Friends of Mineral Town is a classic entry in the Harvest Moon franchise. Story of Seasons revitalizes this entry and makes it shiny and new once more. With four main characters to choose from, two new love interests, and even same-sex relationships, Story of Seasons Friends of Mineral Town is a fantastic version to play. It’s a lovely time of year to be playing this kind of game, and I appreciated it during this uncertain time. Story of Seasons Friends of Mineral Town stars a young farmer returning to their late grandfather’s farm. It has seen better days, but it’s not hard to bring it back to its former glory. The player has a plot of land to work with and can begin rather quickly, sowing the earth and reaping the rewards. Players who have played the series before, are sure to enjoy farming in this game.
Players will need to buy seeds at first to farm but eventually will use machines to turn crops into seeds. Players then must clear the land, and use their hoe to till it before planting and watering. The growth rate for the seed will depend entirely on the plant it will produce. Plants only grow in certain seasons, so players need to be wary of planting too close to the following season. The four seasons each last thirty days, which at first might not seem like a long time, but time does stop when players enter buildings. The days can fly by, but it makes every second count. Players will want to be sure of what they are doing for each day, so they don’t waste precious time.
As players work, they will want to keep an eye on their stamina meter. This meter will drop as they use tools. Players can restore it with food or a good soak in the hot spring, but sleep is the best medicine. As players complete activities, they might even find power berries, which will increase their stamina. People talk of an item that might restore stamina at will, but no one has found it yet. Along with farming comes raising animals. Players can raise; cows, chickens, sheep, and horses. Look after the animals, and make them feel amazing, or they might die on the player. It is a good idea to keep them fed, and happy or someone might take them away from the player.
Players will also want to befriend the locals. The characters in Mineral Town have appeared in multiple entries of the series, and are quite classic. I love seeing all of the faces I know from past entries looking better than ever. They always end up being similar, but the art styles change between entries in the series. The characters are lovely, and players can enjoy multiple playthroughs marrying each of the eligible bachelors and bachelorettes. Players will want to talk to as many people as they can to increase their friendship levels. Players can also give them gifts; there is a menu that shows off who got a present in case players forgot. This menu is helpful as it shows off the relationship levels between the character and the player.
There are six different bachelors and bachelorettes to choose from, though there are also a few secret candidates. Players will know how far they are in courting, by looking at the heart next to the character. As it changes from black to red, they will see events between the two characters. While rivals don’t directly vie against the player, it is nice to see rival events too. Players will also be able to woo any of the eligible partners in this game. Past entries usually don’t allow this to happen but, this is a modern remake. It’s nice for people to be who they’d like to be in a game, so this feature was heavily requested. If things go well, players can expect marriage, a baby, and a life of happiness with their significant other!
While farming might be the main idea behind the series, players don’t have to farm. Players can find other ways to pass their time in mineral town. There is plenty of foraging to do, as well as fishing and mining. Mining can lead to mass amounts of riches and upgrades for tools. Fishing can also lead to mass amounts of money, so it might be worth taking up. Cooking is also a nice feature to take on. Players can cook for their favorite characters using items they’ve found, grown, or bought. Giving cooked meals is worth doing, and the cooked dishes are better than separate goods. Learn recipes and surprise everyone at the cooking contest and take home the gold.
This game is full of events for the player to take part in and experience. Players can enjoy the cooking contest, as well as a horse derby, and even White Day. There are quite a few holidays and events to enjoy, and players can do better in them as the game progresses. Check them out and enjoy the festivities as they only happen once a year! This game also has lovely music, though, on rainy days, things are eerily silent. I enjoy walking around town to the music and rainy days can be just a little unsettling. This game is slow-paced, and the music fits it perfectly. Makes the player settle in and exist as a young farmer, trying their best to make their life grand.
Story of Seasons Friends of Mineral Town includes two new characters who add to the liveliness of the game. Jennifer is a young hippy who wants to live in nature, while Brandon is a quiet guy, trying to live a peaceful life. These two characters are lovely additions to the cast of characters, and I do like their designs. Players can also dress up their characters in this game. There are several color variations of each clothing item to wear to change things up. Players can also dress up as different animals, depending on where they are in the world. While it doesn’t add much, a little customization goes a long way, and I enjoy it.
Story of Seasons Friends of Mineral Town is a fantastic farming simulator. Even if players haven’t played its predecessor, they are sure to enjoy the simple life. The characters are lovely, the world is just large enough, and the game is slow and pleasant. In this crazy time like this, a Story of Seasons game feels like a warm blanket. Will the player head down to grandfather’s farm to begin their own Story of Seasons in Mineral Town?
Disclaimer: A review key was provided