These updates to gameplay have helped keep new titles relevant, as well as acknowledging the wider fan base that enjoys them.ĭeveloper Marvelous has also updated and diversified the personalities and backgrounds of the Story of Seasons marriage candidates players can engage with, bringing in cultures from around the world and translating them into the region for the game. Story of Seasons developers removed gender locks on specific appearances and clothing and added LGBTQA marriage options in the remake of Friends of Mineral Town and the upcoming Pioneers of Olive Town. The series' handling of diversity, in general, has taken big leaps. More recent Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons titles have been well balanced and inclusive in both protagonist routes. Thankfully, modern games haven't continued the gender biases that could potentially frustrate fans wanting to enjoy farming and getting married. Why Story Of Seasons Inclusivity Is A Good Step Forward Each route was even described differently, with Harvest Moon: Boy & Girl's boy characters on a path to fulfill their " Destiny," while girls were subject to their " Fate" instead. This created a situation where playing as a female character cut a large chunk of the game out, unfairly punishing players for their choice. While male characters could keep tending their farms and raising a family after marriage, the female character route abruptly ended when she got married. In games like Harvest Moon GBC 3 and Harvest Moon: Boy & Girl, if a player chose to play as a girl, they would be in for an unfortunate surprise when they selected a bachelor and get married. Related: Why Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town ISN'T A Harvest Moon GameĮven in titles that allowed it, though, playing as a female character came with limitations. The first time a player could select a female protagonist was in Harvest Moon GB, and, unfortunately, the number of other early Harvest Moon games that included a playable female character was slim. This was also the case for many other games, like Harvest Moon 64, Harvest Moon: Back to Nature, Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town and Harvest Moon DS. When the first Harvest Moon game released for the SNES in 1996, players could only play as the male protagonist, Pete.
#HARVEST MOON DS MARRIGE SERIES#
However, Harvest Moon's marriage system was very different before the series rebranded to Story of Seasons after splitting with Natsume, restricting gameplay options and who players could select as the protagonist of each game. Fans who enjoy these slice-of-life farming simulators can build homes, care for livestock like chickens and cows, and engage in digital romance with the marriage candidates of the towns they settled in. Farming virtual crops in games like Story of Seasons and Harvest Moon is a relaxing way to get away from the struggles of day-to-day life.