Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar review – Just friendly farming

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In recent times, there’s been an influx of farming simulation games, lite versions, and RPGs following the phenomenal success of Stardew Valley. However, it’s important to remember that Story of Seasons was the pioneer in this genre. Originally named Harvest Moon in the Western market (not connected to the current series due to legal issues), Story of Seasons served as the inspiration for Stardew Valley and its many spin-offs. I believe the original series retains some enchantments that its successors have yet to fully emulate.

Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is an updated version of Harvest Moon DS: Grand Bazaar on Nintendo DS, and it’s a significant improvement in many ways. The original game featured an engaging cast of characters, a fun farming system where you cultivate top-notch crops and create superior seeds for each crop to use throughout the seasons. Add some mild relationship aspects and animal care, and you have all the ingredients for a successful game. Yet, Grand Bazaar manages to streamline the experience without sacrificing its charm.

In a refreshing change, you’re no longer confined to a 2D world; instead, you can traverse a 3D environment with greater freedom. Many loading screens have been eliminated, making the world feel more continuous. This means you can now effortlessly leap across rivers instead of walking around to reach bridges, and swiftly move through areas to complete tasks quicker than before.

Moreover, while using tools, you can now jump to extend their reach, although this will deplete your stamina. This feature is particularly useful for streamlining your farming activities.

Previously, you had to manually move each animal in and out of the barn daily for exercise. Now, simply ringing a bell encourages them to follow you outside. This, along with many other minor enhancements, contributes to Grand Bazaar being a more enjoyable gaming experience.

During the week, your farming journey primarily revolves around the Grand Bazaar, serving as the heart of the experience. Progress in the game is mainly delayed until Saturdays, when the bustling marketplace opens. On Saturdays, you can offload the produce you’ve collected during the week and take advantage of unique stalls within the bazaar that offer physical upgrades for your farm, such as additional storage space, more land for crops, more animals, and even enhancements for your own stall at the bazaar.

In contrast to other Strategy of Survival games, where you receive daily rewards for your produce, this one encourages a specific rhythm to the game. This could make the period leading up to the bazaar seem rather lengthy, particularly if you’re running out of storage. However, it can also be extremely gratifying, as it provides generous amounts of money and upgrades.

In these games, when you’re not busy working your fields, you can engage in charming interactions with the diverse main characters scattered around town. Each character has unique characteristics, preferences, and conditions for pursuing a relationship. Additionally, there are secondary characters who add life to the café, streets, and marketplace, especially during times when the principal cast is occupied with their own affairs. Unlike many games, these titles offer a more populated townscape, adding depth and vibrancy that aligns better with the Grand Bazaar theme.

As a gamer, I’d say if you pit Story of Seasons against Stardew Valley – considering all the updates and enhancements Stardew has had over the years – you might find yourself a tad underwhelmed. It offers a more straightforward farming adventure that primarily rewards perseverance and diligence. However, it lacks some elements present in the original game, such as multiplayer interactions, which can be quite disappointing. Nonetheless, it stands out as an exceptional farming game, especially when leveraging the capabilities of the Nintendo Switch 2.

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but express my enthusiasm for Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar! This remake breathes new life into an underrated Nintendo DS gem and it truly shines. It’s a delightfully uncomplicated game that doesn’t overburden the player, yet offers an immensely rewarding experience as you cultivate your farm, collect your crops, and reap lucrative rewards at the bustling Grand Bazaar.

For those seeking a well-crafted, comforting game to accompany the arrival of Autumn, Grand Bazaar is an excellent option – it’s like having your very own seasonal companion!

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2025-08-26 16:46