I have been playing this on-and-off since its release to achieve the one thing I never could as a kid: see the true ending of this game.
Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life was a childhood staple for me, and there's never been another game quite like the AWL/FoMT combination in the way these connected with each other and the story progression in the separate games but also between them.
It was the only console Harvest Moon to release in Europe for a long while, and as a kid needing some help with the English language (shout-out to this game for teaching me all the animals), a lot of hours were put into this.
The SoS remake implemented a lot of very necessary QoL changes without changing the game at all. You are no longer locked into a gendered game version where you can only marry the opposite gender. Tools have their own slots, and some questionable writing has been removed while still making sure to preserve that core that reminds me of my childhood.
That also means it's stuck in the farming sim gameplay we had in 2003/2004, making it very slow and cozy. It's the perfect game to pick up and play for a bit to relax, but not one I can play for very long periods of time, and honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Currently in year 3!
Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life was a childhood staple for me, and there's never been another game quite like the AWL/FoMT combination in the way these connected with each other and the story progression in the separate games but also between them.
It was the only console Harvest Moon to release in Europe for a long while, and as a kid needing some help with the English language (shout-out to this game for teaching me all the animals), a lot of hours were put into this.
The SoS remake implemented a lot of very necessary QoL changes without changing the game at all. You are no longer locked into a gendered game version where you can only marry the opposite gender. Tools have their own slots, and some questionable writing has been removed while still making sure to preserve that core that reminds me of my childhood.
That also means it's stuck in the farming sim gameplay we had in 2003/2004, making it very slow and cozy. It's the perfect game to pick up and play for a bit to relax, but not one I can play for very long periods of time, and honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Currently in year 3!
Love the game! I just wish there was more to do.
The theme of the game is very curious touching themes such as life, death, the passage of time....
Now as a farm game it falls short for what is currently on the market. Few things to do that you can end up getting bored.
La temática del juego es muy curiosa tocando temas como la vida, muerte, el paso del tiempo...
Ahora como juego de granja se queda corto para lo que hay actualmente en el mercado. Pocas cosas que hacer que te puede acabar aburriendo.
Now as a farm game it falls short for what is currently on the market. Few things to do that you can end up getting bored.
La temática del juego es muy curiosa tocando temas como la vida, muerte, el paso del tiempo...
Ahora como juego de granja se queda corto para lo que hay actualmente en el mercado. Pocas cosas que hacer que te puede acabar aburriendo.
FUCK STARDEW VALLEY THIS IS A STORY OF SEASONS HOUSEHOLD
The game lost a lot of its soul because of the new artstyle (it does look good ! But it's not the same mood that the original game had), but all the glorious QOL features make up for it.
Only disappointment gameplay wise is the change to the tools, to make for a more traditional SOS experience when it comes to upgrading your tools. Makes a lot of friendship not so useful in this version, as you had to become friends with the villages to get better tools.
Only disappointment gameplay wise is the change to the tools, to make for a more traditional SOS experience when it comes to upgrading your tools. Makes a lot of friendship not so useful in this version, as you had to become friends with the villages to get better tools.
It's no Olive Town that's for sure
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life não é apenas um remake competente, mas também necessário. Amado por muitos fãs de longa data, ele entrega uma jogabilidade mais dinâmica e intuitiva, junto da experiência clássica nos emocionando e nos encantando mais uma vez com a jornada do ciclo da vida.
Review completa em: https://psxbrasil.com.br/analise/story-of-seasons-a-wonderful-life-review/
Review completa em: https://psxbrasil.com.br/analise/story-of-seasons-a-wonderful-life-review/
This review contains spoilers
BEST IMPROVEMENT EVER
Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life on the GameCube was the very first farming sim I ever played. I was a young teen in 2003 when the original came out, so I was cautiously optimistic when I heard they were remaking this game.
Marvelous! entertainment knocked it out of the park with this one, seriously. It made every quality of life improvement they could possibly make while keeping the charm of the original. I think its hilarious that they still kept some massive jank in it though (like, the animations of the characters when they're moving is almost exactly the same as the original... I guess its pretty lazy to keep it that way but I was kind of charmed with it.... it was very nostalgic)
One thing I have to say is that this version of A Wonderful Life goes FAST!!! Seriously! The original on the GameCube felt pretty long, as you would spend at least two "years" at each stage of your life (Single, Married, Parent, and so on). In this game, you get a single year for each which makes me feel like I'm speedrunning the whole thing, haha. They really streamlined this game to go faster. I can't really tell yet if I prefer it that way, but at least the game doesn't drag too badly. Having a routine in this game is really satisfying.
