Harvest Moon: Light of Hope

 Switch
Metascore
62

Mixed or average reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
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  1. Nintenderos
    Aug 15, 2018
    70
    Harvest Moon: Light of Hope Special Edition takes the famous and veteran saga to the new Nintendo system. This delivery manages to maintain the basics of the saga even when it is not made by the same developer as always, although we must point out that it falters in several aspects and above all, does not include much innovation compared to its predecessors.
  2. Video Chums
    Jun 10, 2018
    64
    Harvest Moon: Light of Hope brings the core Harvest Moon concepts to the table but it doesn't do anything more than that. The lack of item variety and multiple missing gameplay elements really shows. It's still addictive but not a worthy successor to the franchise.
  3. Switch Player
    Sep 24, 2018
    60
    Slow-paced, full of grinding and quite ugly, this Harvest Moon isn't for everyone. If you enjoy the genre you'll get something, but others won't have the patience.
  5. Vandal
    Jul 22, 2018
    60
    Although the core gameplay is solid, it’s not as engaging as it should be, and all the excitement fades away after a few hours.
  6. Jeuxvideo.com
    Aug 12, 2018
    55
    There’s nothing really new or interesting in Harvest Moon: Light of Hope. Even if it’s still the same chill, low-pace game, it’s technically outdated, and too far from Story of Seasons and Stardew Valley’s richness.

User Reviews

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User Score
4.1

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 37 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 37
  3. Negative: 22 out of 37
  1. salzidu
    May 30, 2018
    5
    This isn't the "Harvest Moon" people grew up with. The original series from the original developer is now called "Story of Seasons" which isThis isn't the "Harvest Moon" people grew up with. The original series from the original developer is now called "Story of Seasons" which is much better.

    Natsume only translated the old games, not developed them but they own the western Name of the Series "Harvest moon" If you want to play the original series wait for a Story of Seasons game for Switch. I fell for it and the game looks really bad.    … Full Review »
  2. Scritty
    Jun 30, 2018
    3
    If you've never played a Harvest Moon or Rune Factory game before this might scratch an itch. The problem for this game is that Stardew ValleyIf you've never played a Harvest Moon or Rune Factory game before this might scratch an itch. The problem for this game is that Stardew Valley exists. Stardew Valley looks better, plays better has a LOT more content and is less than half the price.
    Graphics.
    I can see the idea "We have a 3D capable platform - so we better use it". But it isn;t good. The characters look "laid on" to the ground and their perspective to the ground they are on isn't right. Also by making them so big (yet not detailed) there is so much less of an area on screen. I am finding I'm getting disorientated all the time becasue so little is on the screen. The graphics aren't terrible but they aren;t that good and trhe move to 3D seems like a tick box rather than a well thought out feature.

    Gameplay
    The core gameplay is pure Harvest Moon. It isn't as precise as I would like. Having played them all (that I'm awareof )and all the Rune factories you soon get upset at watering the wrong patch, the fiddly selection. When you've played other games in the same series and have no problems with those then you know it's the game design and not you.

    Content
    It's very light on gameplay. Almost a roll back to the erly Nintendo GBA games but wihtout the pick up and play charm, ease of control. There really is not a lot of depth here and where the comparisons to Stardew vallety really struck me. It was what wasn't in the game, the things I couldn't do that stuck out.

    Value.
    HOW MUCH!!! Ok it's not the most expensive game, but it feels anbd plays like a freeware flash game and £35 or $40 seems about twice the price this game should be. Again Stardew Valley is better in almost every regard and is a third of the price.

    Summary

    I really don't know why anyone would buy this game unless they had completed everything in SDV and wanted a weak sauce version of the same game, with less content, less tightly implemented controls a clunky and awkward implementation of 3D with much less content and at a price point 300% higher.

    3 is a red bar score here on Metacritic. But that's all this is worth.    … Full Review »
  3. thaesino
    Jun 7, 2018
    3
    Not "Harvest Moon" as it is not made by Marvelous!. Do not come looking for a Harvest Moon game without doing some research first. This isNot "Harvest Moon" as it is not made by Marvelous!. Do not come looking for a Harvest Moon game without doing some research first. This is only Harvest Moon in title.

    Also, this is NOT Stardew Valley in the same way that "Story of Seasons" (the new Marvelous! made Harvest Moon) is NOT Stardew Valley, either.

    This game is just a poor excuse for Natsume trying to make money off a brand while not letting it die off, as it is evident that the developers who worked on it just learned how to make a game probably last year... however, that's no excuse for some people who are saying this is nothing like old Harvest Moon (now called Story of Seasons) or Stardew Valley. Obviously it isn't since the developers are completely different people.

    TL;DR Game is boring (I've played on Switch, PS4 and PC) and offers only very, very little fun. People who bought it expecting it was an official Harvest Moon title, or comparable to Stardew, either didn't google this before buying or are just plain dumb.    … Full Review »
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