Doraemon Story of Seasons
- October 10, 2019
- Brownies Inc.
- 3h median play time
"Doraemon Story of Seasons" is a farming simulation game that combines the popular Doraemon franchise with the long-running Story of Seasons series. Players will help out around the town of Natura, building bonds with the residents and enjoying heart-warming interactions. In addition to farming, players can explore the town, go on adventures, and use Doraemon's gadgets to assist them in various activities. The theme of the game is creating connections and experiencing the unique story of each character.
Reviews
- Gorgeous watercolor graphics that enhance the overall aesthetic of the game.
- Charming characters and an interesting story that deviates from typical farming sim tropes.
- Relaxing gameplay that allows players to unwind and enjoy a casual farming experience.
- Extremely long and unskippable tutorial that can take up to an hour before actual gameplay begins.
- Grindy mechanics with expensive upgrades and slow progression, making it tedious for some players.
- Clunky controls, especially when using a keyboard, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- story426 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story in "Doraemon: Story of Seasons" is generally well-received, offering a refreshing departure from typical farming game tropes, with engaging characters and a charming narrative that resonates particularly well with fans of the Doraemon franchise. However, some players find the pacing slow and the dialogue excessive, which can detract from the overall experience, especially for those unfamiliar with the source material. While the game features delightful visuals and music, it may not satisfy those seeking a more mature or streamlined storytelling approach.
“The story is actually quite interesting and not your typical 'take over farm after grandpa died' which is so overused at this point.”
“The main storyline and other sub-stories are well written and heart-touching.”
“A fresh, engaging story of Nobita, Doraemon, and all their friends - character acting on point and full of heart!”
“After reading through 20 minutes of uninspired storytelling, I've ended up asking for a refund.”
“Endless unskippable dialogue that does not further any plot only to get to simple gameplay with more repetitive dialogue with every action.”
“The storylines were all a bit flat and childish, and there are very limited dialogue options.”
- grinding212 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of "Doraemon: Story of Seasons" is frequently criticized, with many players noting that the game requires excessive effort to build relationships and upgrade tools, making it feel tedious and repetitive, especially in the late game. While some enjoy the slow-paced, casual gameplay, others find the grinding overwhelming and unfun, particularly when compared to more rewarding activities like fishing and mining. Overall, the game appeals to dedicated fans of farming sims, but those averse to grinding may want to reconsider.
“It has a friendship system, but even building your friendship with other villagers was a grind because it's really slow and tedious. You have to give a lot of perfect gifts to max friendship, 166 or so perfect gifts for each villager to gain max heart, which is absolutely wild!”
“Late game is unfortunately a huge grind though; the game becomes extremely grinding for various important late game tools, machines, and upgrades for the house, barns, coop, and more.”
“Considering these grinds are probably why people will rarely complete the game from start to end. I should warn people that you will inevitably reach a point in the game very much later on where the game becomes a huge grinding simulator.”
- graphics184 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Doraemon: Story of Seasons" are widely praised for their beautiful watercolor art style, which evokes a charming, hand-drawn aesthetic reminiscent of classic manga. Players appreciate the cute character designs and soothing visuals that enhance the overall relaxing gameplay experience, making it a standout feature of the game. While some critiques mention that the graphics may not reach the level of more advanced titles, the unique art style and nostalgic appeal resonate strongly with fans of the genre.
“This game's visuals have its own aesthetic: it looks like they are straight out of a hand-drawn, water-colored manga, and it is wonderful.”
“The graphics are beautiful, they look like watercolor paintings.”
“With gorgeous visuals and a never-ending list of things to do, it’s unlikely that you’ll get bored while playing it.”
“Unfortunately, the beauty of the visuals cannot make up for the horrible, horrible controls.”
“- Graphics are cute, but the environment feels unrealistic; there is no splendid 2D art nor 3D art in this game, it feels like it was made for smartphones.”
“- Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility and Animal Parade, games from the 00's, beat this game in every aspect by miles, even in the graphical one, especially if played in HD resolution.”
- music104 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing and cheerful soundtracks, which enhance the overall atmosphere and complement the beautiful visuals. Many players find the music calming and nostalgic, although some note that certain tracks can be overly repetitive or high-pitched, leading to a desire to turn it off at times. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features of the game, contributing significantly to its relaxing and immersive experience.
“A masterful game that brings an incredible amount of nostalgia, joy, and relaxation - enjoy a gourmet of beautiful art, music, and storytelling.”
“As someone who loves to play games with music on and immerse myself in it, the soundtracks in this game are simply a masterpiece.”
