I agree FOMT and MFOMT were easy calm and not too complicated. You could pick up the game a month later and know what you are doingBluie wrote:I kinda miss the simplicity of M/FoMT. It was very basic and overall very easy to get into. The new innovations are great, but sometimes I miss the little town and the smaller cast.
Missing Older HMs
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AmazingFarmer
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While I agree that the newer games definitely have a frantic and overcrowded aspect to them, I think nostalgia plays a really big role in how we perceive the older games. MM for example may do everything a core HM game needs to do, but you also move really slowly and have a tiny rucksack. More than anything I think we can agree that the games have improved technically/mechanically, but still objective quality can't really compete with sentimentality. Personally, while I think the newer games are pretty overloaded (especially with customization), I like the direction the series is going in, but I feel bad for people who don't and aren't left with any other options.
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ChaosAzerothCat
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Can I marry your post?white66 wrote:While I agree that the newer games definitely have a frantic and overcrowded aspect to them, I think nostalgia plays a really big role in how we perceive the older games. MM for example may do everything a core HM game needs to do, but you also move really slowly and have a tiny rucksack. More than anything I think we can agree that the games have improved technically/mechanically, but still objective quality can't really compete with sentimentality. Personally, while I think the newer games are pretty overloaded (especially with customization), I like the direction the series is going in, but I feel bad for people who don't and aren't left with any other options.
Seriously though, it's great. There are good points here.
Honestly best has so many levels of subjective. Yeah, most people would agree that not moving like a snail with tiny item capacity is better, but how much that hurts the enjoyment varies a lot from person to person.
Honestly that varies from day to day just with myself, I imagine I'm not the only one that likes a feature one day and hates it another. The fertilizer system in Trio is an example of a feature that sometimes I find fun and other times feel like it's too much.
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RopeMaidenKirie
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I agree with this and Kam's post a lot. I can definitely understand feeling left behind by the newest entries in a franchise that you once loved though.white66 wrote:While I agree that the newer games definitely have a frantic and overcrowded aspect to them, I think nostalgia plays a really big role in how we perceive the older games. MM for example may do everything a core HM game needs to do, but you also move really slowly and have a tiny rucksack. More than anything I think we can agree that the games have improved technically/mechanically, but still objective quality can't really compete with sentimentality. Personally, while I think the newer games are pretty overloaded (especially with customization), I like the direction the series is going in, but I feel bad for people who don't and aren't left with any other options.
If you look at sales (in Japan) they are stronger now with the newer games than they ever were with the older ones (besides IoH which sold a crazy amount surprisingly) So while some people lament the direction they've gone, the newer games are selling more units than the classic ones did, and have more people presumably playing them. So I can imagine they are going to continue in this direction (heavy customization, more social sim aspects, streamlined farming) since it seems like what the majority of their consumers in Japan want.
If anyone wants to look at some of the Japanese sales data for fun (it's a tad outdated since these numbers are from back in 2014, 3oT ended up selling less than SoS/ANB during its first week but caught up to its predecessors in numbers pretty quickly last I heard, especially selling a lot in digital sales) RF4 also sold a really respectable amount.
Spoiler:
In the west, the crazy success of SDV and Natsume doing well with its own Harvest Moon, shows there's definitely some untapped potential in consumers who prefer the more classic Bokumono-type experiences though. I just don't think it's ever going to happen again for the Marvelous made games, so people probably should prepare themselves for that.
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AmazingFarmer
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I've enjoyed the Bokujou Monogatari games ever since I started playing AWL and was able to explore entries prior to AWL sans the 3 Gameboy games and 64. There was a time when I didn't enjoy them as much (See GrB through ANB) and fell in love with the series again with the introduction of Story of Seasons with Trio being my favorite entry in the DS/3DS family.
So while I do like the simplicity of games like FoMT, I also like the direction they're going in with their latest entry.
So while I do like the simplicity of games like FoMT, I also like the direction they're going in with their latest entry.
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Shymuffin6
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ChaosAzerothCat
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It might not, but they're most likely to go with what they know sells.Anonymous Fish wrote:The sales thing doesn't prove that much though. Sure the newer games are selling more... But that's also because the game (branding) is more known/popular now, not to mention the fact that farming games are more popular now in general too.
Hell, most of us on the forum aren't the target audience tbh.
Yeah, it's kind of jarring to remember that Marvelous' main market is Japanese players, who obviously have different play styles and preferences than us westerners...ChaosAzerothCat wrote:It might not, but they're most likely to go with what they know sells.Anonymous Fish wrote:The sales thing doesn't prove that much though. Sure the newer games are selling more... But that's also because the game (branding) is more known/popular now, not to mention the fact that farming games are more popular now in general too.
Hell, most of us on the forum aren't the target audience tbh.
Still, I'm excited for the advancements the Switch will bring, since it seems like major changes to Boku games tend be spurred by the progression to a new console
I agree, but also kinda disagree too. One of my favourite HM songs of all time is ANB's Winter theme. However, nothing in Trio of Towns stood out to me, and I hated the spring theme. I never looked forward to going back to that season.Shymuffin6 wrote:I miss the old HM soundtracks.I cant even differ from which sos soundtrack is what because the music doesnt pop or stand out to me.
But if we're talking overall, some of the older HMs have really well done OSTs. I could listen to HLV's all day. It's a shame no one ever ripped the post game seasons songs, as they changed quite drastically after you got your endings. I loved the 2nd Spring theme.
