The farming sim and JRPG genres combine in Square Enix’s Harvestella. On paper, the blending of the two seems like a fantastic idea—but it always had the potential to deliver a half-baked experience on both fronts, as there are numerous mechanics to balance between the two. Unfortunately, whileHarvestelladoes shine in certain areas, its strengths just aren’t bright enough to outshine the handful of shortcomings.
Customization
Customization isn’t exactly a necessary feature, but compared to similar titles in the genre—such as Stardew Valley, Coral Island, and Dinkum—Harvestella’s come out lacking. Including non-binary as a choice is a breath of fresh air, but it is a short breath as the customization options seemingly stop there. There is no option to change facial features or hairstyle, just the color of your skin and hair. While having interchangeable outfits would fill in some of the gaps in customization, outfits are only tied to the job you equip.
World
Harvestella’s world is simply beautiful. I often found myself getting lost and immersed while exploring the world’s many biomes and environments. While the story is nothing to get excited about, it does provide ample excuse to travel the world and meet its residents across the sprawling towns. Each town has its own theme and is affected by the four Seaslights, which are giant crystals that govern the seasons.
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Farming
Farming is one of Harvestella’s main pillars, but it doesn’t go further than the surface mechanics. This makes what could have been an exciting activity feel like little more than busy work meant to extend the gameplay loop and support the JRPG elements. The familiar 30-day cycle and constantly ticking clock are present, but Harvestella doesn’t hold your hand past that. Much is left for the player to figure out through trial and error, leaving me with the opinion that some quality-of-life changes, such as seeing selling prices and upgrade paths being less obtuse, would be welcome.
Combat
Harvestella’s JRPG heritage is largely reflected in its combat—real-time hack-and-slash. You learn various jobs throughout the story, each with unique skills. you’re able to equip up to three at once, and you can even switch between these on the fly. While most boil down to button mashing and simply striking the enemy, the variety in classes, along with the elemental system, make the combat generally fun and engaging.
Verdict – A decent JRPG with light farming elements
Harvestella is by no means a bad game, in fact, it is quite enjoyable, but the $60 price tag is high considering the so-so blend of farming and combat. Its highest points are the world you can explore, but even this is held back by a lackluster story and NPCs that deserve to be properly fleshed out. Ultimately, Harvestella is a grand idea, and perhaps given more time, a bigger budget, or a better execution, it could have really shaken up the farming and JRPG genres. But instead, it lands with a satisfying, if shallow, experience.
For more information on Harvestella, check outBest Harvestella Combat TipsandBest crops to grow in each season in Harvestellaon Pro Game Guides.