Also, protip for those wanting to make money since it's kind of hard to do: sheep. Fill your barn with like two cows, a goat, and the rest ONLY SHEEP. Their wool sells for a ton, and dont forget to always haggle prices with Van. There ya go.
I really love how they said "to hell with it" and let you marry anyone in this game, with whatever pronouns you want. Finally. I cant wait to play this game again and marry a different spouse, since its nice there's so many to choose from now.
Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life on the GameCube was the very first farming sim I ever played. I was a young teen in 2003 when the original came out, so I was cautiously optimistic when I heard they were remaking this game.
Marvelous! entertainment knocked it out of the park with this one, seriously. It made every quality of life improvement they could possibly make while keeping the charm of the original. I think its hilarious that they still kept some massive jank in it though (like, the animations of the characters when they're moving is almost exactly the same as the original... I guess its pretty lazy to keep it that way but I was kind of charmed with it.... it was very nostalgic)
One thing I have to say is that this version of A Wonderful Life goes FAST!!! Seriously! The original on the GameCube felt pretty long, as you would spend at least two "years" at each stage of your life (Single, Married, Parent, and so on). In this game, you get a single year for each which makes me feel like I'm speedrunning the whole thing, haha. They really streamlined this game to go faster. I can't really tell yet if I prefer it that way, but at least the game doesn't drag too badly. Having a routine in this game is really satisfying.
Also, protip for those wanting to make money since it's kind of hard to do: sheep. Fill your barn with like two cows, a goat, and the rest ONLY SHEEP. Their wool sells for a ton, and dont forget to always haggle prices with Van. There ya go.
I really love how they said "to hell with it" and let you marry anyone in this game, with whatever pronouns you want. Finally. I cant wait to play this game again and marry a different spouse, since its nice there's so many to choose from now.
As it is, this game is one you play for slow, steady progress. The farming isn't what you should be going into the game for, since much of the game is centered around making a family and you get to see them/the town grow and develop over time. That being said, it is lacking on things to do at some points and I while I do enjoy it, it might not be for everyone.
This is exactly what I've wanted in a more calm game like this. People get older and die, you have kids that actually grow up and develop personalities. Crazy that I only found out about it all these years later with this newer version.
Just remember that this game came out before stardew valley, like over a decade before. It's still an older game, but I still find it very very good.
Just remember that this game came out before stardew valley, like over a decade before. It's still an older game, but I still find it very very good.
Story of Seasons A Wonderful Life finalizado después de algo más de 50 horas.
Desde hace mil horas ya no tenía nada que hacer, así que solo seguí jugando por morbosa 🤣
¿Mueres o no mueres al final? Ese era mi punto y por ese motivo jugué los 6 capis 😜
Desde hace mil horas ya no tenía nada que hacer, así que solo seguí jugando por morbosa 🤣
¿Mueres o no mueres al final? Ese era mi punto y por ese motivo jugué los 6 capis 😜
wish i liked this more than i do i couldn't play it for more than a few hours there is absolutely nothing to do in this game
This is the best rendition to play if you want to experience the A Wonderful Life story in all of its glory and then some.This faithful rendition takes everything you love about the original and expands upon it with well needed Quality of Life changes and new content.
I have to say though- if you haven't played the original, it's tough to say whether or not you'll like this game. This is based on an old game- and because it's so faithful to the original- it plays like an old game too. Farming sim fans that have only played modern farming sims might see this game and its lack of complex mechanics and they might find it boring. This is a slow, small game. Focused on a small sleepy town with basic mechanics. You don't customize your farm like you would in Stardew Valley. You don't travel to faraway places. It's you, your spouse, your kid, and the old folks in town.
Where the game shines is definitely your child. Unlike most farming sims, your child grows up. Their interests change, their personality changes. And they might grow up and decide- instead of inheriting the farm- they might want to be a musician instead. Or an artist. Or even an athlete. You watch your child from toddler to young adult- becoming their own person. It's unlike any farming sim out there. Likewise- the people in town change too. Some come and go. They get older. You spend a lifetime with them. They may not be super complex- I honestly wish there were more dialogue and even more cutscenes to flesh them out more- but regardless- you can't deny that they are memorable, strange people.
