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Harvest Island on PC
Harvest Island pitched itself as a horror farming life-sim, which instantly grabbed my consideration. One other island farmer with some significantly spooky potential this October? Signal me up, am I proper? Properly, sadly, whereas I had excessive hopes for this recreation, I’ve struggled to search out real enjoyment in my expertise. Don’t get me mistaken, the idea is nice! I’m positive there will likely be individuals on the market who get pleasure from this recreation. Nevertheless, the execution feels a bit… missing, for me personally, particularly compared to current rivals, which I’ll clarify additional under.
Harvest Island takes a story method, putting you within the position of Will, a farming boy who lives along with his father and youthful sister, Samantha. Proper from the get-go I used to be excited to see these interactions of dialogue, as highly effective sibling bonds are a few of my favourite dynamics in video video games — assume Sean and Daniel from Life is Strange 2, Yara and Lev from The Last of Us Part II, and most not too long ago, Carmine and Kieran from Pokemon Scarlet & Violet’s Teal Mask DLC. Nevertheless, I quickly discovered myself barely irritated by the primary interplay between Will and Samantha. To be truthful, this was not by means of their dialogue, however as an alternative by means of repetitive sound results.
You see, Samantha is happy to hitch her large brother on his journey to the Island, and gained’t cease leaping round as she speaks to him. However, every time she jumps round in place, a relatively loud sound impact performs. On repeat. For all the period of the scene. I suppose this implies she was definitely nailing the position of the ‘annoying little sister’ if not anything.
![Samantha jumping in Moonstone Island](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/samantha-jumping-in-moonstone-island.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
By the tip of this primary scene, my ears felt as in the event that they had been bleeding from the noise of nails on a chalkboard, and I discovered myself skipping by means of the final sections of dialogue in a rush to simply get it over with. This will sound a bit harsh, however this isn’t precisely an effective way to kick off the narrative title that Harvest Island desires to be. That rattling bounce sound goes to maintain me awake at 3 am like a sleep paralysis demon for nights to return.
Sadly, as my development by means of Harvest Island continued, these sound results didn’t get higher, and I quickly discovered myself rising relatively sick of them. Half the time, it felt like any person was simply memeing round with Discord soundboard, and this grew to become such an irritation to me that I needed to dramatically decrease sound results within the menu, earlier than turning them off utterly. Actually, the expertise with out them felt significantly better after I didn’t have the aggressive noise of a rooster clucking or a loud cow’s moo each time I pet or work together with a farm animal.
The soundtrack of background music for Harvest Island is definitely fairly pleasing, which is why I discovered the sound results to be such a disgrace; they had been nearly intruding on the calming tone that the music is attempting to set.
On a extra constructive be aware, the graphics do have a pleasant attraction to them that’s greater than price mentioning. Whereas the pixel artwork is nothing too fashionable wanting, or extraordinarily detailed or vibrant, this title takes on a barely completely different method. As an alternative, Harvest Island makes use of extra boring tones with the vast majority of the setting remaining static, bringing a well-recognized nostalgia to previous RPG video games from throughout the GBA-NDS period.
This continues within the artwork for the character portraits, showcasing Will and Samantha in varied poses and expressions. These portraits are very properly stylized, and admirable, nearly reminding me of elder Fireplace Emblem character portraits. I believe the character designs, although maybe a bit simplistic, are completely appropriate to the world by which Harvest Island has created, as they did appear to feel and look proper at residence of their setting.
Diving deeper into the characters, I actually wished to love Will and Samantha. Actually, I so badly tried to love them. Whereas I did discover momentary moments of pleasure of their presence, corresponding to Will’s sleepyhead nature (relatable), or the scene the place they each yell “HELLO GOATS!” to assist Samantha recover from her worry, for probably the most half, I discovered all the household dynamic relatively dysfunctional and unbearable.
![Will and Samantha yelling at goats in Harvest Island](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/will-and-samantha-yelling-at-goats.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
Proper from the second the story kicks off, Will appears to be beneath excessive stress from his father, tasked with the immense strain of delivering the Harvest Choices and finishing chores with out screwing issues up. He’s continuously lashing out at his little sister in imply, hurtful feedback on account of this strain, as a result of he’s scared of disappointing and angering his father. In return, this causes Samantha to retaliate with the identical remarks in the direction of her large brother, making a relatively poisonous and unenjoyable setting.
I misplaced depend of the variety of occasions they advised one another that they hated each other inside my first two hours of gameplay, and whereas I perceive that sibling relationships can undoubtedly be turbulent now and again, I did discover this to spoil the ambiance the farm affords. I got here right here to work onerous and discover a spooky island with a dynamic sibling duo, not feeling like I needed there was a option to bounce into the world to play babysitter or peacemaker between the 2.
![Will telling Samantha he hates her in Harvest Island](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/will-telling-samantha-he-hates-her.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
In addition to, their father is a complete hardass. I imply significantly, he simply stays inside all day, heat and comfy, whereas he throws all of his grownup duties onto his kids. After which he has the nerve to get mad at them after they inevitably mess issues up now and again? I imply, come on, Grayson; they’re children! Will is fortunate on the uncommon events he makes an effort to show him new expertise, and even then, it’s just about simply so he can tackle extra of Grayson’s work, the accountability of enjoying a caretaker for his sister being drilled into him.
