Harvestella

Harvestella is a game that I have mixed feelings toward. It is a real-time RPG and farm simulator. Similar to Rune Factory though I do enjoy this game more than the disappointing Rune Factory 5. It has a few things different and some things the same.

Gameplay

The farming is how you can get healing items as cooking and making juice is the only way to get stamina and health. You also need to take care of animals so they can not only give you eggs and milk but the more you do the higher quality and higher bonus. Crafting materials are found in dungeons and used for improving weapons and tools for making cheese, juice, animal feed, flour, among other things most of which you can buy, but you save money by doing it yourself.

Combat is confusing until you get used to it. You level up when you sleep and all your stats get a small boost. As time goes on easier enemies won’t give any experience. There are also your companion bonuses depending on who is in your party and how much you helped them you get stat boosts. As for weapons you can change any weapon at the checkpoints in each town and dungeon and some are faster than others, but do less damage. Weapons are under a job system as all weapons have a skill tree.

Plot

The plot starts with the player waking up in a town with amnesia. After a short time they are given a home and farm. They are then told that the Seaslight, an important resource to each area is acting strange. So you investigate and eventually learn that in order to save everyone you need to stop Quietus, a strange dust that comes between seasons and causes illness and eventual death with no known cure otherwise it worsens and kills everyone

Conclusion

I enjoyed this game as frustrating as some mechanics are such as the hunger mechanic leaving me with no way to heal multiple times. It feels like a game with a good balance between plot and gameplay. Harvestella does have a problem with lengthy dungeons being a bit to long, but otherwise it was fun. There are flaws but, this is to be expected as this is a new IP not something established so if a sequel ever comes out I hope they learn from mistakes not create more.

Score: 9/10