By Adam Roffel
The Harvest Moon franchise has had a bit of a tumultuous ride over the past few years. Winds of Anthos was a great addition on Nintendo Switch that looked to right the ship for Natsume. But it was followed by the lacklustre Home Sweet Home, which launched on mobile before eventually coming to Nintendo Switch. With Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea, it appears Natsume is trying to harness what worked in Winds of Anthos. The hope seems to be that more of the same is what Harvest Moon fans want.
Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea Details
Platform: Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PS5, XBOX Series X|S, PC
Reviewed on: Nintendo Switch 2
Developer: Natsume Inc. / IMAGICA GEEQ Inc.
Publisher: Natsume Inc.
Genre: Farming simulation, adventure
Game Modes: Single-player
Not Just the Same Game
To their credit, while the game looks and feels just like Winds of Anthos, a lot of new concepts and ideas have been woven into the experience to make it feel fresh and exciting. Yes, the visuals are the same and the gameplay mechanics are identical. Yes, a lot of what you already knew how to do in Winds of Anthos is back. That includes how you make fertilizer, how you feed your animals, and the trusty press-A-to-do-everything concept.
Harvest Moon is as accessible as ever, but the new additions give the game some depth that’s nice to see. I think the art style and gameplay mechanics worked well in Winds of Anthos. Since I don’t feel that the design team has a great track record of trying new things, more of the same isn’t a terrible way for them to go.
Farming Concepts as Old as Video Games Themselves
While not quite as old as video games, farming simulation games have been around for a very long time. Harvest Moon began in Japan in 1996 on the Super Famicom before coming to North America in 1997 on Super Nintendo. Since then, we've had dozens of farming games, including Natsume's newer Harvest Moon releases, Marvelous' Story of Seasons series, and indie games like Stardew Valley.
And the concept has always stayed the same. Grow crops, tend to animals, sell your goods, and upgrade a bunch of things. That idea is alive and well. What Natsume did differently with the last few major releases was add a large world to explore, with a variety of towns, locations, and people to meet and engage with.
Teradea Is Huge and Sometimes Empty
Teradea is quite large, and exploring every nook and cranny is going to take you quite a long time. Power Statues are now hidden all over the world. Completing their challenges frees Power Wisps and earns Power Wisp Fruits you can trade for upgrades. There are caves that lead to new locations, bridges that need fixing, and small camps with tasks to complete. You'll also run into wild animals, both friendly and hostile.
Traversing Teradea actually takes a bit of skill, or at the very least very deep pockets full of mushrooms. Wild animals are a new concept in Teradea, and they'll chase you down if they see you. This causes you, or your mounts, to lose stamina and potentially collapse in the field. Your options are to sneak past or give them something to take their minds off you, which is why you need the aforementioned mushrooms-a-plenty.
At first, I found this idea pretty interesting. As I progressed through the story, I eventually found a way to stop the wolves from harassing me. No story spoilers here. Then I walked over another bridge, went down a ravine, and ran into tigers. This concept is really interesting, and I believe these wild animals can be tamed just like horses and other creatures. But getting from A to B is a real chore at times. After a few hours, I really didn’t enjoy that part much.
Animal Companions Are Fun, Though
That said, you’ll need to explore the world to find all the great animal companions you can befriend and bring home. Each animal in the game can now earn special skills, allowing them to do a variety of things. For example, early on you’ll get access to a bird. Once it learns its skill, it can travel with you and give you access to your home storage.
The hares can also be tamed. As their affection rises and their skill levels increase, they can provide you with random items each day.
Finding new animals and seeing what benefits they can provide you is great fun. It made getting stopped by wolves and tigers for the 90th time bearable.
A Story That Feels Familiar
I don’t think it’s common to play farming simulation games for the story they provide. Over its last few releases, Natsume has really tried to make storytelling the focal point of the experience. In Echoes of Teradea, this has never been more true. The game definitely feels story-driven, and you can really treat farming and ranching as an afterthought if you want.
I don’t want to spoil too much, but you’ll travel to four different zones. In each one, you’ll interact with guardians whose Spirit Trees have withered. Because the trees have withered, the guardians lack a purpose and problems arise. In the first area, that means wolves prowling the world. Along the ocean, large typhoons are causing problems for the local population.
As you work to increase the level of each respective town, you’ll bring life back to the local Spirit Tree. That fixes the issues plaguing the area. Then you move on.
It’s nothing crazy, but there are a few character-specific stories I was quite invested in and wanted to see through to completion. The guy whose son can’t ride a horse? Boring. The group of kids whose father has disappeared? Compelling.
A Strong Package Overall
The lack of a new look and repetitive farming ideas that have been staples of Harvest Moon for years might turn some players off Echoes of Teradea. I feel, however, that Natsume has stumbled on a system that works really well for them, and that players have enjoyed. Subtle improvements have been made to the formula through their last major releases. While Winds of Anthos and Echoes of Teradea seem to share the same DNA, Natsume has done enough to make me want to explore a brand new world, even if it doesn’t feel drastically different.
Still, new ideas and concepts have been woven into the experience, and we haven’t even talked about them all yet. Field quality can go up and down. Animals that graze might eat your crops, but they’ll improve your fields. There are more little side quests than you can shake a stick at. There's a lot packed in here despite the world feeling quite empty at times. Despite some minor gripes, Natsume is still moving forward, even if it’s only by a few feet.
If nothing else, Echoes of Teradea makes me excited for what might come in the future from Natsume. It’s enough for me, at least right now. Whether it’s enough for you, only time will tell!
Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea Review Summary
Liked
- Accessible farming mechanics that remain enjoyable for returning players.
- Animal companions have useful new skills, including portable storage and daily items.
- A large world filled with hidden Power Statues, new locations, and side quests.
- Some engaging character stories and worthwhile improvements to the familiar formula.
Didn't Like
- Visuals and core gameplay remain largely unchanged from Winds of Anthos.
- The large world can feel empty despite having plenty to explore.
- Repeated encounters with wolves and tigers make travelling frustrating.
- Some character stories are less interesting, and familiar farming activities can feel repetitive.
Overall Assessment of Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea
Gameplay: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.2 / 5)
Presentation: ⭐⭐⭐✨☆ (3.8 / 5)
Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.0 / 5)
Story / Narrative: ⭐⭐⭐✨☆ (3.9 / 5)
Fun Factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.3 / 5)
Overall Value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.2 / 5)
Adam Roffel
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