Stardew Valley fans should look out for the up-and-coming new life action RPG from Square Enix dubbed Harvestella. For those unfamiliar, Square Enix is a conglomerate powerhouse in the gaming industry, responsible for major franchises such as Final Fantasy, Life is Strange, and Kingdom Hearts. Harvestella is the popular developer's big venture into the farming sim world.
The new game is projected to be similar to Stardew Valley, Story of Seasons, and Harvest Moon. The official description from the game developer reads "lead a life of self-sufficiency with your vibrant house as a base and cooperate with allies to overcome various threats." Excitingly, Harvestella players will be able to log in by November, according to the announcement trailer, so Stardew fans should mark the game in their 2022 calendars.
Harvestella is Stardew Valley in Final Fantasy's World
Harvestella appears to be retaining everything that made players love the critically acclaimed Stardew Valley. Users will find themselves in a vibrant fantasy world, reminiscent of Final Fantasy, with a top-down perspective that does away with the pixel art style. Stardew Valley players specifically will be delighted to hear that they will still be able to tend to crops, build relationships with villagers, and explore vast dungeons.
The designs of the game are strikingly beautiful, and each town has something unique to flaunt. For example, seaside town Shatolla is known for its tavern, while Nemea boasts cherry blossoms that never go out of season. Simply visiting these towns, taming pets, or just fishing for a few hours, may sound appealing to gamers who like to relax in a simulation game.
Harvestella's Plot Is Mysterious
However, everything is not as simple as it seems in the open world of Square Enix's Harvestella. Instead of the normal four seasons in a year, this game features five. The villagers and townsfolk across the world call this dreaded fifth season "Quietus", which withers crops and threatens all life, according to the trailer.
Players will have the opportunity to take a stand against the mysterious new season and battle enemies, while also maintaining their farms. After the announcement, many are calling it a hybrid between Final Fantasyand Marvelous Entertainment's Rune Factory.
Harvestella's "Quietus" season is cloaked in mystery, especially since people began noticing that year after year, it lasts for even longer. In this story, the seasons are kept in harmony by four enormous crystals called "Seaslight" that create stable transitions between spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
New Elements Make Harvestella Fresh
What the players are able to grow on their farms will certainly aid them in their journeys to put an end to the impending evil. For example, wood and wool materials can be fashioned into equipment that may boost a person's stats and health. Cooking will also be essential in preparation for a player's ascent into the overworld.
How exactly the combat in the game comes into play is not as clear, but which class a user selects when engaging in battle appears to be vital. From jobs such as Fighter, Mage, and Shadow Walker, these different variations will unlock several different fighting styles, though their level of complexity remains to be seen.
Over the years, there have been many games that hoped to capture the heart of games such as Stardew Valley and Story of Seasons. Perhaps it's the unique combination of an action-packed role-playing game and a laid-back farming sim that will shake up the market and invite an entirely new player base to the community.
Harvestella will be available on November 4, 2022, for PC and Switch.