If you loved the original, you'll adore this. And if you've never played the original- and you're willing to play a simple game on a simple farm- give this a try.
There's always the hybrid crops, at any rate. That can get preeetty crazy!
I have to say though- if you haven't played the original, it's tough to say whether or not you'll like this game. This is based on an old game- and because it's so faithful to the original- it plays like an old game too. Farming sim fans that have only played modern farming sims might see this game and its lack of complex mechanics and they might find it boring. This is a slow, small game. Focused on a small sleepy town with basic mechanics. You don't customize your farm like you would in Stardew Valley. You don't travel to faraway places. It's you, your spouse, your kid, and the old folks in town.
Where the game shines is definitely your child. Unlike most farming sims, your child grows up. Their interests change, their personality changes. And they might grow up and decide- instead of inheriting the farm- they might want to be a musician instead. Or an artist. Or even an athlete. You watch your child from toddler to young adult- becoming their own person. It's unlike any farming sim out there. Likewise- the people in town change too. Some come and go. They get older. You spend a lifetime with them. They may not be super complex- I honestly wish there were more dialogue and even more cutscenes to flesh them out more- but regardless- you can't deny that they are memorable, strange people.
If you loved the original, you'll adore this. And if you've never played the original- and you're willing to play a simple game on a simple farm- give this a try.
There's always the hybrid crops, at any rate. That can get preeetty crazy!
very cute and wholesome! this game had me making excel spreadsheets and everything
the only bad thing was that i ran out of stuff to do around the final 2 years
the only bad thing was that i ran out of stuff to do around the final 2 years
The original A Wonderful Life's mundanity and slower gameplay diverted it from the series other entries, but what it did succesfully was add for a relaxing experience bundled with a cozy little island wrapped around a neat dynamic weather system and beautiful lightning effects.
It certainly had its share of flaws in several aspects, some of the story chapters were too long ,
Festivals were scarce and not nearly as interesting as the rest of the series, and the characters, while cute and eerie, didn't do anything new past the first 2 chapters. The farm tools didn't offer much expanded flexibility other than the water can having more capacity and other tools spending less stamina.
Even still, I absolutely adore the original, and it has always been a game I get drawn back to when I need to dial out after a stressful event of any sort. It is very relaxing and therapeutic with its slow monotone nature and longwinded crop cultivation and dairy farming.
In comparison the remake is a faithful adaption with some of the same qualities, while also diversifying itself with its share of new nuances.
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life is slicker and shortens down the chapter spans to only one year, while drip feeding various content throughout the span of the game.
You get new facility expansions and faster tools to compensate the huger scope of what you need to do daily, and the game just gets a lot busier if you max out the capacity of the farm. Festivals are altered and boasts some different dialogues throughout the years, they are still just cutscenes, but the slight differences per year is a nice touch.
There are monthly requests from villagers to cultivate specific crops, or make dishes in return for rewards, some more interesting than others, but regardless it's a nice extra insentive to have more to do in the game which still may last for 100+ hours. There are plenty of costumes, gender change (non-binaries included) at your choosing whichever point in the game as well as a solid choice of both male and female bachelors to date.
The best thing about the remake is the new achievement system and a encyclopedia you can fill out as an extra challenge.
Even despite the fact that the remake makes the game more feasible to complete, the game still loses some significant steam in the later chapters due to nothing new really happening with the community aside from your kid and some npcs growing up slightly moreso cosmetically.
The remake has a plain, but pleasant look, with brushed up models more in line with story of season's current art style, while a couple of the characters are altered from their gamecube/ps2 counterparts, due to making some bachelors look more appealing and younger.
However, the gamecube versions completely conquers over the remake with its lightning effects and draw distance.
Running around the valley and watching the scenery change, while light and shadows gradually marked the landscape added so much to an otherwise very restricted environment.
Instead pop-ins and poorly rendered shadow effects recides over the remake and leaves the visual spectacle for dust.
Story of Season: A Wonderful life is very niche even for its own genre, but if I were to recommend one to the general player it would be the remake due to the improved pacing, extra content and more busy nature, even though personally I'd rather go wind down to the lush aestetics and slower mundane comfort grind of the original version.
It certainly had its share of flaws in several aspects, some of the story chapters were too long ,
Festivals were scarce and not nearly as interesting as the rest of the series, and the characters, while cute and eerie, didn't do anything new past the first 2 chapters. The farm tools didn't offer much expanded flexibility other than the water can having more capacity and other tools spending less stamina.
