Story Of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town is the first new game in the series to grace the Nintendo Switch. It has a bit of a strange history as it is kind of a remake of a remake and I can tell you right not it is one of the best games in the series. It has so much charm and style that it is impossible not to fall in love with Olive Town and its inhabitants.
How to Download Story Of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town
You can download the game from the Nintendo Store, click on the Download button at the end of the review.
The Game Review
If you have played a Story of Seasons or Harvest Moon game before, you will know what to expect here. You have moved to the little town called Olive Town. Here you are something of a big deal as your grandpa was one of the pioneers of this little place. One of his old friends (who is in charge) was a friend of your grandpas and he helps you out.
You start by creating your character and then you are put into the world. The idea is that you need to bring your grandpa’s place back to life. You do this by cultivating your farm. You need to clear out stuff that is in the way like trees, rocks, and so on. Build structures, fix old ones and grown and sell food.
The first “big” thing that I did when I played the game was clear a path to the chicken coop and repair it. Here I had my first chicken and I became attached to him and called him Mark (We Bare Bears reference if you get it). While you will spend a great deal of time working on your farm. Story Of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town as the name suggests also has an actual town for you to explore.
I loved Olive Town and it is the best setting for a Story of Season or Harvest Moon game that I have had the pleasure to live in. The cast of characters here is just so kooky and interesting. I legit loved talking to everyone. Even when you intended to pop into the town just to buys something quick to help you tend to your farm, you end up talking to people and getting pulled into their stories.
While fixing up your farm and making it the best it can be is the main goal of Story Of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town. There is so much more going on here than that. You can find a love interest in the game, do jobs for people in the town and there is some kind of festival or party happening here on what feels like a weekly basis. There is always something going on in Olive Town.
I am sure you could just say screw the town and be a hermit and tend to your farm. While looking after the farm was fun, it was my relationship with the townsfolk that made this so addictive for me. It may not be doing anything radically new in the genre, but it is excellent at what it does.
One of the big questions people ask when a new game like this comes out is “is it better than Stardew Valley? I am not sure I would go that far, but I had a wonderful time with Story Of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town. I can see myself coming back to this game, probably for most of the year as it is so addictive and charming.
