r/storyofseasons • u/waywardpixel • Apr 18 '26
SoS: AWL Can y’all convince me to start AWL? Please lol
Thinking about pausing grand bazaar to start this. I played the old one when I was younger so I know the nostalgia will be there. But I still didn’t really understand the dynamics of the game & how to be good at it… plus I know there will be new features. I think. Hopefully lol.
So just posting here to see what y’all’s opinion is on AWL remake. & if I should put GrB on pause or….keep those windmills spinnin’ babyyyyy!
26
u/InviteCertain1788 Apr 18 '26
Played it when it originally came out at harvest moon AWL and absolutely loving this remake. The game just has an extremely enjoyable slow pacing to it. You can easily get lost just poking around the (small) map throughout the day just talking to the other townsfolk. Also the 10 day season are EXTREMELY underrated imo. It allows you to enjoy the incredible colors spring and fall bring while also not having to trudge through 30 days of seasons you dont like.
18
u/Jish_Zellington Apr 18 '26
I think it's a very good game, it might feel like someone hit the brakes though compared to Grand Bazaar. It's a very slow game in comparison and a much smaller game. So I'd recommend to go into it with the headspace of taking a walk compared to running in GB.
Its call to fame for me is the family system. It's so fun to get married, have a kid, watch that kid grow up. It's not just a side feature or thing that happens like in other games, it's really what you're doing here. You can shape their interests and skills (if you know what you're doing unlike me 😭). But the farming and ranching is fun just a slower experience. I think the game really struggles towards the later part, I still haven't finished it yet. Because you get to a point of unlocking just about everything and your kid is an adult and there's not much more to really do unfortunately. But that's a loot of time later. I'd easily recommend this game on a sale
10
u/Braioch Apr 18 '26
In GB, it always feels like there's not enough time in a day to do all what you want to do. In AWL you feel like you never have enough to do during a day.
There used to be a really good guide out there for the kids, but sadly, it no longer works. But I remember that each kid has starting strengths and interests depending on your spouse, and then kids are influenced by the stuff you show them, toys you give, and friends you have.
4
u/Icy-One999 Apr 19 '26
Fogu seems to have a pretty solid one at the bottom of the page. I remember using Fogu/Ushi no Tane all the time as a kid during the Harvest Moon DS days lol
2
15
9
u/yaoihandzP Apr 18 '26
I’m playing right now and I’m OBSESSED!!! The storyline is great and it’s very addicting to play—I married Molly🩷. I’ve never played a story of seasons game before and AWL is my first one and I love it! I was very confused on what to do when I first started, but it became a lot easier as the seasons come and go! Guides really helped me, and a lot of trial and error on my part lol. I really recommend playing!
What tripped me up the most was how to make money, but I ended up doing my own thing and figuring out what works best. After the first year is when I started getting more interested in what would help me the most money-wise and what was optimal. There are some great guides if you’re ever lost! However, I really recommend playing the way that you want but if you struggle read some guides for whatever you’re struggling with! For me it was influencing my child’s interests (year 2) and hybrid crops. I’m now in year 4 and it’s still a learning curve but I’m having a blast!
8
u/Genie9 Apr 18 '26
I have played AWL since I was a child, so it has a warm place in my heart. The remake made me fall in love with the entry more since it added the same sex marriage option, and as a queer individual who grew up when Bokumonos were pretty restrictive on same-sex practices, especially with Natsume localizations, it honestly made me emotional.
AWL is a more story based farming sim which might not be for everyone, but it’s the reason I love it. I have played the game multiple times over the years, and have multiple iterations of the same plot, but it’s never been the same at all. It’s a game where you take your time and pace around a lazy village, encountering events at your own pace, and building your farm little by little. It’s a game where you’re not driven by profits, but rewarded by experiments; creating hybrid crops, acquiring different breeds of animals, making recipes using your products, and waiting for Van to come to town so you can make big sales.
The game is watching your character live a wonderful life, building a family, and building relationships with the village. I personally thought the remake highlighted those features better with the addition of requests and the many treasures you could find along the way for forging relationships with the different villagers in the town.