Even still, I absolutely adore the original, and it has always been a game I get drawn back to when I need to dial out after a stressful event of any sort. It is very relaxing and therapeutic with its slow monotone nature and longwinded crop cultivation and dairy farming.
In comparison the remake is a faithful adaption with some of the same qualities, while also diversifying itself with its share of new nuances.
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life is slicker and shortens down the chapter spans to only one year, while drip feeding various content throughout the span of the game.
You get new facility expansions and faster tools to compensate the huger scope of what you need to do daily, and the game just gets a lot busier if you max out the capacity of the farm. Festivals are altered and boasts some different dialogues throughout the years, they are still just cutscenes, but the slight differences per year is a nice touch.
There are monthly requests from villagers to cultivate specific crops, or make dishes in return for rewards, some more interesting than others, but regardless it's a nice extra insentive to have more to do in the game which still may last for 100+ hours. There are plenty of costumes, gender change (non-binaries included) at your choosing whichever point in the game as well as a solid choice of both male and female bachelors to date.
The best thing about the remake is the new achievement system and a encyclopedia you can fill out as an extra challenge.
Even despite the fact that the remake makes the game more feasible to complete, the game still loses some significant steam in the later chapters due to nothing new really happening with the community aside from your kid and some npcs growing up slightly moreso cosmetically.
The remake has a plain, but pleasant look, with brushed up models more in line with story of season's current art style, while a couple of the characters are altered from their gamecube/ps2 counterparts, due to making some bachelors look more appealing and younger.
However, the gamecube versions completely conquers over the remake with its lightning effects and draw distance.
Running around the valley and watching the scenery change, while light and shadows gradually marked the landscape added so much to an otherwise very restricted environment.
Instead pop-ins and poorly rendered shadow effects recides over the remake and leaves the visual spectacle for dust.
Story of Season: A Wonderful life is very niche even for its own genre, but if I were to recommend one to the general player it would be the remake due to the improved pacing, extra content and more busy nature, even though personally I'd rather go wind down to the lush aestetics and slower mundane comfort grind of the original version.
A gamecube game remade 20 years later and simply doesnt hold up in a post stardew valley world.
Lacking in things to do and the motivation to do everything that THERE IS to do. progress is slow, characters are dull.
its simply not a game I personally am going to enjoy as an adult.
Lacking in things to do and the motivation to do everything that THERE IS to do. progress is slow, characters are dull.
its simply not a game I personally am going to enjoy as an adult.
i have never completed the original game because as a kid i just cant commit to marry one marriables for the rest of the game. but this time, i got to complete it with my childhood crush, lumina!
this remake is (almost) everything i want. they maintain the lonely and remote vibe of the valley and the farming mechanics are just enhanced enough. the social aspect of the game is kinda lacking tho, i guess they put the extra effort for child-rearing and family-growing aspect which is not much to me.
i was hoping they added more mechanics like rival marriages or new characters, but i think that might jeopardize the remake for not being faithful to the original.
i love the artstyle and the aesthetics. i love the details you can find in your neighbours' house and i love this pov instead of top down pov like in PoOT.
cant wait for the new game in the series and more remake (animal parade and trio of towns plssss) !!
this remake is (almost) everything i want. they maintain the lonely and remote vibe of the valley and the farming mechanics are just enhanced enough. the social aspect of the game is kinda lacking tho, i guess they put the extra effort for child-rearing and family-growing aspect which is not much to me.
i was hoping they added more mechanics like rival marriages or new characters, but i think that might jeopardize the remake for not being faithful to the original.
i love the artstyle and the aesthetics. i love the details you can find in your neighbours' house and i love this pov instead of top down pov like in PoOT.
cant wait for the new game in the series and more remake (animal parade and trio of towns plssss) !!
as i have not finished it yet, i still feel like this game captures the feeling of the original games. theres so many quality of life updates and it brings all the features from wonderful life, another wonderful life, and the special edition into one.
i so badly want to rate this 5 stars, but the nostalgia factor isn't enough to overlook many aspects of the game that could have been improved in the remake but weren't.
awl was my first sos/hm game - i sunk countless hours into it as a kid. this remake is very faithful to the original, including the somewhat clunky controls and mechanics. for those coming into this as a new player, they will likely find these aspects lacking in comparison to newer titles in the series. dialogue, character dev, etc. are not as robust, and the set timeline may be jarring for those who prefer a somewhat endless playstyle. however, it is near impossible to "fail" this game unless you are actively trying. this makes for very relaxing playstyle with just enough motivation to carry out your chores. i wish the mechanics had been buffed, and while i can appreciate the new art style and music, i still like the originals better. however, i believe that these updates were appropriate to reflect the intentions of the remastering.
