So what's the gameplay like?

[murometz]

SDV offers mining, combat, fishing, farming, foraging and socializing. I am *not* familiar with the HM series, but I've heard it praised and damned before. This game seems to be gathering a whirlwind of criticism for what some folks call mobile graphics, but I'm curious how it plays. How many distinct stores does it offer, and are most purcbhaseables just fluff? How many NPCs are there? Is there anything you can do besides farming, such as mininig? Are there raisable stats? Do seasons change? How many crops, etc.SDV is fine, but I've dropped enough hours into it, and would like to try something else on the PC in a similar vein.

I realize most people who have the game are just now getting into it, but if anyone has already explored some of these options and others, I'd like to hear about them. Thanks.

[Rasp]

I'd like to hear if they lock out romance options based on the main character - older Havest moon games did that and it never stopped being infuriating. SDVs romance system was basic but at least it gave me the full range of options without having to start over.

I could take or leave combat really.

[DizzieDawgie]

Originally posted by DDST Rasp:

I'd like to hear if they lock out romance options based on the main character

Not sure if this is what you meant but the following link says "There still aren’t same-sex relationships available".
http://nintendoeverything.com/more-harvest-moon-light-of-hope-details-no-same-sex-relationships/

Natsume is emphatic that the studio is doing its own thing with Light of Hope, not borrowing anything back from Stardew Valley

And how is that a good thing? Stardew Valley is a great game in this genre and other devs should look to it for inspiration.

[Rasp]

Originally posted by DizzieDawgie:

Originally posted by DDST Rasp:

I'd like to hear if they lock out romance options based on the main character

Not sure if this is what you meant but the following link says "There still aren’t same-sex relationships available".
http://nintendoeverything.com/more-harvest-moon-light-of-hope-details-no-same-sex-relationships/

Dammit....

[Abgarok]

The gameplay is good. You just use the action button to do whatever you need to do without changing tools constantly (except in the case of seed types, you need to access the menu for those).

There's gifting (their 3DS games don't let you give gifts to NPCs), there's a mine with multiple floors (doubt there's any combat), and you can unlock different environments to farm on to mutate your crops into different ones.

There's several input methods, and the game gives you instructions for all of them as in-game tutorials. (regardless of wether you're using them or not).

[Seraiden]

Originally posted by Abgarok:

The gameplay is good. You just use the action button to do whatever you need to do without changing tools constantly (except in the case of seed types, you need to access the menu for those).

There's gifting (their 3DS games don't let you give gifts to NPCs), there's a mine with multiple floors (doubt there's any combat), and you can unlock different environments to farm on to mutate your crops into different ones.

There's several input methods, and the game gives you instructions for all of them as in-game tutorials. (regardless of wether you're using them or not).

Besides having a mine, that all sounds like hand holding bull to me. One button for everything is pretty lame, and "Oh well we added back in gift giving! Aren't you happy/we better?" is still meh.

[Abgarok]

Do you really find so much value in having to go to a menu to equip a different tool?

I mean, to each their own, but still. Even in every other game you still use the same button for the same things, this just cuts the "middleman" menu.

[Seraiden]

Because sometimes I want to use a different tool, or fertilizer, or want to modify it in a different way. One button basic tab doesn't do that, and makes me bored extremely fast.

[Fyrrea]

There are different seasons.
I haven't noticed any raisable stats :<