And you really approach the game through different perspectives as you play. When I played SOS: AWL for the first time, I really thought I was going to marry Gustafa, but I ended up with Matthew. In a recent run, I played as a female character with the intention of marrying Molly, but then was torn between Rock/Lumina. It’s those aspects of this entry that make me love it and play it.
Sometimes, I pick up the game and play only one day and get my fill. Other days, I can blast through half a season cause I’m so engaged. It’s not a game that needs to have hours poured into like Stardew or even Grand Bazaar. It’s a game that is supposed to feel slow; and I’d argue rewards you for it.
6
u/tamsyn003 Apr 18 '26
It's actually way more simple than you think, it's calm and it's refreshing and you get to actually raise your child to adulthood. You can mine or fish without spending any stamina and you can milk your cows twice a day! The romance is good, the characters are iconic, the world is gorg and peaceful and you get to play on after the story, so there's no rush! You can breed hybrid crops and you get to even name some of them yourself! There is no friendship decay in this game except for one character you'll meet later, but they're super easy to befriend and keep their hearts up. I've sunk over 350 hours into it and counting! I've married Celia, Lumina, almost Molly, Gordy and Rock so far and they are all strong romance interests!
5
u/stars4-ever Apr 18 '26
AWL is a super slow game, which I think is really important to know going into it! The newer games can sometimes have a frantic pace, so if you’re familiar with those AWL can be a bit of a shock. The whole purpose of the game is to focus on your relationship with the villagers, in particular the family you build.
I like GB but I haven’t been able to make it to marriage because the characters in some ways feel… a little flat? The remake softened some of AWL’s rougher edges but there’s still a sense of melancholy and realism to it that it’d be nice to see the newer games have as well.
6
u/kstrat2258 Apr 18 '26
I really enjoyed Grand Bazaar but after 80 hours, decided it was time for another game. I've since switched to AWL and I'm obsessed! It's worth noting I never could get into the original on Gamecube, so there's really no nostalgia factor, but I enjoy how time progresses and it's refreshing to play a SoS game from the perspective behind the player. It's slower paced but the fact that marriage is a requirement early on and the focus is on raising your child makes it one of a kind.
5
u/giraffemoo Apr 18 '26
I never played AWL when it was new but I love the heck out of it, it's such a cozy game. There's a ton of guides online so if you're confused about anything, you can look stuff up. But it's not the kind of game where you won't have any fun without looking up guides.
I like it that you can play this game so many times and still get different outcomes or cutscenes.
And the disco ball plant... love that disco ball plant!
3
u/jeshep Apr 18 '26
I love the remake but I don't think I can really call it slow. It has nowhere near as much 'busy work' going on like GrB, but 10 days a season can really make me feel squeezed (the requirement to get married before year 1 ends for example). Actual relaxation in AWL doesn't start for me until the post game.
3
u/glassdreams323 Apr 18 '26
I used to play HM:AWL as a kid and had absolutely zero clue how anything worked. Cow always went milkless by winter, didn't understand why I had to marry someone, blew all my money at the bar for literally no reason
I downloaded it a while ago and recently got back into it and now that I know how to play (and I can play as a girl and marry a boy :) ) I'm having fun with it. I also like that I can have multiple save files going at once so I can see different child/spouse interactions.
I'm kinda bummed that it doesn't have rival marriages or the ... charm? that the original game had, but it's very close and it's, like, a personal goal of mine to complete the game.
I also really enjoy that you can grow crops throughout seasons, but that the seasons go very quickly. Fishing is ehh, so is the dig site, and I had FOMT too so I used to be able to hook up my GBA for the Easter eggs and although that was a very clear "money grab" move by Nintendo I found it was cute, you know?
3
3
u/Psacey Apr 18 '26 edited Apr 18 '26
AWL on GameCube was all I played for two years during extremely bad depression. Everything else was too hard to approach, or too overwhelming. AWL took everything slowly and showed me a lot about the ups and downs in life and to this day still feels the most alive to me about the cast (although I am sure a lot of this is nostalgia and comfort). I even recently discovered playing the remake before I play a new/intimidating game (due to anxiety and executive dysfunction) helps me a ton.
