In a year littered with Gamecube-era nostalgia with remakes and remasters of games like Resident Evil 4, Baten Kaitos, and Metroid Prime, experienced farmers have been waiting for A Wonderful Life. The original iteration of the game, released in Japan during 2003, is a long-time fan-favorite game in the series but is also somewhat divisive for some of its game feel in spite of the unique features that make it stand apart from other games in the series, or even the entire genre. So, how does the new remake compare?
Presentation
Players familiar with Forgotten Valley will likely feel right at home in the remake. Nearly everything is left exactly where it was 20 years ago, with some small changes to superfluous or unused elements like the infamous locked shed. The color palette is brighter, but no less capable of providing moody or serene moments and it’s still nice to take a moment and just look around as your surroundings shift from season to season. Beyond the art style shift, the male bachelors have also been given a makeover that may be divisive to some fans. Personally, I feel like I’ll miss Matthew’s incredible sideburns and chin, or Gustafa’s pointy nose and more pronounced scruff, but overall I’m positive on the changes. Similarly, the new musical arrangements are also a welcome addition, though I do wish for the option to use the original or Special Edition soundtrack sometimes. Even if just for nostalgia’s sake.
Playing on the Nintendo Switch and Steam versions, the Switch did noticeably have some pop-in for details, objects, or shadows. However, perhaps remarkably when compared to the launch experience of Pioneers of Olive Town or Rune Factory 5, there were no issues with slowdown or unstable frame rates even with a full field of crops and dozens of animals roaming around the farm.
Gameplay
Classic farming and socializing elements return more or less as-is, which is likely expected for the series that defined the genre. Compared to the original game however, it’s far easier to keep track of details like who is befriended, what you’ve collected, what requests you’re working on, and tasks you’ve accomplished thanks to a more robust menu system to help you keep track of everything. As a result, the game feels more cohesive than it did before. The quality of life changes even extend to character movement and animations while exploring and working in the field, with the entire game feeling less sluggish compared to the original.
Hybrid crops also return as a feature you unlock, with a sizeable array of stage two and stage three crops to produce via mixing and matching existing seeds. From standard, real-life produce that isn’t normally present in the series, like garlic, or even outlandish and fantastical crops that look and behave like disco balls or jingle bells. Hybrid crops are also essential to cooking, with many ingredients only available by producing hybrids. Producing new crops that can’t be bought in shops and leveling up your cooking skill to learn more recipes will be essential to filling your encyclopedia, turning a higher profit by making meals that sell for more than their base ingredients, answering requests on the town notice board, or donating them to the local festivals.
For returning players, the festivals are probably the most asked-for change from the original game. Though similar to the somewhat forgettable events they’ve replaced, the New Years and Harvest Festivals will ask the player to submit their own offering, which can elicit some distinct reactions from both the host and villagers who attended afterward. The other festivals are more passive, like simply watching fireworks, but nevertheless I found myself looking forward to them in each chapter to see how they changed with each passing year.
Feeling that flow of time is, at its core, what makes Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life special. You’ll get the opportunity to watch your neighbors grow older, your child age from a toddler to an adult, and each chapter (taking an in-game year) features several unique event scenes that accentuate the passage of time. Your child is also reactive to how you raise them, with their self-doubts, interests, and desires changing as they grow older and your influence leans them towards different career paths. Sometimes, doing things early or late can also result in those actions being noticed, like your full grown mid-20’s to early 30’s child wondering why on Earth you would buy them a weird teddy bear. As pleased as I was with just one full, 100 hour play-through, I’m tempted to jump in again to see what could’ve gone differently.
Closing Thoughts
Though some changes may be divisive, to me, this is without a doubt the definitive version of A Wonderful Life. The quality of life enhancements, the steadier pacing, dozens of new events, more things to spend money on, find, and create might even make it the best Story of Seasons experience this console generation by a pretty sizable leap.
Whether you’re a long-time fan or a newcomer visiting the valley for the first time, Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life is, in fact, pretty wonderful. If there are still any doubts after reading our review, feel free to reach out to us with any questions. We will also be preparing a second review featuring a perspective of a newcomer to A Wonderful Life as well as a focus on the PC release and Steam Deck compatibility.
Review codes provided to Ranch Story staff by XSEED and Marvelous Europe.
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