A question for those who enjoy this game ^^

[BigBangBaby]

Hello! I was hoping to get some opinions from people who really enjoy this game or who even just casually like it.

A little explanation beforehand is that I am a huge bokujou monogatari fan. I have been playing since the first game for super famicom and have bought each game and it's English version since. Since I started with the Japanese games compared to the translated ones, the whole natsume and marvelous split didn't bother me as it did with some fans, but since natsume helped popularize the game in the west I still wanted to continue supporting them with their own harvest moon game (I even preordered it ^^)

This is sadly my dilemma... I did not like the game at all when I played it. I would have to force myself to play for 30mins, compared to bokumono games that I could play for hours. Now for bokumono games I've played, I do have some complaints about (mostly with some newer titles; kekeke the older games are the best to me ^_~), but never disliked it so much I couldn't play it any more (I had several complaints with ANB but still played it a lot). sadly with lost valley I really disliked the mine crafty play (sorry minecrafts fans! I just really don't enjoy that game Q.Q). Obviously other reasons too, but I don't really want to list them all xD

Anyways my main point is with all the DLC that has and is coming out, it kinda has sparked my interest. In your honest opinion do you think the DLC added to the gameplay at all, maybe even having you go back to the game? I only made it to the end of year 2, should I go longer or if I still didn't enjoy it by then, more than likely I just won't like the game? Was there a certain point, event, item, etc that maybe I haven't got to, that really made the game for you?

It's sorta silly but I'm a little sad that I don't like this game ^^; but I would love your opinions so thank you for any responses

[CinnamonToast]

As far as I can tell*, the last DLC will be the new NPCs that come into the Lost Valley as marriage candidates. Luke, who seems to be a pharmacist or herbalist of some type, and an unknown female they recently teased through their social media pages.

Off the top of my head, the DLC releases I can recall are...

-DLC Release #1: Gazebo and different style fences
-DLC Release #2: Clothing and alternate hair styles
-DLC Release #3: Crops
-DLC Release #4: Luke and ???

As you can see from the DLC, it isn't something that would change the existing game so much that it would enable you to find that missing passion for TLV if it wasn't already there : )

In order to enjoy the game, I had to let go of the idea that it was a Harvest Moon game, even though it uses the franchise brand. Instead, I had to accept that I was playing Mine Craft Lite with a farming element mixed in. Since you said that you don't enjoy Mine Craft, you're left with the farming aspect, and the grind in TLV is probably one of the most "impressive" grinds I've ever done for a game (even then, it's not 1/10th of what some of the fogu members have done searching for mutations, I'm just reaping the rewards of their persistence ).

Honestly, I feel that while the "eternal" winter aspect of the storyline was interesting, it can make for a reaaaaaally bleak beginning. If you managed to restore the seasons by the end of Year 1 and played all of Year 2 with the seasons in tact, and you didn't enjoy the farming/mutation aspect, then I can say you probably won't get very far even if you were to pick up the game again without forcing yourself.

As it has been reiterated over and over again in the forum, I think TLV could have saved itself if it had done two things:

1) An official guide that was specific and helpful -- i.e. something more than "San Marzano's are a summer mutation," but heck, even that would have been useful for some of the harder to discover mutations orz
2) Tool Power-Ups -- there is just SO much work to do, and even with Dewey at a high chemistry, it's a bit ridiculous. If we could get a DLC that had a water can, scythe and hoe that could hit multiple square at once, it would make the search for mutations more reasonable and I think increase the enjoyment factor for many players.

In summation, the current DLC doesn't alter gameplay in a significant enough manner that it would change your enjoyability of the game. If there is a secret, unannounced DLC for tools and a guide, I would say, yes, perhaps you might be able to get into the farming aspect since you didn't care for the mine craft aspect



*I remember reading somewhere that the last of their DLC would be released in June, and on CeeCee's tumblr I recall reading that the NPCs would be released in June as well, which is the basis of my assumption that the Marriage Candidate DLC will be the last of the DLC for TLV.

[Guest]

Yaaaa.... I'm just gonna say you're not gonna like it. At least you are trying to give it a chance, which is more than I can say for some of the more vehement haters of this game but you can't like everything Cinnamontoast made valid points and I can't really think of anything special that would specifically make you get into this game if you didn't enjoy it previously.

[irulethegalaxy]

[quote="CinnamonToast"]
In summation, the current DLC doesn't alter gameplay in a significant enough manner that it would change your enjoyability of the game. If there is a secret, unannounced DLC for tools and a guide, I would say, yes, perhaps you might be able to get into the farming aspect since you didn't care for the mine craft aspect


I think this hits the nail on the head. Though flawed, the game IS enjoyable--if it's your groove.


