Is this not just a Stardew clone?

[Oldycow]

I haven't played this game, let me start off with saying that. But isn't this game almost exactly like Stardew? I get that there's some minor differences like magic and swimming/diving, etc. But the art style, premise, the general feel, the purpose, isn't it almost all exactly the same? Crazy how many people are praising this game while mentioning that it's also like Stardew....

[SadieReads]

IDK I've done no research, but I think this is super inspired by Sun Haven as well. Juniper is suspiciously very similar to Anne in Sun Haven. But idk.

[AngelDormante]

Originally posted by SadieReads:

IDK I've done no research, but I think this is super inspired by Sun Haven as well. Juniper is suspiciously very similar to Anne in Sun Haven. But idk.

I think there is some Sun Haven inspiration also yes. But despite all the parrots crying Stardew, it seems obvious to me that the biggest inspiration for this game is Harvest Moon: Back to Nature specifically. There is even an outfit in the game that is a direct copy/reference to the iconic outfit worn by the player in that series. The Steam page itself SAYS that it is inspired by farming sims from the 90s.

FoM claims to be a love letter to the genre itself and it shows, but it also stands on its own and all the overly vocal SDV stans are annoying people who can’t bear their favorite game not being in the spotlight for two minutes.

[Mote]

Originally posted by Big Convoy:

Originally posted by Bludclone:

It is a Stardew Valley Clone. Yes everyone knows Stardew Valley was inspired by Harvest Moon and Rune Factory. It's not the same when this game is reusing the same animations, same sprites and using Erics art style.

Same animation? What do you mean?

Same sprites? Show us a comparison.

Using Eric's art style? The art style of this game look nothing like SDV. This game is very reminiscent of old 90's anime, especially Sailor Moon.

Well the FoM art has oaktree, pine tree, and cherry blossom tree. You will found those trees in SDV in the beginning of the game. That's part of Eric art-style in SDV I guessed.

If you studied the falling cherry blossom petal animations, it looks too similar to SDV petal animations.

The forest tree sprites looks similar to the "secret woods" assets.

Anyone can access Eric assets online and I'm not surprised people will traced over it and use their art style over it. The Super Zoo Story devs did and they got backfired of it by Eric Discord response of it. SZS used the same color pallets from SDV assets and they resized it too to try to make it different.

I don't see Eric getting upset with the FoM art-style on any forums. I do believed his assets was part of this game making for practice purposes. Anyone who studied art can see it very clearly. As long they made their own art-style then it is good. Yes, they did. A new unique art style can be created by a existed art-style. I'm pretty sure the existed art-style was based on SDV and a mixed with Legends of Zelda: Link to the past. That's FoM art-style I guessed.

As long the game is good. It is and I don't think it is a SDV clone but a very rare inspired game of it

[Big Convoy]

There are no sakura tree in SDV, only oak, pine and maple. Also, using similar trees is not a good argument for similar art style.

As for Super Zoo Story, that situation was overblown by a bunch of toxic people which I totally ignored, and is still looking forward to getting the game. Also, I have yet to see definite proof that the artwork was traced.

[Q]

Short answer: yes
Long answer: no... it has a lot of differences... just not like THAT many.

[Carboncoal]

Stardew Valley is one of my favorite games and I’ve been playing it since it was in early access. I’ve also played a lot of other farming games and this one feels closer to Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons and Sun Haven more than it does Stardew Valley. It’s more streamlined than SDV, the combat is more in depth and taking care of your animals is more in depth. You can give your animals toys to play with, dress them up and breed rare colors of animals. This game feels like it has a bigger focus on customization than SDV and the characters feel more alive imo.

Originally posted by Big Convoy:

There are no sakura tree in SDV, only oak, pine and maple. Also, using similar trees is not a good argument for similar art style.

As for Super Zoo Story, that situation was overblown by a bunch of toxic people which I totally ignored, and is still looking forward to getting the game. Also, I have yet to see definite proof that the artwork was traced.

Super Zoo Story’s artstlye has changed over the years. It’s more detailed and the color pallet less saturated than SDV.

Even back when their artstyle looked closer to SDV you could tell that they were different assets. There’s even videos of them drawing the assets for the game. I never understood why people were saying they stole assets from SDV when you could see that they were completely different.

[Big Convoy]

Originally posted by Carboncoal:

Stardew Valley is one of my favorite games and I’ve been playing it since it was in early access. I’ve also played a lot of other farming games and this one feels closer to Harvest Moon and Sun Haven more than it does Stardew Valley. It’s more streamlined than SDV, the combat is more in depth and taking care of your animals is more in depth. You can give your animals toys to play with, dress them up and breed rare colors of animals. The feels like it has a bigger focus on customization than SDV and the characters feel more alive imo.

Originally posted by Big Convoy:

There are no sakura tree in SDV, only oak, pine and maple. Also, using similar trees is not a good argument for similar art style.

As for Super Zoo Story, that situation was overblown by a bunch of toxic people which I totally ignored, and is still looking forward to getting the game. Also, I have yet to see definite proof that the artwork was traced.

Super Zoo Story’s artstlye has changed over the years. It’s more detailed and the color pallet less saturated than SDV.

Even back when their artstyle looked closer to SDV you could tell that they were different assets. There’s even videos of them drawing the assets for the game. I never understood why people were saying they stole assets from SDV when you could see that they were completely different.

That's right, even back then, I could tell the difference. They even show time lapse drawing of assets on their youtube and there would be people saying that this is definite proof of tracing. I mean, what? How?

