Developer: Marvelous
Publisher: Marvelous, XSEED Games
Platform: PC, Switch, PS4
Tested on: PS4
Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town – Review
Once again we’re covering a game from Story of Seasons today, and truth be told, we were quite stoked about this release. This series made by the Harvest Moon creators has been pleasing a lot of players in recent years. It manages to capture a lot of the nostalgic gameplay mechanics, while still adding enough new flair to keep things engaging. Today we’re traveling all the way down to Olive Town, a sleepy seaside village that will grow with your farm into a blossoming tourist trap. There’s a lot to do, so there’s no time to waste.
Story
As is often the case with these games, there is not so much focus on a big overarching plot and more on exploring the town and building up friendships with the residents at your own pace, with the game giving you small quests and scenarios to complete. The town grows and changes as you play, and there is always some event going on. Interacting with people, helping them with chores, and maybe even starting a romance will reveal their personal story to you, but other than that, there’s no greater goal to work towards and players can choose their own path in life.
Graphics
Story of Seasons looks as adorable as ever. Nothing much has changed graphically compared to other recent entries in the series, but people do say there’s no use changing a winning formula. The game has an adorable and colorful 3D style, and the character designs are stellar as usual. The animals are also as cute as they should be. The 2D character portraits we used to enjoy in Harvest Moon are still sorely missed here, despite appearing in promotional material.
Sound
Just like with the visual designs, it’s clear that the developers know that what worked in the past needs no adjustments. The soundtrack sounds similar to that of previous games, giving off a cozy and upbeat atmosphere. Some tracks got a nautical twist to fit the seaside town we’re in. The sound effects are also top-notch: little farm animals are even cuter when they make cute noises. The game doesn’t have voice acting. The latter could have added a dose of extra charm.
Gameplay
Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town is a farming simulator that includes all the classic elements we’re used to in this series. Fishing, mining, romancing,… it’s all there. You start the game with a small shack, some farmland, and a few seeds. Throughout the game, you work hard to turn those things into a thriving farm. Your main sources of income down the line will be growing crops and selling the produce, as well as keeping animals that provide their own form of produce. For some extra cash, you can turn this product into something even more expensive to sell at a higher price. For example, you could turn your fruit into jam and your milk into cheese.
If the traditional farm life doesn’t work for you, you can try other methods to earn money through. Foraging through nature for stuff to sell is an option. You can also fish or head down into the mines and sell whatever you find down there. With the money you earn and the materials you gather, you can upgrade your farm and house. One way Pioneers of Olive Town differs from previous games in the series is that this game allows you to customize your farm even further, dictating where stuff is built with pinpoint precision. As usual, you can also dress up your character and change their looks, as well as decorate your home to your heart’s desire.
Another fun little addition is that Olive Town is less static than the towns from previous games. It’s a small pioneer town, which means there’s a lot to still be built. By fulfilling villagers’ requests, you can see the town change and grow around you, becoming a thriving tourist spot as you grow. Like in all Story of Seasons games, the town is full of colorful characters, some of them eligible for marriage. If you romance them, you can settle down and have kids. The town also has constantly changing events going on, and they’re not just a handful of festivals that repeat each year. It adds a lovely layer of diversity.
And if you get sick of the town, you can always go out and explore the world at large. There’s a lot more to explore than just Olive Town, thanks to the nature sprites being able to whisk you away. The game has several DLC, ranging from extra customizable to new NPCs and locations.
Conclusion
Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town is a great entry in this series of games, taking all the pointers from previous titles and elevating them to a new level. Your farm has never been so customizable and the town never so alive, really adding depth to an already fun experience. Newcomers and veterans alike will be treated to an amazingly fun and relaxing experience.
Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town - Review,
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