>>
1) An official guide that was specific and helpful -- i.e. something more than "San Marzano's are a summer mutation," but heck, even that would have been useful for some of the harder to discover mutations orz
2) Tool Power-Ups -- there is just SO much work to do, and even with Dewey at a high chemistry, it's a bit ridiculous. If we could get a DLC that had a water can, scythe and hoe that could hit multiple square at once, it would make the search for mutations more reasonable and I think increase the enjoyment factor for many players.<<

I agree 1000% with #1 (and I'd pretty much lay money on the fact that we will see this happen in the next game), and mostly agree on #2. It's certainly doable as is, but I think that adding tool upgrades would allow more casual players to enjoy it more. It doesn't even really need to be tool upgrades per se, allowing you to rank up and be faster at your chores would work, or adding a couple sprites who could be assigned varying work depending on your need, etc etc. Even adjusting the frequency rate of mutations up to make them spawn more often (seriously, I've unlocked all but 2-3 known veggie mutations now, but some of them were CRAZY. And whoever decided that those long-growth flowers needed 50 sold....urgh, they are NOT my friend at the moment). I still think that (again, while FLAWED), TLV is a pretty good offering for their first outing. I still overall love the direction and can't wait to hear news of a sequel.


*disclaimer to statement on #2. I was the nutty person in Animal Crossing who put literally hundreds of flowers in their village, watered them ALL daily, and then would go to visit friends' towns and water THEIR flowers. And I disliked the golden can (other than the hybrid effect) because I sort of liked giving each flower its daily watering. So, yeah. Watering in TLV at least has never bothered me LOL.

[Chaos_Azeroth]

The problem with not having upgraded tools it that you have to water to prevent health from going town to get mutations BUT you can only hire Dewy every other day and NOT weekends. Plus the fact of needing to plant so much to get enough to get the mutated seeds. It's just a huge pain in the « Mr.Gourmet's hat » without. ESPECIALLY that first day of a season... OMG kill me.

The guide would be amazing. I'd say well it's not so bad except the # of possible combinations is so redonk. We're missing what 4 or so STILL? That should tell them this is completely unreasonable to expect people to do without a guide. ((And people who have managed to without going bonkers kudos! But most people are going to get fed up with that « Cow Poopoo » tbh.))

[Floh]

As far as I can tell*, the last DLC will be the new NPCs that come into the Lost Valley as marriage candidates. Luke, who seems to be a pharmacist or herbalist of some type, and an unknown female they recently teased through their social media pages.

As you can see from the DLC, it isn't something that would change the existing game so much that it would enable you to find that missing passion for TLV if it wasn't already there : )

I agree.
It also seems like Luka and the new bachelorette are going to move to hillsville AFTER all seasons got restored. So all the DLCs don´t change the story.

I like BigBangBaby´s attitude, but I don´t think, the DLC is going to change your opinion, if you haven´t had fun with the game until now.

In my case it was the other way, because I thought, it wouldn´t have fun with it, but indeed.

[BigBangBaby]

Ah well sadly it seems I just won't be able to get into this game. Thank you for your answers, I really appreciate them ^o^ hopefully their next installment will be a more enjoyable experience for me, I'd also like to see how they would change things up based on fans input, but until then I think I'll stick with bokumono for now
Thanks again!

[irulethegalaxy]

The problem with not having upgraded tools it that you have to water to prevent health from going town to get mutations BUT you can only hire Dewy every other day and NOT weekends. Plus the fact of needing to plant so much to get enough to get the mutated seeds. It's just a huge pain in the « Mr.Gourmet's hat » without. ESPECIALLY that first day of a season... OMG kill me.

The guide would be amazing. I'd say well it's not so bad except the # of possible combinations is so redonk. We're missing what 4 or so STILL? That should tell them this is completely unreasonable to expect people to do without a guide. ((And people who have managed to without going bonkers kudos! But most people are going to get fed up with that « Cow Poopoo » tbh.))

Okay, having spent an entire day hunting for mutations, I'm gonna revise my statement. I don't mind all the work WHEN I AM ACTUALLY GETTING THE MUTATIONS/CROPS I NEED. Staring at field after field of absolute failure after all that watering...far, far, FAR less enjoyable LOL.

I guess what I am saying is that it's the COMBINATION of the lack of faster tools AND the gazillion mutations (and/or possibilities for creating any given mutation) that make the game frustrating and unfair. Fix either one of those flaws, and the game becomes much more balanced. Still brutal, but more fair to the player.

[Chaos_Azeroth]

The problem with not having upgraded tools it that you have to water to prevent health from going town to get mutations BUT you can only hire Dewy every other day and NOT weekends. Plus the fact of needing to plant so much to get enough to get the mutated seeds. It's just a huge pain in the « Mr.Gourmet's hat » without. ESPECIALLY that first day of a season... OMG kill me.

The guide would be amazing. I'd say well it's not so bad except the # of possible combinations is so redonk. We're missing what 4 or so STILL? That should tell them this is completely unreasonable to expect people to do without a guide. ((And people who have managed to without going bonkers kudos! But most people are going to get fed up with that « Cow Poopoo » tbh.))

Okay, having spent an entire day hunting for mutations, I'm gonna revise my statement. I don't mind all the work WHEN I AM ACTUALLY GETTING THE MUTATIONS/CROPS I NEED. Staring at field after field of absolute failure after all that watering...far, far, FAR less enjoyable LOL.

I guess what I am saying is that it's the COMBINATION of the lack of faster tools AND the gazillion mutations (and/or possibilities for creating any given mutation) that make the game frustrating and unfair. Fix either one of those flaws, and the game becomes much more balanced. Still brutal, but more fair to the player.

I was trying to agree, and being honest that a guide just for this type of game wouldn't be needed, but with as insane as they made it we surely need some sort of hints very least!

Yes combo please! o.0