As an enormous fan of Sq. Enix, JRPGs, and farming sims, it’s protected to say that Harvestella is one among my most extremely anticipated video games of 2022. So, naturally, I jumped on the alternative to dive into this thrilling new expertise on Nintendo Swap. Sadly, we weren’t in a position to get our paws on a duplicate till roughly two days earlier than launch, and, as you possibly can anticipate from such a colossal title, that’s nowhere close to sufficient time to actually familiarize yourself with its great world.
To date, I’ve accomplished the primary three chapters of the sport and have performed for roughly seven to eight hours (just about each free second I’ve had between work and sleep). And, in typical JRPG fashion, I really feel as if I’ve barely gotten previous the tip of the iceberg in all that point. Tutorials are nonetheless popping up left and proper, new mechanics are shimmying their approach into my each day routine, and I nonetheless really feel that sense of tutorial-esque limitation, with my freedom being finite and depending on the place the sport desires me to go.
That doesn’t in any approach imply that I’m not totally having fun with my time with Harvestella up to now. I’ve been wholly sucked into its world and may’t wait to see the place it takes me. Nonetheless, with so little time to discover the bountiful mechanics, dungeons, and tales on provide, I can’t present a definitive evaluate simply but. As such, I’m solely going to share my preliminary impressions with you at the moment, and can develop this right into a full evaluate with a rating once I’ve had a strong weekend of donning my farming overalls and sharpest sword.
To begin off with, Harvestella has a singular narrative that takes a few of the acquainted tropes JRPG and Sq. Enix aficionados needs to be very acquainted with, whereas additionally making use of its personal twist. It begins with in all probability the commonest trope from the RPG style – you’re an amnesiac, and also you don’t bear in mind how you bought right here. What a shock.
Nonetheless, as you start to piece collectively this unfamiliar world, you uncover that you simply’re fairly darn particular. One way or the other you managed to outlive being outdoors throughout a phenomenon referred to as ‘Quietus’, which comes about between each season and kills nearly all the pieces in its path. The townsfolk blame this phenomenon on creatures they name ‘Omens’, so when one crash lands within the village together with an enormous shiny meteor, you naturally go inside and save them (a lot to the chagrin of your new acquaintances).
From right here, you’re sucked right into a grand, heartfelt narrative so complicated that no one appears to have a clue what’s happening. Snarled in a story of conflict, dying, and new life, you end up on the coronary heart of some fairly large conflicts whereas nonetheless attempting to recollect to water your cabbages each morning.
Actually, the story is so over-complicated and off the wall at this level, introducing new characters, cryptids, fairies, time travellers, and extra in each different scene, that I genuinely do not know what’s happening. What I do know, nonetheless, is that I completely like it.
One factor that does disappoint me concerning the narrative, although, is the shortage of voice performing. The one audible dialogue is available in fleeting, non-committal traces, resembling a celebration member informing you that their well being is low, or a shopkeeper greeting you. This leaves hours of partitions of textual content in cutscenes, with nothing however the (admittedly beautiful) background music to fill the silence.
Whereas I perceive that, given the quantity of dialogue and story within the sport, getting a workforce of actors to totally voice it will be a colossal job, the absence of voice performing in even a very powerful cutscenes feels slightly low-cost, particularly for a full worth, triple-A sport.
Okay, so let’s speak about the obvious issue – Harvestella is gorgeous. In truth, it’s downright gorgeous. The environmental design units up breath-taking landscapes, idyllic cities, and cosy interiors, all of which really seize the essence of Sq. Enix’s signature fashion, whereas nonetheless providing sufficient individuality and selection to nurture your need to discover. That is all backed up by a stellar orchestral soundtrack that basically suits the vibe of each scene.
The character and enemy designs are additionally great. There’s an excellent breadth of selection, from the traditional townsfolk and their wizardly mayor, to the closely armoured Omens, and even a fully pleasant unicorn adorned with jewels. I’ve not come throughout a very big selection of enemies but, however these I’ve seen match completely into the world, with designs that complement their parts and fight types effectively.
Moreover, the overworld map is a delight. Harvestella isn’t an open world sport, as a substitute consisting of various places resembling Lethe Village, your farm, Njord Steppe, and Jade Forest. You entry every of those simply by working from location to location in an attractive overworld map, which you’ll be able to later traverse faster by buying completely lovely mounts.
Admittedly, you’re fairly restricted in relation to what places you possibly can go to and the way a lot you possibly can discover them as much as (and sure past) the purpose I’ve reached within the sport. Nonetheless, I’ve excessive hopes that, because the overworld map expands and new places unlock, Harvestella will proceed to satisfy these excessive requirements.
Areas are sometimes comparatively linear, with some twisting paths and hidden treasures dotted alongside the primary route. When exploring locations like Njord Steppe or Higan Canyon (which the sport, for some cause, refers to as ‘dungeons’), you need to stay aware of the passage of time, as if it will get to midnight and also you’ve not but made it to your mattress (otherwise you get slain by an enemy), you move out from exhaustion and need to pay a payment in your medical remedy.
