When he arrived last March Animal Crossing: New Horizons it was the ideal game to withstand a pandemic: it provided new levels of digital connection when people felt very separated. Every day, there were new stories about events inside No animals (I’m still sad, Elijah Wood never came to my island). The Slack and Discord communities emerged to allow people to exchange recipes, barter furniture and other household items and find the highest price of turnip each week. A friend of mine even argued virtual book events within the game.
A year later, many people were still dealing with Covid-19. For the most part, everyone exists within the socially distanced status quo. But despite the way it looks, things are very different in March 2021. The world feels a little less out of control, many of my vulnerable loved ones are vaccinated and I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. I still find the style of No animals relaxing, but now I need a little more complexity of my game. Hence my obsession with Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town.
If you have not played in History of the seasons game (o Stardew Valley, because this game is based on an old installment of History of the seasons), is something like that No animals, but with more depth. I like AC, Pioneers of the city of Oliva it’s what you do with it, but unlike this game, there’s a lot to do. Once you have completed the main plot of No animals, you can improve your island and interact with your villagers, but there is no further movement forward. It is up to you to create your own story; it’s not really meant to be played in binges, but in small doses for several days, weeks, and months.
Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town, instead, it starts with you, the main character, who inherits your grandfather’s old farm. It is your job to set it up: this includes planting crops, repairing barns (cows! Alpacas! Hens!) And fixing old bridges to access new parts of the farm. But wait, there are many more: your farm is adjacent to a pretty sizable city. Not only can you go shopping, have a drink at the cafe, buy new clothes and cut your hair, but you can make friends and even get married.
I can’t overemphasize the amount of things that need to be done in this game, and that’s why it’s perfect right now. Yes Animal Crossing: New Horizons defined the life of pandemic and closure of 2020, then Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town is the game of hope of the 2021 reopening of hope.
One year ago, Pioneers of the city of Oliva I would have felt overwhelmed. It wouldn’t have worked for me because I needed something to calm my nerves and the possibilities would have seemed too endless. Now, it’s the perfect amount of commitment. I’m still anxious (that’s my secret, I’m always anxious). I’m not saying it’s all like that well but it gradually improved. I have the energy and ability to devote a little more time to games and manage more complexity.
Besides, Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town it can be as much or as little as you want. No animals it emphasizes enjoying the creative, and that’s amazing (and it’s necessary, I’m glad it is), but not the whole brain finds long-term satisfaction and relief. At some point, I needed more than the game was able to offer. Pioneers of the city of Oliva provides this.
I should also add that sometimes No animals It felt like a busy job: the obligation to check in every day, show up to buy turnips and then sell them (why were my prices always terrible?), Take those Nook miles. It bothered me to feel tied to the game for homework. Pioneers of the city of Oliva you can play compulsively — I’ve wasted a lot of time on it, in a good way — but the timing of the game isn’t tied to real life. I can pick it up and leave it at my disposal, and whether I’ve spent a day, a week, or a month, no one gives me any guilt for leaving (and cockroaches).
That doesn’t mean that History of the seasons is better than No animals—They are two totally different experiences and it’s up to you to find which one works best. But if you have run out of things No animals and you miss deeply that satisfaction you felt when you played it, if you need more sense of accomplishment in your entertainment, Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town could be your favorite game of 2021.
Bigger cable stories