Pixillate

In a nutshell, The Lost Valley feels oversimplied and lacking the richness and depth that makes this series unique. It feels as though it's designed for a ten year old, leaving the older fans longing for what they remember spending hours playing. As a longtime fan of this series, I preordered the game from Natsume, expecting the Harvest Moon goodness that I've grown accustomed to. It's always been more than a farm simulation game - the more you play, the more you unlock, and the little cut scenes with the NPCs are always so cute. When I started the game, the graphics felt odd, lacking even. While I enjoy Minecraft as much as the next person, they captured that feeling while abandoning that which made the game feel like a beloved addition to the Harvest Moon series. Yes you have land to till, plants to water, Harvest sprites to save... (and the sprites are as adorable as ever) the overall feel of the map seemed too boxy and lackluster for the series. And no longer do you have to remember the NPCs favorite things, the foods they dislike... gift giving has been eradicated entirely from the game, which had been a core part of the game play. Of the features that Natsume abandoned, this has to be one of my least favorite changes. I also dislike the fact that there is no longer a town to explore.. your stores are literally just NPCs that walk around in front of your house on certain days. Gone are the days that you go to the clinic or the Marimba farm... It saddened me that "visiting" the store was as simple as talking to them while they parade around in my front yard. Stacking land and shaping the map the way you wanted sounded appealing to me before I played the game, as I was excited to have something similar to Magical Melody in that regard. But shaping the land becomes cumbersome after laying down the work to get your buildings and such situated. All these things aside, the game is still fun to play... as long as you don't have the mindset that it's comparable to its predecessors. If you're wanting a farm simulation game where you get to change the map, this is the game for you... If you're looking for a new game with nostalgic ties to games you played years ago, this isn't it. Pull out your Wii and play Animal Parade or Magical Melody. Natsume seemed determined to steer away from as much original content as possible with this installment. My hope is that Story of Seasons will have the classic feel that I was hoping for.