Harvestella

Genre: Action-RPG / Management Simulation

Players: 1

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Review:

Harvestella, released in 2022 on PC and Nintendo Switch, is an Action-RPG with Management Simulation elements. Specifically, as the name implies, this game dips its toe into the “Farming RPG” genre made popular by games like Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley. However, when I say it “dips its toe in” to the Farming RPG genre, I really mean it – despite a title that literally puts “harvest” front and center, this is a game that is primarily focused on its Action-RPG elements.

This may seem jarring to players expecting something akin to Stardew Valley, or even the Rune Factory series, the latter being a franchise that’s known for adeptly balancing its Farming-RPG and Action-RPG elements in just the right mix so they compliment one another. Not so here – this is an Action-RPG that happens to have Farming RPG elements jammed into it, sometimes to the game’s detriment.

The real problem is this game’s first few hours, its opening chapter. In this introductory part of the game, players are subjected to a ton of boring exposition, and they’re shackled by the game’s running clock – as with most Farming RPGs, Harvestella constantly has a clock ticking down as you’re running around doing things, but Harvestella’s clock seems to be running on steroids, going super-fast. The opening of the game makes this even worse by having each morning taken up by a time-consuming cutscene or tutorial that generally leaves players with only a half a day… not really much time to get anything done. In fact, the game makes it a point to remind you that you’re essentially out past curfew when the clock hits 6PM, and insists that you be home and in bed by midnight each night like you’re an ill-behaved teenager.

Shortly after this is when the game opens up and starts to actually get good – you meet some of the game’s more interesting characters, gain access to fast-travel points that can cut down on time-consuming walking, and you no longer have each day ruined by a tutorial or cutscene that takes up your morning. In addition, while the combat never gets especially deep, players are introduced to a job class system that at least gives them some good options for their character development. Players will still have to watch the clock like a hawk, but the gameplay opening things up at this point does start to make things more enjoyable.

However, if there’s one part of Harvestella that absolutely succeeds right from the start, it’s the presentation. This game is absolutely gorgeous, featuring detailed anime-style 3D characters in stunning, beautifully detailed and imaginative environments. The big landmark here is the massive glowing red crystal jutting up in the distance from the game’s start, but the game’s other environments are stunning too, mixing gorgeous natural environments with otherworldly elements like trees that glow at night and strange red tendrils that cross over rivers to form a natural bridge of sorts. I think it’s fair to say that Harvestella is one of the best-looking Nintendo Switch games on 2022.

On top of these stunning visuals, this game has an absolutely beautiful soundtrack as well, with wonderful instrumental themes like Main Theme and Higan Canyon. The soundtrack is so beautiful, it makes it seem like an even greater shame that the game’s characters are largely mute save for brief quips in battle.

In the end, I’ve gotta’ be honest, Harvestella is not the game I wanted it to be. Truth be told, I expect it’s not the game most players will want it to be, what with it having the name “Harvestella”. However, it is still an excellent Action-RPG with a stunningly gorgeous presentation. If you’re a fan of the genre and don’t mind being tied down by a constantly-ticking clock, (not to mention a terrible opening few hours), this game is well worth checking out.

tl;dr – Harvestella is an Action-RPG with Management Simulation elements in the vein of “Farming Sim” games like Stardew Valley… however, those farming elements are not nearly as pronounced as you might expect given the game’s title. Add to this a pretty tedious opening chapter, and many players may be disappointed by Harvestella… but if you stick with it, it does become better, and the phenomenal presentation is plenty enough reason to stick around until it does.

Grade: B

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This game has been nominated for one or more of eShopperReviews 2022 Game Awards:

Runner-Up: Best Action-RPG, Best Graphics

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