awl was my first sos/hm game - i sunk countless hours into it as a kid. this remake is very faithful to the original, including the somewhat clunky controls and mechanics. for those coming into this as a new player, they will likely find these aspects lacking in comparison to newer titles in the series. dialogue, character dev, etc. are not as robust, and the set timeline may be jarring for those who prefer a somewhat endless playstyle. however, it is near impossible to "fail" this game unless you are actively trying. this makes for very relaxing playstyle with just enough motivation to carry out your chores. i wish the mechanics had been buffed, and while i can appreciate the new art style and music, i still like the originals better. however, i believe that these updates were appropriate to reflect the intentions of the remastering.
A bit difficult to get into. Had to bother an acquaintance /streamer for help all the time. Will be taking a break from it since I'm atm very into Garden-games.
I love a lot of the updates and changes they made to this version! Some things don't work for me though, like some of the character redesigns are mid. I love playing this game when im cozy in bed. Also u can be gay. HUGE plus
This game plays very very similarly to its GameCube original. By the time I was done with like a week in this game I honestly felt like I beat the game. There really isn't that much to do, at least in my experience
This review contains spoilers
I grew up with the original, so this one I was looking forward to. Ultimately, it ended up being more of a makeover with (much-needed) quality of life changes.
The original was seen as the "definitive version" at the time by the creator. It's what he envisioned the series to look like when not restricted by hardware limitations.
What you get is a quaint little valley on a decently sized farm that you can expand with time and effort put into the task at end.
The original suffered from many flaws and glitches that were rectified. No more useless goat, crops that don't grow from trees are actually a worthy investment, and expansion is a bit more rewarding. One thing I also noticed is that influencing the kid's career path is more streamlined and easier to see the progress that you are making in that regard.
The graphics and remixed songs are gorgeous. The character re-designs are hit and miss. I prefer the older games' more rustic designs. The younger adult males are turned into your every day anime pretty boy, which is disappointing but not unexpected from the newer titles of this franchise.
Some of the flaws remain in this game: Lack of festivals, pacing issues, lack of character development, the lack of valley alterations. These could be forgiven due to the hardware limitations at the time, but I feel like this remake should have used the chance to re-introduce rival marriages (as long as you meet the criterias) with their own little families. This would have allowed for a more immersive world as the chapters go on. Some characters could die (as they logically should have) and be replaced by these families or even new migrants. As it is right now, the valley still stagnates at around chapter 4 and beyond. By then you've befriended everyone and you have no reason to really bother with anyone. A missed opportunity to repair the issues with the immersion and longevity of the game.
Overall, it's a solid game, but you'll likely achieve everything you want by the time the child becomes an adult in chapter 5. At that point, you're mostly just farming and mixing crops. The game abruptly slows down and never picks up again. It is simply too front-heavy like the original, which they missed the chance to fix.
The original was seen as the "definitive version" at the time by the creator. It's what he envisioned the series to look like when not restricted by hardware limitations.
What you get is a quaint little valley on a decently sized farm that you can expand with time and effort put into the task at end.
The original suffered from many flaws and glitches that were rectified. No more useless goat, crops that don't grow from trees are actually a worthy investment, and expansion is a bit more rewarding. One thing I also noticed is that influencing the kid's career path is more streamlined and easier to see the progress that you are making in that regard.
The graphics and remixed songs are gorgeous. The character re-designs are hit and miss. I prefer the older games' more rustic designs. The younger adult males are turned into your every day anime pretty boy, which is disappointing but not unexpected from the newer titles of this franchise.
Some of the flaws remain in this game: Lack of festivals, pacing issues, lack of character development, the lack of valley alterations. These could be forgiven due to the hardware limitations at the time, but I feel like this remake should have used the chance to re-introduce rival marriages (as long as you meet the criterias) with their own little families. This would have allowed for a more immersive world as the chapters go on. Some characters could die (as they logically should have) and be replaced by these families or even new migrants. As it is right now, the valley still stagnates at around chapter 4 and beyond. By then you've befriended everyone and you have no reason to really bother with anyone. A missed opportunity to repair the issues with the immersion and longevity of the game.
