The immortal icon of the manga returns thanks to the new crossover with the saga STORY OF SEASONS. It’s time to step back into Nobita’s shoes and get into farming, that’s what we think about DORAEMON STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of the Great Kingdom!
For the second time after DORAEMON STORY OF SEASONS they collaborate again Marvelous! And BANDAI NAMCO Entertainmenttaking us back to the world created by the pair of authors behind the pseudonym Fujiko F. Fujio which for the occasion embraces the series again STORY OF SEASONS. The formula that led to the union of the two brands had already proved convincing in 2019, where the developers demonstrated their ability to perfectly integrate the typical artistic style of Doraemon with the simulation gameplay of STORY OF SEASON, cleverly exploiting all the elements of the series. The type of game in question has been faced countless times over the years, by the noble Animal Crossing to recent HARVESTELLA but, despite this, it manages to carve out its own precious space in the ocean of titles belonging to the genre.
With a simple narrative pretext Nobita, Doraemon and the whole cast of classic characters will be catapulted into space until they land on the planet where the adventure will take place. From that moment the protagonists will get to know a whole series of supporting actors who will populate the game areas and with whom we will have to interface to proceed with the plot and with the initial tutorial, which will end only after a couple of hours of explanations, even sometimes to no avail stretch. This is probably due to the fact that the target of the game is relatively young, and the development team felt it was best to provide clear and comprehensive explanations for even the simplest mechanics. But apart from this, the first thing that catches the eye is the colorful aesthetic and artistic sector that is always captivating and in perfect Doraemon style, with the setting appearing painted and the three-dimensional models of the characters integrating very well. The aesthetic adopted, therefore, is Doraemon in everythingalso as regards the dialogues and the always spot on musical composition.
- Title: DORAEMON STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of the Great Kingdom
- Platform: PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam)
- Analyzed version: Nintendo Switch (EU)
- Genre: Simulation
- Players: 1-2
- Publisher: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment
- Developer: Marvelous!
- Tongue: English (text), Japanese (dubbing)
- Exit date: November 2, 2022
- Availability: digital delivery
- DLCs: DLC Pack #1: Winter Life available at launch
- Note: none
We reviewed DORAEMON STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of the Great Kingdom with a Nintendo Switch code provided to us for free by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment.
Arms stolen from agriculture
If you’re used to more famous titles like the aforementioned Animal Crossing you will find yourself in front of a very similar formula but managed in a profoundly different way, and this is evident from the presence of numerous activities and a management of the day that must be wisely planned by the player in order to optimize times and activities so as to increase earnings. The title is divided into seasons that change every thirty days where each allows you to cultivate different plantations, the focus of the gameplay. Everything we grow can be sold, eaten or delivered to the characters to complete their requests, and each plant will need a specific number of days before giving us its harvest. During those days the player will have the task of watering the plants and, if necessary, delivering the harvest so that, at the end of the day, everything will be sold. This is just one of the many possible activities in DORAEMON STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of the Great Kingdom.
To earn money we will be able to fish, catch insects, collect fruit, complete the requests of the characters and more, and to allow the player to always keep his own status and that of the game world under control, the diary is very useful. In the diary we can also consult the map and check where all the meetable characters are and check the link with them (can be increased by talking to them at least once a day). The game map is a bit dispersive and initially finding points of interest appears long-winded especially when we are looking for someone in particular, but fortunately some will come into play ciuski of Doraemon to soften motions such as the door to fast travel or the locomotive to run faster. The title also offers the possibility of furnishing the interior of the house as well as the farm, in which there will not only be arable fields but also structures such as the stable for horses (which will also be rideable and, too, will have a bond level to be increased which can lead them to flee if kept low).
Scattered in the game world there are some useful structures such as the shop to buy seeds and fertilizers, the blacksmith to upgrade the tools in Nobita’s possession, the carpenter to build new structures and buy decorative elements (including fences and other objects of different styles you can have fun). In the northern part, the Gidori mine is also available, each structured in floors that will allow us to dig to obtain ever better minerals useful for upgrading and building structures. In the main city, on the other hand, there is a bulletin board where quests related to secondary characters are cyclically proposed, perfect for earning money and points to strengthen their bond with it; the bulletin board also allows access to the online features of the title, through which we will be able to exchange gifts with other players and visit their farm. In addition, special events take place on certain specific days (such as the fishing tournament or the parties whose dates can always be checked on the calendar at home) which lead all the characters to gather in the same place, perfect moments to increase ties and carry out the missions related to their requests.
Unity is strength
One of the novelties introduced in this sequel is undoubtedly the opportunity to play in the company of a second player locallyand this opens us up to another mechanic ie co-op with NPCs: talking to someone among those available we can ask him to accompany us during the day, from that moment every activity we carry out will also be carried out by him who will actively participate in the tasks we are carrying out, accelerating their development and obtaining resources. Each action carried out consumes stamina, so from time to time it will be necessary to remarry to recover it however, at the cost of losing some time during the day, even if this function is useful for quickly advancing to the times in which some specific events that we want are activated.
The game, inexplicably, there is no Italian translation although the previous title had been adapted, but as can be guessed it did not represent an obstacle for us to enjoy the adventure. As already mentioned, the target of the title is relatively young, this implies a certain simplicity of language and exposition that even a minimal knowledge of English will be more than sufficient. Furthermore, in Italy the title has been distributed only in digital format which can represent a considerable stake for hardened collectors. DORAEMON STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of the Great Kingdom has been tested by us on Nintendo Switch and we have not been affected by any particular problem, the only perhaps being the slightly longer uploads compared to the counterparts on pc And Playstation 5.
Who do we recommend DORAEMON STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of the Great Kingdom to?
DORAEMON STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of the Great Kingdom represents in all respects a more of the same that expands and improves on the already established basic formula, capable of attracting the attention of both robot cat lovers and farming simulator enthusiasts. Repetition is inevitable but with the right dosage it can entertain for dozens and dozens of hours of play, also thanks to the customization factor that will delight housing enthusiasts.
- Aesthetically appealing
- Lots of activities to do
- A perfect mix between STORY OF SEASONS and Doraemon
- Inevitably repetitive
- Improved map structure
DORAEMON STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of the Great Kingdom
A crossover that is once again functional
DORAEMON STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of the Great Kingdom maintains the good previously achieved by Marvelous! and expands the formula already seen in the first game. The implementation of the co-op and all the improvements of the so-called “quality of life” gives the title a freshness that will keep you glued to the screen. The artistic style adopted and the atmosphere returned are added values to a well-managed and satisfying game, we can hardly imagine a Doraemon tie-in video game made differently.
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