“The artwork and music style are so soothing; this is the kind of game that pleases your eyes and soul :)”
“And is it just me or do some of the songs just put the player to sleep?”
“The music is loud and the sound effects are constant and annoying.”
“I thought I was getting a game but I'm just getting a Saturday morning cartoon soundtrack.”
- gameplay102 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is often compared to classic farming games like Harvest Moon, featuring simple mechanics and a relaxing atmosphere, though it can become repetitive over time. While the incorporation of Doraemon's gadgets adds a unique twist, many players find certain mechanics frustrating and lacking in balance, particularly regarding farming yields. The lengthy tutorial and some clunky controls detract from the overall experience, but the charming graphics and nostalgic elements keep players engaged.
“The gameplay itself is relaxing, but it gets repetitive after a while. This game managed to keep me entertained and coming back for more.”
“Super relaxing gameplay, with the best graphics and the best music among all the Story of Seasons games.”
“The game perfectly blends the Harvest Moon gameplay with the Doraemon franchise, which can be seen in the story development and Doraemon's gadgets to make your farm life easier.”
“One of my biggest gripes with gameplay is that when you get a task during an event, you have to make it a point to note what the next mission is for yourself or else you'll have to go to the mayor's office to look through the event again, and that's even if you find the right one.”
“I've also read in other reviews that the farming mechanic doesn't seem to yield much for what you put in, and sadly, I have to agree.”
“As you progress, there is definitely a lack of content and interactive gameplay felt.”
- emotional28 mentions
- 93 % positive mentions
- -4 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its heartwarming and bittersweet storytelling, with well-written main and sub-stories that evoke strong emotional connections to the characters and themes of family and friendship. While the charming artwork and wholesome atmosphere are highlighted, some players feel a lack of emotional investment due to tedious cutscenes and a perceived lack of significance in the overall storyline. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a relaxing and endearing experience, despite some mixed feelings about character depth.
“The main storyline and other sub-stories are well written and heart-touching.”
“Legitimately one of the most charming and heartwarming games that I have ever played.”
“It's quite fun finding out Ryam (the mayor) has a heart, and it's very touching when you finally need to say goodbye to all your friends in Natura.”
“The storyline is incredibly dull and fails to engage the player emotionally, making it feel unimportant.”
“There is a lack of emotional depth in the narrative, leaving players feeling disconnected and uninterested.”
“The game does not provide any emotional stakes, resulting in a flat and uninspiring experience.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by soothing and cheerful soundtracks, complemented by good voice acting, which together create a vibrant and delightful environment. Despite a limited number of 3D models, the overall ambiance is described as relaxing and friendly, making the gameplay enjoyable, even during repetitive tasks.
“The atmosphere is pretty relaxing, so you might find the grind enjoyable.”
“A relaxing, friendly atmosphere.”
“Love the atmosphere and the gameplay since it's quite relaxing.”
- humor6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a mixed reception regarding the humor in the game; while some players find the jokes to be forced and unfunny, others appreciate the humor as charming and enjoyable. Overall, the humor seems to resonate differently among players, with a notable divide in opinion.
“Very funny :)”
“Lovely and funny so much”
“Very funny :)”
“Whoever wrote the seed description should have focused on wheat and grass being in all seasons instead of including forced, unfunny jokes in the dialogues.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some users experiencing performance issues on lower-end hardware, particularly with Intel graphics, despite the game's relatively small file size. While the art direction is praised, players report inconsistent frame rates and dips due to CPU and GPU clock fluctuations, suggesting that further optimization could enhance the experience.
“Art direction is fantastic, performance is mostly solid.”
“For a 700MB+ game, this game shouldn't have problems on Intel graphics after toning down some effects.”
“I play on Radeon Vega 8 mobile at 1080p 30-60 fps, and dips are caused by inconsistent CPU and GPU clocks.”
“For a game that is over 700MB, it shouldn't have performance issues on Intel graphics after reducing some effects. I'm playing on a Radeon Vega 8 mobile at 1080p, getting 30-60 fps, but I'm experiencing dips due to inconsistent CPU and GPU clocks.”
- stability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is polarizing; while some users report frequent crashes and bugs, others experience smooth gameplay without any issues.
“I haven't had any issues running the game; no glitches or lags.”
“I haven't had any issues running the game; no glitches or lags.”
“Buggy, often crashes.”
“Buggy, often crashes.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the reviews highlight the appealing watercolor art style and character designs, they do not provide specific insights into the depth or progression of character development within the game. Overall, the focus seems to be more on the visual aesthetics rather than the narrative or growth of the characters.