Overall, it's a solid game, but you'll likely achieve everything you want by the time the child becomes an adult in chapter 5. At that point, you're mostly just farming and mixing crops. The game abruptly slows down and never picks up again. It is simply too front-heavy like the original, which they missed the chance to fix.
As soon as I finished Chapter 1 and got married, the game dumped a baby on me.
I could play this for hours. Days. Years. I have thouroughly enjoyed the valley and all the hours I spent in it. The only improvement would be if I could marry Daryl.
I was able to rent the original once back when it came out, enjoyed the few days I had with it. fast forward two decades, was excited to properly enjoy it! unfortunately, time (and some of the remade elements) have not been kind
stardew valley, which I haven't played in years, kinda ruins this experience for me. it is so densely brimming with so much of all kinds of content, and is accessible and engaging and very well fine-tuned. this remake, however, is very barren, in all kinds of ways
I can understand that the farming isn't the core element of the game—it's the chapter-based family storytelling, which can and does set it apart from its peers. but if that's true, then why is the storytelling so anemic?
why am I lucky to get two lines of different dialogue for any given character on a given day, let alone at all within a season? why do I barely have any context for this town's community, or these characters' relationships with one another? why must I stand around for 30 in-game minutes waiting for a character to uncross their arms for a brief millisecond window so I can give them a gift to maybe unlock more dialogue from them?????????
not only is it barren and unintuitive, it's also janky a lot and depends on using online guides to understand things. hell, even the game's instructions on things are wrong in some cases!
and as a minor note, I don't love the aesthetic redesign. I find many of the changes to be commercial pretty, which is my way of saying flat and lacking in character. the autumnal "muddiness" of the original game created a kind of warm, rustic aesthetic that I loved at the time, but this game feels very generically poppy and bright. and I understand some of the character redesigns (thumbs up on gordy), but in aggregate they clearly soften the original's more interesting and unique edges in favor of a generic, boring prettiness. it's unfortunate and common
very disappointed :( I still very much believe I could be in the market for a game like this, if it were more rich and bold and fleshed out and interesting. but this one isn't, and I'm gonna have to leave it behind, sadly
stardew valley, which I haven't played in years, kinda ruins this experience for me. it is so densely brimming with so much of all kinds of content, and is accessible and engaging and very well fine-tuned. this remake, however, is very barren, in all kinds of ways
I can understand that the farming isn't the core element of the game—it's the chapter-based family storytelling, which can and does set it apart from its peers. but if that's true, then why is the storytelling so anemic?
why am I lucky to get two lines of different dialogue for any given character on a given day, let alone at all within a season? why do I barely have any context for this town's community, or these characters' relationships with one another? why must I stand around for 30 in-game minutes waiting for a character to uncross their arms for a brief millisecond window so I can give them a gift to maybe unlock more dialogue from them?????????
not only is it barren and unintuitive, it's also janky a lot and depends on using online guides to understand things. hell, even the game's instructions on things are wrong in some cases!
and as a minor note, I don't love the aesthetic redesign. I find many of the changes to be commercial pretty, which is my way of saying flat and lacking in character. the autumnal "muddiness" of the original game created a kind of warm, rustic aesthetic that I loved at the time, but this game feels very generically poppy and bright. and I understand some of the character redesigns (thumbs up on gordy), but in aggregate they clearly soften the original's more interesting and unique edges in favor of a generic, boring prettiness. it's unfortunate and common
very disappointed :( I still very much believe I could be in the market for a game like this, if it were more rich and bold and fleshed out and interesting. but this one isn't, and I'm gonna have to leave it behind, sadly
I married Nami :)
I'm in year 5 and loving it! They added so many quality of life fixes, and contrary to a lot of opinions, I actually like a lot of the character redesigns.
De todos os jogos que a minha bolha consumiu e que sempre tentaram me empurrar - já que até então, eu nunca tinha jogado -, A Wonderful Life sempre foi o mais elogiado. Dito isso, depois de ter jogado e, sabendo que esse é um remake quase 1:1 da versão original de Gamecube e sua Special Edition de PS2 - baseado unicamente em reviews de terceiros -, eu posso dizer facilmente que esse jogo é incrivelmente superestimado e que, em boa parte do jogo, é mediano.