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luph n joii
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There are plenty of other factors that influenced the sales, and it does not necessarily mean Japanese people prefer the newer games.RopeMaidenKirie wrote:I agree with this and Kam's post a lot. I can definitely understand feeling left behind by the newest entries in a franchise that you once loved though.white66 wrote:While I agree that the newer games definitely have a frantic and overcrowded aspect to them, I think nostalgia plays a really big role in how we perceive the older games. MM for example may do everything a core HM game needs to do, but you also move really slowly and have a tiny rucksack. More than anything I think we can agree that the games have improved technically/mechanically, but still objective quality can't really compete with sentimentality. Personally, while I think the newer games are pretty overloaded (especially with customization), I like the direction the series is going in, but I feel bad for people who don't and aren't left with any other options.
If you look at sales (in Japan) they are stronger now with the newer games than they ever were with the older ones (besides IoH which sold a crazy amount surprisingly) So while some people lament the direction they've gone, the newer games are selling more units than the classic ones did, and have more people presumably playing them. So I can imagine they are going to continue in this direction (heavy customization, more social sim aspects, streamlined farming) since it seems like what the majority of their consumers in Japan want.
If anyone wants to look at some of the Japanese sales data for fun (it's a tad outdated since these numbers are from back in 2014, 3oT ended up selling less than SoS/ANB during its first week but caught up to its predecessors in numbers pretty quickly last I heard, especially selling a lot in digital sales) RF4 also sold a really respectable amount.
Spoiler:
1. It's no secret that BokuMono has shifted its primary audience from male to female. The series now has more female players than males. Japanese females have gained more spending power in recent years because they are more career-oriented and as such, they have more money to spend to indulge themselves, including gaming. This means there are more gamers nowadays than in the past.
2. Japanese prefer portable games in general than home consoles. It's also part of the reason why mobile games are a big industry in Japan. As such, BokuMono has only been released on portable consoles in recent years (and more people own handhelds than home consoles).
3. Cutesy graphics, heavy customization, and lots of common dating sim tropes boost its popularity among females, especially the younger ones. The newer games are geared toward younger audience than adults who grow up with the series.
I personally feel the same as OP. I don't like the direction the series has gone into with it being more frantic and lots of gimmicky (and to me unnecessary) features. I play farming games to relax, and not strategically plan everything down to the tiniest details.
If anyone is like me and has a hard time remembering what music sounds like when you're not listening to it, I'll put some links in.
The most distinct track ever for me has been SoS' winter theme. Actually I think all of the SoS soundtrack is pretty distinct, though autumn's theme triggered my tinnitus, so I can't say I was able to enjoy that season.
I really love that winter theme, though...it's so...fresh. It makes me want to go for a cold misty jog and come home to steaming mint tea. So I can definitely differentiate the SoS soundtracks. Overall I have not found Trio's to be very memorable, but oh well, at least none of them made my ears ring. (Sadly, that's not some kind of hyperbole...SoS autumn theme actually does that to my poor defective ears! ANB's summer theme was a little hard on me, too, though overall I did like ANB's soundtrack)
ANBs winter theme was very cute and kind of Xmassy. Honestly, they seem quite distinct to me, except for Trio's, which I find harder to call to mind, though they have been largely inoffensive to me, at least. But if the word is 'memorable', then yeah...I've found Trio's soundtrack to be very forgettable.
The most distinct track ever for me has been SoS' winter theme. Actually I think all of the SoS soundtrack is pretty distinct, though autumn's theme triggered my tinnitus, so I can't say I was able to enjoy that season.
I really love that winter theme, though...it's so...fresh. It makes me want to go for a cold misty jog and come home to steaming mint tea. So I can definitely differentiate the SoS soundtracks. Overall I have not found Trio's to be very memorable, but oh well, at least none of them made my ears ring. (Sadly, that's not some kind of hyperbole...SoS autumn theme actually does that to my poor defective ears! ANB's summer theme was a little hard on me, too, though overall I did like ANB's soundtrack)
ANBs winter theme was very cute and kind of Xmassy. Honestly, they seem quite distinct to me, except for Trio's, which I find harder to call to mind, though they have been largely inoffensive to me, at least. But if the word is 'memorable', then yeah...I've found Trio's soundtrack to be very forgettable.
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RopeMaidenKirie
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My main point with the post with the sales numbers, is that Marvelous will probably not go back to production of the older style of games since the newer ones are selling so well, and I still stand by that opinion. They might certainly bring things back like rivals, or other elements of the classic games, but I personally think as a whole they are going to keep going on the route that I noted before. Heavy customization, heavier ratio of life sim elements, constant overwhelming flurry of things to do, etc. As always, could certainly be wrong since it's conjecture on everybody's part, but that's just what I get out of it. I don't think that simplicity that the topic creator (and a lot of other people) miss is ever coming back.
The HM install base might have just not been there on the Wii.
Hopefully they won't go two steps forward and one step back with some of the improvements that were made by 3oT, but I guess we'll see.
Could be one of the reasons! Not too sure reallyAmazingFarmer wrote:That does stink and the sales are very interesting! I am very surprised about AP too since it was one of my favorites.I wonder why AP didn't sell well maybe because of ToT?
The HM install base might have just not been there on the Wii. I am too!! I'm especially curious with what the art will look like.white66 wrote:
Still, I'm excited for the advancements the Switch will bring, since it seems like major changes to Boku games tend be spurred by the progression to a new console
Hopefully they won't go two steps forward and one step back with some of the improvements that were made by 3oT, but I guess we'll see.