Fortunately, you possibly can activate waypoints which let you save and teleport throughout the location you’re at present exploring, or again to your property. It’s also possible to repair ladders and bridges to open shortcuts you should utilize the subsequent time you go to the world. Which means, ought to it is advisable return to your property for a nap, or run to the shop to get some objects, you don’t need to do as a lot legwork to get again to the place you left off.
This mechanic took me a short time to get into the rhythm of, as a fast-moving in-game clock feels widespread in a life sim, however slightly misplaced once you’re exploring new lands and felling foes. Nonetheless, with slightly trial and error, I’ve come to like with the ability to freely break up my adventures, popping again house to are inclined to my crops or have a chat with a villager.
Harvestella’s fight could be very attention-grabbing, if not slightly restricted to start with. Following the basic real-time motion fight components versus turn-based, you’re free to run round attacking monsters or working out of vary if you happen to’ve bitten off greater than you possibly can chew. Your fight fashion is dictated by which job you have got outfitted, with quite a lot of new talents opening up later.
You begin with the fighter job, together with your offensive talents relying solely on smashing one button to swing a one-handed sword, and no combos in sight. As you proceed to struggle, you earn job factors, which you should utilize to unlock new expertise and passives. To make use of a ability on Swap, you must maintain down the ZR set off, then hit the corresponding button. This feels slightly clunky, and I would favor having expertise tied to particular buttons to slot in with the motion fashion of the fight, however you get used to it with time.
All through the sport, you acquire entry to new jobs, that are basically lessons. The second you get your arms on is the mage, which gives a bit extra vary than the fighter at base stage, and applies elemental harm as a substitute of bodily. You may change jobs on the fly throughout battle by holding the TZ set off and urgent the corresponding directional arrow.
As soon as once more, this feels clunky at first, nevertheless it does provide some attention-grabbing flexibility in battle and encourages you to strategise as you progress between targets, exploiting their weaknesses. Nonetheless, every job has its personal job factors, which you’ll be able to solely earn by defeating enemies with that particular job, and unlocking a ability or passive for one job doesn’t unlock it for the others. This isn’t an issue more often than not, however having to unlock a really primary fight staple like dodging in every class is kind of irritating once you’re beginning off.
Outdoors of exploring these places and combating enemies, there may be, after all, the farming and life sim aspect of Harvestella. Initially of the sport, you’re given your individual house with a plot of land outdoors, which turns into your centre of operations. Inside the home, you have got stations to unlock for crafting, cooking, and extra. Outdoors, you’ve obtained a small subject the place you possibly can develop and harvest crops, and two pens which you’ll be able to later improve and use to maintain livestock.
As with fight, farming controls initially really feel a bit odd, and take a while to regulate to. Your staple instruments are a hoe for tilling the bottom, a weird water gun contraption used for hydrating your crops, and, when you craft it, a hammer for breaking apart rocks that get in your approach. You cycle between instruments by, as soon as once more, holding the set off, then urgent the corresponding button, then planting the seeds you have got outfitted by urgent X.
Outdoors of that, the crafting, fishing, and cooking mechanics are a pleasant addition, and might be very helpful at instances, however they’re quite simple and formulaic. Moreover, all three might be fairly expensive to improve and totally discover, plus recipes are expensive and laborious to return by up to now. That is particularly painful contemplating your satiety stage and the way the stamina system works. In case your abdomen is empty, your stamina doesn’t replenish by itself. You utilize your stamina when farming, working, combating – effectively, when doing absolutely anything apart from sitting there observing your environment.
Positive, you possibly can eat a few of the crops you develop, however they provide such minimal well being and stamina restoration that you simply’re higher off promoting them to usher in some money. In consequence, I discovered myself desperately rationing the sandwiches Cres despatched me within the publish whereas scrimping sufficient money and components to buy the kitchen counter improve and make myself a few stir fries. I’m positive this received’t be a lot of an issue as I progress by way of the sport, nevertheless it was a ache within the first few hours of my playtime.
To date, the farming and life sim parts actually really feel as if they take a backseat to the narrative, exploration, and fight. For these of you who’ve spent many hours on pure farming sims like Wylde Flowers, Stardew Valley, and others, you’ll probably really feel fairly restricted, particularly within the early sport.
Nonetheless, I’m nonetheless having fun with increasing my farm, and am trying ahead to additional exploring these mechanics as the sport progresses – I solely hope they get a bit extra improvement as time goes on, fairly than devolving right into a tacked-on time sink to emphasize about at first of each in-game day.
And that’s all my ideas on Harvestella up to now. Regardless of some shortcomings and clunky mechanics, it’s shaping as much as be a really memorable expertise, and I’m very excited to see the place it goes. You’ll want to verify again subsequent week, at which level I intend to be a real farmin’ and fightin’ knowledgeable. However, if you happen to can’t wait till then, you should definitely try our Harvestella characters, Harvestella cooking, and Harvestella romance guides to begin your journey on the appropriate foot. I want you a cheerful harvest.