Tecnicamente os jogos 3D de Bokujō Monogatari (nome original da franquia) nunca foram um primor técnico. Graficamente também nunca foram os gráficos mais bonitos já feitos, e pra compensar isso a franquia sempre investiu em mecânicas de jogo e uma direção de arte, muitas vezes, lindíssima. E tudo isso é válido pra maior parte desse jogo. Os gráficos não são simples, porém a estilização é simplesmente ótima, o que acaba não te tirando do jogo ou prejudicando a parte gráfica. É extremamente comum ocorrerem Pop-In de elementos gráficos do ambiente (tal qual os jogos de Pokémon no Nintendo Switch), mas, particularmente, eu me acostumei, o que não se tornou um grande problema. Por outro lado se a XSeed conseguiu compensar os gráficos, a jogabilidade está longe de ser a melhor da franquia. Por mais que, jogos do gênero tendem a ser repetitivos, A Wonderful Life ultrapassa o bom senso com folga. Durante os 6 anos (in game) em que eu joguei, foi comum eu simplesmente cuidar da fazenda e então pular o dia por simplesmente não ter mais nada o que fazer, principalmente após o terceiro ano. Se você não busca fazer o 100% e só está jogando pra relaxar ou pra jogar os 6 capítulos da história principal (como eu), não tem muito o que fazer após comprar todos os upgrades e se casar. Em teoria esses 3 anos com o personagem mais velho seriam para fazer amizade máxima com o resto dos moradores de Forgotten Valley e plantar todas as plantações híbridas da enciclopédia interna, particularmente, isso foi nem um pouco atrativo, o que tornou mais fácil só pular o dia com os minigames, indo pra cidade grande ou simplesmente dormindo até dar o horário de cuidar dos animais de novo. De longe, esse é o jogo menos divertido em gameplay de Story of Seasons/Harvest Moon. Outro ponto relativamente negativo vem da trilha sonora, não por ser ruim, mas por ser repetitiva. A música do mundo é selecionável pelo jogador desde o começo, o que quebra (um pouco) esse argumento, porém, as músicas das cutscenes, por serem apenas 3 ou 4, e quase que comum durante uma única cena ter 20 segundos que sejam de cada uma dessas 4, ao ponto que depois de ver os mesmos eventos várias vezes, foi comum achar essas músicas, mesmo que boas, insuportáveis.
Quando eu zerei os 6 anos da main story, eu entendi que o foco desse jogo nunca foi sobre ter a melhor gameplay da saga, mas sim, a melhor história. Tanto a história vivida pelo personagem principal, quanto a dos demais personagens do vale são simplesmente ótimas. Acontecimentos muitas vezes que simples se tornam emocionantes. Muito por que quase todos os personagens do jogo são bem desenvolvidos, mesmo que com poucas falas/cenas. Não só isso, mas todos eles conseguem tocar em assuntos pertinentes e de forma um tanto quanto delicadas. Foi comum em momentos considerados bestas eu me ver chorando (seja por tristeza ou alegria) por que a cena foi simplesmente ótima.
Particularmente eu me considero um grande fã de jogos de Fazenda no geral. A franquia Harvest Moon moldou muito o meu gosto por jogos e consequentemente, quando a chave virou para Story of Seasons e também começaram a surgir jogos inspirados nesta (como Stardew Valley e The Graveyard Keeper), meu interesse conseguiu crescer exponencialmente. E por mais que A Wonderful Life seja - talvez - o jogo da franquia mais elogiado, tanto pelos jogadores de longa data, quanto pelo próprio criador da série, pra mim ele é só Ok. Sim, eu amei as histórias. Personagens como a Nami, a Nina, o Garren/Gary, a Ruby/Lou e o Tim/Tei conseguiram me conquistar desde o começo até a ultima cena do jogo. A filha(o) do(a) protagonista é simplesmente apaixonante, desde a primeira fala dela(e), ao ponto que em vários momentos eu me senti na pele de um pai de verdade. Mas meio que fica por isso mesmo, já que, o maior calcanhar de Aquíles desse jogo está na sua gameplay, que é facilmente superada por jogos fracos da própria franquia (como The Tale of Two Towns, que está longe de ser um dos favoritos da fanbase e mesmo assim tem uma gameplay divertidíssima até hoje). No final o sentimento que tenho referente a Wonderful Life Remake é: Uma excelente história, com personagens incríveis, presos em um jogo medíocre que dura o dobro de tempo do que deveria...