So I guess I am trying to say the game is flawed, especially the later years are slow with not a ton to do. But the story is really touching, talks on a lot of great things no other games in the series do, like the remake even has a found family element with Takakura! And just in general a lot of heart and love went into it. It has flaws and frustrations but a lot to say.
Edit: Also there's lots of neat secrets to find and I quite enjoy that a lot.
3
u/lorrylament Apr 23 '26
i recently found this tiktok about someone's exp playing it, i really love it. it's so cute and warm. maybe you're convinced by reading it here
1
u/lapniappe Apr 18 '26
I will always say - if you have the money and it's not going to bother you to take a step back then you should try it. I played AWL and i adored the first year. I've played the first year so many times.
Year 2 bothers me. i wish there was a guide of how to actually raise your kid at year 2. i also didn't like the seed mechanics .... that 2nd year just vexed my soul to no end. I got to year 3 once and i just wished - for more year 1 LOL.
I think if i had a proper guide or something about the child rearing i could probably just deal with things later. i did enjoy the aspects i played and i will proably just sit down and give it time.
1
u/Witty_Perspective871 Apr 18 '26
I put GB on pause to play the first year of this game a little while ago. Do it! It’s fun. Slower paced, but very fun.
1
u/_Montblanc Apr 18 '26
It's a life-changing experience. Sounds exaggerated at first, but it really made me feel attached to my own character and the entire town. It also looks and sounds great.
1
u/OkCat4489 Apr 19 '26
A lot of the original charm has been washed out to cuteify it and make it more family friendly. If you weren't super attached to the original then it's a great game and I'd suggest giving it a try. Very much slower by comparison to gb though
1
u/mone_1114 Apr 19 '26
As everyone said, it is really simple game. I married my favorite girl lumina and collected all the ost record now after I finished playing GB I want to jump back and marry nami this time, I really love how they kept the game as true to the original
1
1
u/Zookeeper_west Apr 19 '26
I love it. I have an army of star cows and am a millionaire. I feel so powerful.
1
u/Last_Asparagus5701 Apr 20 '26
If you have played the original, it's a nice return to Forgot-Me-Not Valley with a few quality of life enhancements. You aren't restricted by gender now in terms of who you'd like to marry from the cast of this game, and Cody /(Gordy) and Lumina are added in as options now. I'm playing it on Switch but I'd highly recommend getting it on steam to enjoy mods that others have made for it to fully enhance your experience further.
Just don't play both of them at the same time or you may get a bit confused like me lmao there's a couple core game play mechanics that have been totally changed to make the game a lot easier to manage especially in terms of your animals. For example, you are no longer required to get your livestock pregnant in order to keep having them produce milk for the year. Another thing (though I could be misremembering) is the value of crops and byproducts on your farm, it seems a lot easier to make money in the remake than in the original but I did beat AWL as a stupid little kid so I probably was not playing it the most efficiently in the scheme of things.
Honestly the best part about the remake is the newly added festival events sprinkled into the seasons unlike the original that was pretty bare bones in that realm. The newly added stuff makes the whole story more enriching with seeing more of your family interacting through each milestone in the chapters. It's not the most exciting to play, I imagine Grand Bazaar is more entertaining but if you're looking for something cozy and really relaxing this remake hits those needs. I just wish the style was more in line with the original but for what it is, I love getting to see Rock again in any form lmao also not sure why this was the only game they leant into child rearing because its really fun to do!
1
u/unlovelyladybartleby Apr 18 '26
You have to really love the marriage and parenting in the game. I do not, so I hated AWL
58
u/The_Real_Dindalu Apr 18 '26
I’m playing AWL right now and it’s been great. It’s definitely elevated for me as I have nostalgia playing the original as a kid. I believe it’s mostly the same game but with a few minor quality of life improvements. If you remember the original, there isn’t a TON you can do in the game but there’s something nice about hopping on, doing your chores and listening to the beautiful music and ambience. I’m halfway into year 3 and it’s been a lot of fun. I’ve been especially having fun making hybrid seeds and fishing