Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town

 PC
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 14 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 14
  3. Negative: 1 out of 14

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  1. dubesor
    Jul 24, 2020
    6
    It's ok. I played every Harvest Moon game starting with the original in 1998 up until about A wonderful life in 2005ish. So I am well aware of the genre, the good and bad titles and the gameplay loop.

    This game unfortunately in 2020 falls a bit flat. I would recommend it if you are hardcore nostalgia and want exactly the old game from 17 years ago. After playing games like Stardew    It's ok. I played every Harvest Moon game starting with the original in 1998 up until about A wonderful life in 2005ish. So I am well aware of the genre, the good and bad titles and the gameplay loop.

    This game unfortunately in 2020 falls a bit flat. I would recommend it if you are hardcore nostalgia and want exactly the old game from 17 years ago. After playing games like Stardew Valley and the huge improvements made in terms of gameplay, writing, and scope I cannot fully enjoy a game like this anymore. I was honestly bored pretty quickly already at the end of the first season.

    The map is very small (which was understandable 17 years ago on a gameboy..) but it's the same case here. There really isn't much to do, you do your crops, animals, then some fishing (which has zero interaction), or mining. Mining is just terribly dated, after just 2-3 floors I am loathing the gameplay because all you is digging up ground until you find a ladder and there is nothing in the mines, no sense of discovery. No mystery, no enemies, nothing.
    The graphics are OK at first but honestly lack character, everything looks generic like lastgen and I honestly prefer the design of the original. The sound design is pretty dull, and the writing barebones to say the least. Festivals are always welcome from the monotone loop however atleast during the first year I found you aren't really able to properly participate due to certain criteria which is a shame.

    Overall I think Marvelous missed a great opportunity by expanding on the original and implementing more content or features, there are very minor quality of life improvements over the original but over all the experience, especially after playing stadew valley, falls rather flat.

    Another thing to address is the pricepoint which for me was 50€ / $58 USD which is roughly 3.6 stardew valleys. As a gigantic fan of the genre I give this a 6/10, it's fine but not great.    … Expand
  2. Krone
    Jul 20, 2020
    10
    I love this, love the nostalgia, the game doesn't have too much difference from the former game, they're just enchancing the graphics, maybe some new npc, and that's all, the mechanic of the game is the same as it's former game.
  3. Robinjhoe
    Jul 6, 2023
    6
    Its pretty mediocre. I played some of the original Harvest Moon games back in the day, but this one just isnt doing it for me. One thing i cant get over is the 3d chibbi style, which tbh is very subjective, but even when the 2d sprites back then were chibbi too, at least it had a somewhat distinctive style to it. But this 3d style looks like a cheap mobile game and especially in moreIts pretty mediocre. I played some of the original Harvest Moon games back in the day, but this one just isnt doing it for me. One thing i cant get over is the 3d chibbi style, which tbh is very subjective, but even when the 2d sprites back then were chibbi too, at least it had a somewhat distinctive style to it. But this 3d style looks like a cheap mobile game and especially in more modern gaming looks really dull. They should have gone with either very stylized 2d again, or throw out the chibbi bs for 3d.

    Speaking of modern gaming. This game feels very, very dated, especially when compared to other similiar games like Stardew Valley, that have a lot of more convenient gameplay mechanics and game structure in generell.

    So all in all. Maybe a game for the hardcore fanbase, but while playing it i can never shake the feeling off wanting to play one of the other farming games    … Expand
  4. gamble_ling
    Apr 23, 2022
    9
    Most people will probably play this game for a nostalgic reason and for that, I salute them, for they don't forsake the bright and blooming early days of their lives. I'm playing this for the same reason and I loved it. I only played it for 1 hour, so expect my opinion to change. I scored it 9/10 because there are similarities to the original one and the only noticeable changes would beMost people will probably play this game for a nostalgic reason and for that, I salute them, for they don't forsake the bright and blooming early days of their lives. I'm playing this for the same reason and I loved it. I only played it for 1 hour, so expect my opinion to change. I scored it 9/10 because there are similarities to the original one and the only noticeable changes would be new mechanics and graphics.… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
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No score yet - based on 3 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. PCMag
    Jul 21, 2020
    80
    Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town puts a contemporary spin on a charming farm-sim that sees you plant crops, raise livestock, and start a family. The controls and character models could use additional work, but this leisurely game is incredibly addicting.
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  2. PC Gamer
    Jul 10, 2020
    68
    A faithful recreation, but why go back when Stardew has since perfected the genre?
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  3. Hardcore Gamer
    Jul 8, 2020
    90
    Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town is a charming farming game that lives up to its original release. This remake succeeds because it improves upon the 2003 title. Farming and befriending townsfolk is as fun as it has ever been, and is as enjoyable for longtime fans as well as it is newcomers.
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