[Mothra]

Almost everyone here is losing it because you are all OG farm sim player, I get it. But it is true that the style of this game is nearly 100 % the same as in Stardew. You could take the trees, the crops, the animals, everything - and throw it stardew and noone would notice the difference. Don't get me wrong, I love Stardew and I love this game (just played my first few hours) and there are differences, but there are also ALOT of simularities, especially design-wise.

[Carboncoal]

Originally posted by Big Convoy:

Originally posted by Carboncoal:

Stardew Valley is one of my favorite games and I’ve been playing it since it was in early access. I’ve also played a lot of other farming games and this one feels closer to Harvest Moon and Sun Haven more than it does Stardew Valley. It’s more streamlined than SDV, the combat is more in depth and taking care of your animals is more in depth. You can give your animals toys to play with, dress them up and breed rare colors of animals. The feels like it has a bigger focus on customization than SDV and the characters feel more alive imo.


Super Zoo Story’s artstlye has changed over the years. It’s more detailed and the color pallet less saturated than SDV.

Even back when their artstyle looked closer to SDV you could tell that they were different assets. There’s even videos of them drawing the assets for the game. I never understood why people were saying they stole assets from SDV when you could see that they were completely different.

That's right, even back then, I could tell the difference. They even show time lapse drawing of assets on their youtube and there would be people saying that this is definite proof of tracing. I mean, what? How?

I love SDV but some of the fans are so toxic. I’ve seen way too many people claim that a new indie game was ripping off SDV just because it’s pixel art and you can farm in it. These people were say the same thing about Travellers Rest and that game doesn’t even focus on farming.

[Carboncoal]

Originally posted by Mothra:

Almost everyone here is losing it because you are all OG farm sim player, I get it. But it is true that the style of this game is nearly 100 % the same as in Stardew. You could take the trees, the crops, the animals, everything - and throw it stardew and noone would notice the difference. Don't get me wrong, I love Stardew and I love this game (just played my first few hours) and there are differences, but there are also ALOT of simularities, especially design-wise.

I’m not an OG farming sim player, SDV was my first farming sim. What do you mean when you say that no one would be able to tell the difference if you you put the crops and trees from FoM in SDV? The artstyles are drastically different. SDV’s artstyle is more detailed than FoM. If you put a tree from FoM in SDV people would notice.

[AngelDormante]

Originally posted by Mothra:

Almost everyone here is losing it because you are all OG farm sim player, I get it. But it is true that the style of this game is nearly 100 % the same as in Stardew. You could take the trees, the crops, the animals, everything - and throw it stardew and noone would notice the difference. Don't get me wrong, I love Stardew and I love this game (just played my first few hours) and there are differences, but there are also ALOT of simularities, especially design-wise.

I don't wanna hear no Stardew stan complain that other people are "losing it" over their farm sim. Y'all going after TREES and PETALS. Absolutely ridiculous.

[Big Convoy]

Originally posted by Carboncoal:

Originally posted by Mothra:

Almost everyone here is losing it because you are all OG farm sim player, I get it. But it is true that the style of this game is nearly 100 % the same as in Stardew. You could take the trees, the crops, the animals, everything - and throw it stardew and noone would notice the difference. Don't get me wrong, I love Stardew and I love this game (just played my first few hours) and there are differences, but there are also ALOT of simularities, especially design-wise.

I’m not an OG farming sim player, SDV was my first farming sim. What do you mean when you say that no one would be able to tell the difference if you you put the crops and trees from FoM in SDV? The artstyles are drastically different. SDV’s artstyle is more detailed than FoM. If you put a tree from FoM in SDV people would notice.

I remember a comment on Youtube once that says that everything in this game can be found in SDV, and that this game is just a recolor. I reply that this game is reminiscent of the style of the old Game Boy days, and that this game have magic and animal breeding. They reply that with mods, SDV can do the same, to which I reply that mods do not count.

Here is the video in question:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5VazVXVONk&lc=UgxpT2DWnlIPGO7SANl4AaABAg.9lHZBgrymrz9lar-1cvb8H

check out the comments on that video to see what I mean.

[ika]

well its a different game so i wouldnt say its a clone

[egg]

I think it's a valid question. Rune Factory, Harvest Moon, Stardew Valley, and Sun Haven all FEEL appreciably different to play because of different systems and writing despite being in the same genre. From the trailer, I can't immediately tell any difference from SDV, so I'm waiting for a review from one of my friends. You shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but so far nobody in this thread has actually mentioned how Fields of Mistria's actual contents differ from the rest of its genre

[AngelDormante]

Originally posted by egg:

I think it's a valid question. Rune Factory, Harvest Moon, Stardew Valley, and Sun Haven all FEEL appreciably different to play because of different systems and writing despite being in the same genre. From the trailer, I can't immediately tell any difference from SDV, so I'm waiting for a review from one of my friends. You shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but so far nobody in this thread has actually mentioned how Fields of Mistria's actual contents differ from the rest of its genre

Because OP already said in their initial post that they knew what was different and it is seemingly just not enough in their opinion. They didn't ask what's different, they (as do so many of these samey threads) asked if they shouldn't simply write it off as a "clone" as if SDV is the only game that should ever grace the genre.

Clone is such an ugly and silly word. If the "art style, premise, the general feel, the purpose" constitutes a clone, then SDV is a clone of those that came before it. I like HM, I like SDV, and I like Mistria. They are all similar because they're in the same genre but they are not the exact same experiences. Parading around acting like ConcernedApe owns the genre and being offended at new games in it is frankly absurd.