Developer: Marvelous Inc.
Publisher: XSEED Games, Marvelous USA, Marvelous Europe
Platform: PC, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox Series X/S
Tested on: PS5
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar (PS5) – Review
Roughly a year ago, we took a closer look at Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar, the remake of 2008’s Harvest Moon: Grand Bazaar. We quite enjoyed what the game had to offer, and even though it’s still based on a nearly twenty-year-old title under the Harvest Moon moniker, we can easily state that the Story of Seasons franchise continues to evolve and improve. The current Harvest Moon series, on the other hand, is often still stuck in the past, sticking to outdated mechanics and design choices. That being said, today we are back to take another (short) look at Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar, which has now made its debut on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. In this concise review, we’ll be taking a look at the quality of the PS5 version. If you wish to read our original, lengthier review, be sure to click here.
To immediately get it out of the way: if you already own the Switch 2 version of the game, there’s nothing really here for you to dish out additional cash, except if you like better performance and a better resolution. If you’re perfectly content with the possibility of easily playing in handheld mode and having the possibility of using mouse controls, you’re probably already as happy as you’ll ever be with that version of Grand Bazaar. If you haven’t picked up the game yet and you don’t care about those two aforementioned features, you’ll find a slightly superior version here in terms of graphics and general performance. It’s actually as simple as that.
Grand Bazaar still delightfully strays away from the very overdone trope of you coming to your grandfather’s derelict farm to restore it and ultimately build a life for yourself. While a lot of these elements are still present, your goal is to restore Zephyr Town’s bazaar to its former glory, actively sell your products on said bazaar, and, of course, still build a life for yourself. The sales component proved to be a fun change of pace from the traditional farming elements, and we found ourselves looking forward to offering our goods at our dedicated stall. This mini-game-like experience was entertaining and added a tiny bit of ‘pressure’ to an otherwise zen-like game.
Unexpectedly, you are still able to find a suitable match in Zephyr Town, and inclusivity is key here. You can date whoever you want out of the available candidates, regardless of gender. While the characters might not be as fleshed out as in some other titles, you’ll surely still find your pick of the litter, and it’s still a lot of fun exploring these possible relationships and friendships as you progress through the game. Just like the farming components, relationships, and other town evolutions unlock gradually, as this is still a cozy, slow-paced farming sim after all.
Conclusion
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is still as fun as it was last year, and choosing which version is the best for you will depend on being able to play the game on the go and having mouse controls, or having a smoother experience and a higher resolution. If you’re a fan of the franchise, Grand Bazaar offers a fun variation of the base formula where you’ll focus on the bazaar rather than solely on traditional farm work. While some mechanics feel a bit more shallow compared to other entries in the series, Grand Bazaar is a fairly fast-paced experience with a minimum amount of waiting, as there is always something to do. If you’re looking to zone out with something cute and cozy, this one is worth looking into.
No Comments