goal atleast back in the day seemed to be realism (of course nowadays realism is a WHOLE thing now. but back on the GC having to wait for animals to grow up and having different milk amounts and qualities based on various factors was advanced for a farm game. even factors like hunger sleep, learning how to cook etc was based in a sort of realistic manner where you had to just get a feel for it.

nowadays it doesnt shine as something unique and super engaging but it does represent what made it so good back in the day while being a LOT more quality of life lol

I actually remember when the game was first bought for me; I think it was for Christmas. Anyway, it was the PS2 version, and I was just wowed back then at how realistic it was for a game. I liked how the bull could impregnate your cow, and then when the calf was born, you could feed it from the mother's milk. I liked the realism of having to mate your cows to keep them in milk. I also liked how your rooster could cause your hen to lay a fertilized egg. I liked how you were pushed to actually take care of your animals because if you didn't, they could die. Yeah, the game would get slow from time to time, but all in all, it was so relaxing and charming.

There are a lot of SoS games that I love, but in terms of realism, none of them hit me the same way as AWL did, if that makes sense. I wish they didn't take away that realism. I also wish that the villagers names and appearances didn't have to be changed as much as they are.

yeah I can definitely see how some dont like this one compared to the others. but I actually prefer this one over any other that Ive seen. its the only one I personally enjoy because of its differences. :) its astonishing it got a remake. I didnt even know about it until FEB and I was like WHAT HARVEST MOON AWL IS GETTING A REMAKE?!?!?

I hadnt played harvest moon since i was like 9. lmao.

its just as I remember but. well. less gloomy lol

[xAlphaStarOmegax]

Originally posted by ShockedHearts:

its astonishing it got a remake.

Oh yeah, I was actually hoping that it would get a remake. So, I am pretty stoked to be able to play it in an updated way after all of these years.