Square Enix's demo for the upcoming farming simulation RPG Harvestella provided the developers with important feedback from players and has led to significant updates being implemented before the full game release. The original plan of launching on November 4, 2022, is still expected despite all the work the team is doing to improve the game, although the changes will not be seen in the demo at this time.
The developers listened and took to heart the responses they heard from players. Harvestella's large farming spaces and cute decorations couldn't make up for many disappointing game mechanics for fans. The speed at which time passes was a particularly sore point that players were unhappy with, as taking a single step could use up around 10 minutes of game time. Now with the updates being made, players should see significant improvements in the full version of Harvestella.
All The Changes Harvestella Is Making Before Launch
The following changes have been made to Harvestella before launch based on player feedback:
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Reduction in how much time passes on the world map and field |
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Less wait time until getting a bite while fishing |
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Reduced cooldown times for job changes |
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Increased normal attack speed for mages |
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Partially reduced loading screen times |
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Added warning effects when a character is getting low on HP |
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Modified the UI for save and auto-save functions |
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Various bug fixes |
The game's momentum and timing mechanics are not being removed completely, as developers have stated they purposely want the game speed to be somewhat fast to prevent players from thinking they have to do everything in a day to maximize efficiency. However, there is a more leisurely attitude to Harvestella than games like Rune Factory or ACNH which have set time frames for events that can easily be missed if a player is not careful. Harvestella will not have any elements that cannot be undone or events that have to happen on certain days and times.
Additional features that are being improved on will include cutting the wait time for fishing in half, increasing the attack speeds for mages, and even working towards reducing loading screen times. Fans pointed out other issues which are also being addressed such as adding a visual warning effect to the screen for when the player character is getting close to dying and modifying the UI for save and auto-saves. While the farming life sim's demo, unfortunately, stopped at the end of chapter 2, the players' freedom for exploration and choice of what to focus on opens up quite a bit with chapter 3, which should provide players with a more easygoing experience.
Ultimately, the developers of Harvestella have tried to ensure that players will have an enjoyable and relaxed experience in the game. The player feedback that was received during the demo period has motivated the team to make adjustments and improvements, which in the end will make for a better game for all.