News by Matt S.
The Harvest Moon series has struggled a little of late. The iPhone release was good enough fun, but the last 3DS outing, The Lost Valley, which was heavily inspired by Minecraft, did not go down well at all. Meanwhile, Story of Seasons, a Harvest Moon game in all but name, and developed by much of the Harvest Moon talent, was a real hit.
Natsume, which still holds the Harvest Moon license, needs to get its marquee franchise back on track, and Skytree Village looks like the game to achieve that. It looks like it’s building on The Lost Valley’s engine, yes, but it looks like a far deeper and richer experience than what its predecessor offered.
This trailer shows the game off, including the village that you get to wander around, a new animal (a donkey!), and the familiar farming stuff that you’ll get to get up to.
Let’s face it, you know what you’re getting in a Harvest Moon game, and while the whole farming simulation genre is an incredibly niche one, the fans of it play these games because they like the relaxing atmosphere, the lack of lose states, and the simple, charming music and graphics. There’s something delightful about slowly building up a farm, and it does look like this game will do that appeal justice.
From the press release:
Times have changed in the land known as the Oasis of the Harvest Goddess. Many people used to live in Skytree Village, and the land was lush and green. However, the power of the Harvest Goddess gradually began to wane, and the land became parched and dry.
It’s up to you revive the seven Skytrees in order to give the Harvest Goddess her power back, and, in turn, bring life back to this desolate land!
Along the way, players will meet a new cast of characters (with a few returning faces!), alongside a brand new art style, new character models, and more.
With user-friendly tutorials, players will immediately be able to jump into the thick of things, customizing their farm by raising and lowering the land, creating rivers, ponds, and more. Upgraded tools will assist farmers in shaping the land more efficiently, and afterwards they can kick back and relax in their boat to do a spot of fishing! It won’t be long before they’ll need to weigh anchor to care for their newest herd animal: the Poitou donkey!
Key Features of Harvest Moon: Skytree Village:
- Play as a boy or a girl, woo bachelorettes and bachelors, and start a family!
- Completely new story with tons of interesting new characters.
- New crops and flowers to discover.
- New fishing mechanics: expand waterways and catch rarer fish.
- A full town with many residents, each with their own personalities and quirks.
– Matt S.