Harvest Island has tried to determine itself as a spooky tackle Stardew Valley, nonetheless, I simply can’t appear to search out the identical degree of high quality within the title that’s current in Stardew. The sport feels considerably unpolished or unfinished as if it wanted a bit of additional time and care put in the direction of fine-tuning mechanics, including in further options to tie issues collectively, and usually wrapping issues up properly. Sadly, I don’t discover Harvest Island to satisfy the identical degree of requirements that Stardew and even different current life-sim or pixel RPG video games have delivered, corresponding to Moonstone Island or Sea of Stars.
In Harvest Island, the farming duties grew repetitive and boring relatively shortly, and that was with me enjoying on Story Mode, which reduces the farming grind in favor of narrative. In contrast to Stardew Valley and Moonstone Island, Harvest Island lacks a township or group of NPCS in which you’ll be able to work together and construct relationships.
As an alternative, you’re caught on the household farm, wrapped up within the iffy relationships between your annoying little sister and intimidating father. Whilst you do get to make use of Bless to improve your farm and craft new instruments, it simply doesn’t fairly carry the identical attraction as rival titles.
One other factor that I discovered fairly vital frustration in, was the truth that the sport will typically immediate new Quests, however give no sense of course in the place you’re supposed to go to finish mentioned Quest. For instance, one of many duties listed was ‘take Samantha to the Island’ — but gave no indication of the place the Island was situated. This left me wandering across the farm for manner too lengthy, getting irritated that each pathway appeared to be locked.
Fifteen minutes later, and I’d lastly discovered my manner, by pure luck. Possibly I missed an apparent signal on this situation, I don’t know, however I did discover it irritating that the Quests in your Journal had been relatively obscure. That is wonderful for fetch quests and crop planting, as they’re pretty self-explanatory. However for predominant quests that push the story ahead? It begins to get a bit draining.
![The Island in Harvest Island](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/the-island-in-harvest-island.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
Harvest Island has additionally marketed itself in the direction of horror, which I believe must be mentioned. Pixel video games have confirmed on a number of events that they greater than have the aptitude of delivering nice horror titles which are genuinely scary and horrifying to play. Nevertheless, Harvest Island doesn’t ship this similar expertise, which is a letdown.
The sport positively has refined influences by means of a barely spooky island, with odd flashes of blood or animal elements right here and there, a demon, and some minor jumpscares. Nevertheless, it’s in no way a ‘horror’ recreation. Harvest Island shouldn’t be scary in the identical manner as different titles might be, and as an alternative, it might doubtless be higher off seen as a darkish thriller RPG mashup. I’ve caught glimpses of some completely different titles which were a a lot larger success relating to a conflict of the horror and life-sim style, with Pumpkin Panic and Graveyard Keeper instantly coming to thoughts.
![The dark mystery unravels in Harvest Island](https://twinfinite.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/harvest-island-mystery.jpg?resize=640%2C360)
Compared to these titles, Harvest Island simply falls flat, so the concept of evaluating it to Stardew Valley feels nearly a bit misleading. There’s no seasons mechanic, a scarcity of pleasant faces to converse with, and crafting appears to really feel fairly bare-bones. I can’t assist however really feel like Harvest Island was utterly mismarketed with the references to Stardew Valley, which created false expectations for my playthrough.
The sport additionally seems to nonetheless be fairly buggy, which created an enormous unfavorable affect on my participant expertise. I discovered now and again the digicam would have a slight flicker because it struggled to pan following Will and Samantha, and on a couple of event my recreation froze up utterly, leaving me with no possibility aside from power closing it. Harvest Island additionally doesn’t have an autosave function, so each time this occurred, I misplaced a small chunk of progress. All these bugs make issues really feel extraordinarily irritating, and to be fairly trustworthy, boring my intentions of wanting to choose it again up.
Harvest Island was a superb idea that had huge potential. Sadly, the sport is held again by its degree of polish in sure areas, and being inaccurately marketed. In most eventualities, I’d in truth discover it very onerous to suggest this recreation to followers of life-sims or horror video games.
Nevertheless, I believe if I’d recognized to method this recreation with the mindset that I might be going right into a darkish thriller narrative RPG with a slight nostalgic and retro feeling, I might have discovered far more enjoyment within the title. The gameplay, dialogue, and story in the beginning of the sport are notably painful, however as soon as issues decide up and the thriller begins unfolding, there may be fairly a little bit of intrigue to be discovered, so the title should still be a worthy contender for followers of this style.
Typically the course by which the story leads is a bit predictable, however for probably the most half, there’s a enjoyable sense of exploration, and regardless of not being notably ‘horror’ worthy, issues nonetheless get fairly twisted. Sadly, the sport takes too lengthy to interrupt into its strongest a part of the story, which all unravels close to the tip of the sport. It is a disgrace as a result of whereas I used to be not thrilled by my Harvest Island expertise, there was a enjoyable sense of refined terror within the final moments; you simply have to tug your self by means of the worst elements of the sport to get there.
Execs
The gameplay has a nostalgic attraction
Character artwork could be very properly stylized and wonderful to have a look at
The story, although sluggish and/or predictable at occasions, is generally simple to observe
Two completely different modes to select from, a ‘Regular Mode’ and a ‘Story Mode’ that’s a lot lighter on farming, prioritizing the narrative
Cons
Poorly marketed compared of the way it has been pitched to gamers, and what it really is.
Loud SFX typically drown out the background music, creating disturbance
Characters do a poor job of portraying a real, feel-good relationship, which creates a foul first impression
Quests will typically be introduced to you with no course on the place to go or how you can full them
An abundance of fetch quest fashion duties, which might pile up and get exhausting to finish
Whereas marketed as having robust horror elements, little or no real moments of horror are to be discovered
Recreation continues to be fairly buggy, which impacts the participant expertise
Launch Date
October 10, 2023
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