Tecnicamente os jogos 3D de Bokujō Monogatari (nome original da franquia) nunca foram um primor técnico. Graficamente também nunca foram os gráficos mais bonitos já feitos, e pra compensar isso a franquia sempre investiu em mecânicas de jogo e uma direção de arte, muitas vezes, lindíssima. E tudo isso é válido pra maior parte desse jogo. Os gráficos não são simples, porém a estilização é simplesmente ótima, o que acaba não te tirando do jogo ou prejudicando a parte gráfica. É extremamente comum ocorrerem Pop-In de elementos gráficos do ambiente (tal qual os jogos de Pokémon no Nintendo Switch), mas, particularmente, eu me acostumei, o que não se tornou um grande problema. Por outro lado se a XSeed conseguiu compensar os gráficos, a jogabilidade está longe de ser a melhor da franquia. Por mais que, jogos do gênero tendem a ser repetitivos, A Wonderful Life ultrapassa o bom senso com folga. Durante os 6 anos (in game) em que eu joguei, foi comum eu simplesmente cuidar da fazenda e então pular o dia por simplesmente não ter mais nada o que fazer, principalmente após o terceiro ano. Se você não busca fazer o 100% e só está jogando pra relaxar ou pra jogar os 6 capítulos da história principal (como eu), não tem muito o que fazer após comprar todos os upgrades e se casar. Em teoria esses 3 anos com o personagem mais velho seriam para fazer amizade máxima com o resto dos moradores de Forgotten Valley e plantar todas as plantações híbridas da enciclopédia interna, particularmente, isso foi nem um pouco atrativo, o que tornou mais fácil só pular o dia com os minigames, indo pra cidade grande ou simplesmente dormindo até dar o horário de cuidar dos animais de novo. De longe, esse é o jogo menos divertido em gameplay de Story of Seasons/Harvest Moon. Outro ponto relativamente negativo vem da trilha sonora, não por ser ruim, mas por ser repetitiva. A música do mundo é selecionável pelo jogador desde o começo, o que quebra (um pouco) esse argumento, porém, as músicas das cutscenes, por serem apenas 3 ou 4, e quase que comum durante uma única cena ter 20 segundos que sejam de cada uma dessas 4, ao ponto que depois de ver os mesmos eventos várias vezes, foi comum achar essas músicas, mesmo que boas, insuportáveis.
Quando eu zerei os 6 anos da main story, eu entendi que o foco desse jogo nunca foi sobre ter a melhor gameplay da saga, mas sim, a melhor história. Tanto a história vivida pelo personagem principal, quanto a dos demais personagens do vale são simplesmente ótimas. Acontecimentos muitas vezes que simples se tornam emocionantes. Muito por que quase todos os personagens do jogo são bem desenvolvidos, mesmo que com poucas falas/cenas. Não só isso, mas todos eles conseguem tocar em assuntos pertinentes e de forma um tanto quanto delicadas. Foi comum em momentos considerados bestas eu me ver chorando (seja por tristeza ou alegria) por que a cena foi simplesmente ótima.
Particularmente eu me considero um grande fã de jogos de Fazenda no geral. A franquia Harvest Moon moldou muito o meu gosto por jogos e consequentemente, quando a chave virou para Story of Seasons e também começaram a surgir jogos inspirados nesta (como Stardew Valley e The Graveyard Keeper), meu interesse conseguiu crescer exponencialmente. E por mais que A Wonderful Life seja - talvez - o jogo da franquia mais elogiado, tanto pelos jogadores de longa data, quanto pelo próprio criador da série, pra mim ele é só Ok. Sim, eu amei as histórias. Personagens como a Nami, a Nina, o Garren/Gary, a Ruby/Lou e o Tim/Tei conseguiram me conquistar desde o começo até a ultima cena do jogo. A filha(o) do(a) protagonista é simplesmente apaixonante, desde a primeira fala dela(e), ao ponto que em vários momentos eu me senti na pele de um pai de verdade. Mas meio que fica por isso mesmo, já que, o maior calcanhar de Aquíles desse jogo está na sua gameplay, que é facilmente superada por jogos fracos da própria franquia (como The Tale of Two Towns, que está longe de ser um dos favoritos da fanbase e mesmo assim tem uma gameplay divertidíssima até hoje). No final o sentimento que tenho referente a Wonderful Life Remake é: Uma excelente história, com personagens incríveis, presos em um jogo medíocre que dura o dobro de tempo do que deveria...
All the quality of life changes were great, but playing this 20 years after the original release made me feel extremely melancholic. Time waits for no one, Molly.