Unveiling the Enchanting World of Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life

Marvelous Inc. is providing a fresh opportunity for a new generation to experience the tranquil world of Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life. This remake of the beloved GameCube farming simulation game is part of the long-standing Harvest Moon (Story of Seasons) franchise, which can be overwhelming for newcomers due to its nearly 30-year history and extensive lineup of 29 mainline and 14 spinoff games. Adding to the confusion is the series' rebranding in 2014, where the name Harvest Moon was retained by former publisher Natsume, leading new publisher Xseed to create a new title.

Complicating matters further, several entries in the series have been re-released multiple times, and A Wonderful Life is no exception. This latest installment is actually a remake of the 2003 GameCube game Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life, which later received a special edition for the PS2 with a slightly different name. Shortly thereafter, the game returned to the GameCube as Harvest Moon: Another Wonderful Life, this time featuring a female protagonist.

A Wonderful Life has garnered a significant amount of praise within the series, which is why it has now been adapted for current-gen consoles and the Switch. Despite its positive critical reception, the earlier versions of the game had a few frustrating elements that had a negative impact on gameplay. However, Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life successfully addresses these issues by introducing improvements that enhance the overall quality of the game, although some adjustments may be debatable.

In Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life, the protagonist finds themselves in Forgotten Valley after the recent passing of their father. Takakura, a slightly reserved but helpful family friend, assists in setting them up with a cozy shack, plots of land, an empty barn, and a notebook filled with helpful tips.

The game doesn't provide much guidance, leaving players to rely on reading concise yet less exciting text tutorials if they want to do more than simply plant seeds and hope for the best. There is a wealth of information to absorb, covering everything from marriage to cow breeding to crop fertilization, causing an unavoidable pause at the start of the game. Surprisingly, even with the provided guide, essential pointers are still lacking, leading many players to seek online guides created for previous versions of the simulation game.

It would be challenging to write a review without comparing A Wonderful Life with its previous versions. One notable change is that animals no longer experience illness or death. While this may initially seem like a positive aspect, it renders certain game mechanics unnecessary. For example, the health bar and special fodder designed to keep barn animals "healthy and happy" serve no purpose anymore. The removal of the need to plan ahead for potential animal sickness or the fear of losing livestock unfortunately diminishes the depth of gameplay.

Cows are now able to continuously produce milk without the need for breeding. This change eliminates the need to keep track of a cow's breeding status and allows for year-round milk production, even with a barn full of female cows. As a result, the gameplay experience in A Wonderful Life becomes more laid-back and superficial, with a routine established and the mechanics becoming repetitive after the first year. While still a decent and stress-free way to pass the time, the game does not stand out from other farming simulations and lacks any distinguishing features.

Even though the festivals in the game are somewhat lackluster and minimalist, they fail to create a sense of investment in the player towards the community. While the characters in Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life have unique personalities that can be somewhat endearing, once the player has befriended them all and reached the maximum level of friendship within the first few years, there is very little motivation to continue interacting with them. Moreover, it seems that maxing the affection of most villagers does not bring any benefits to the player and ends up being a waste of time and resources. However, it is possible that there may be some payoff in the later years of the game that is not yet apparent.

In contrast to the previous games, where romance and marriage were restricted to NPCs of the opposite gender, Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life allows players to pursue relationships and start a family with any of the eight candidates, regardless of their gender. The game emphasizes the importance of getting married, building a family, and experiencing the natural progression of life. If a player fails to propose to someone by the end of the first Winter, Takakura will intervene and push the issue.

However, if the player has not formed a strong enough romantic connection with anyone by then to receive a proposal, it results in a game over. This addition adds a nice touch to the game, making the first year a thrilling yet enjoyable cycle of rushing around each morning to engage in conversations with everyone, showering them with gifts to increase their affection, and swiftly moving on to the next potential partner.

Taking care of the townsfolk is not the only task at hand in Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life. Players also have to tend to cows, chickens, horses, sheep, and maybe even a goat, along with managing crops. Thankfully, the game introduces some much-needed quality-of-life improvements. Instead of tediously picking and storing each crop or flower individually, players can now spam the A button to automatically gather identical items. This time-saving feature applies to tasks like watering, harvesting, and fertilizing.

Managing animals has also become more efficient in SoS: A Wonderful Life. By interacting with the bell at the barn or chicken coop, players can now call all the respective animals at once, making it easier to bring them in or send them out in one go. While there may still be some other inconveniences that could have been addressed, this single change has made a significant difference in gameplay.

Some of the frustrating aspects of dealing with the animals may seem trivial, but they occur repeatedly throughout each in-game day. One example is the difficulty in determining when a cow is ready to be milked. While there is an indicator next to her name, checking it requires navigating through multiple screens by pressing up to five buttons. Although players can attempt to milk the cow by approaching her directly, they often face rejection in the form of a grumpy moo and a small thundercloud above her head. It would have been helpful if the color of the udder changed slightly to signal its readiness.

In addition, the game offers a wide range of activities and tasks for players to engage in. For instance, players can increase their affection with animals through brushing, talking, and snuggling. However, it is important to wait for the animal's response after each action, which can be time-consuming when multiplied by the number of animals. This aspect of the game, while optional for some, is necessary for players who want to improve their friendships with both villagers and animals.

Furthermore, SoS: A Wonderful Life includes a plethora of content such as 121 recipes, 88 achievements, 8 different crops, and various hybrid options. Additionally, players can enjoy the thrill of catching different types of fish and uncovering archaeological relics. These accomplishments are automatically recorded in the game's new encyclopedia, providing completionists with a convenient way to track their progress and eliminating the need for scattered notes. The pursuit of discovering all the items in the encyclopedia adds an extra challenge and a sense of progression for players who enjoy that aspect of gameplay.

Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life invites players to establish their roots in the tranquil town of Forgotten Valley. Immerse yourself in the joys of tending crops, caring for animals, and forging friendships with the amiable villagers. While the game offers a satisfactory experience overall, it fails to stand out among its counterparts in the genre. Each aspect of the game is commendable but lacks the exceptional quality that would set it apart.

Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life releases on June 27 for PC, PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S. Game Rant was provided a Switch code for this review.