It is no secret that the farming simulation genre of video games has come a long way sinceHarvest Moon’sdebut. While the popularity of farming RPGs continues to fluctuate, games such asStardew Valleyhave since revitalized player interest. Although theHarvest Moonfranchise, now known asStory of Seasons, is still alive and thriving, some would argue that its peak lies with games found in previous generation consoles.
Luckily forHarvest Moonfans, the video game industry, in general, is seeing an upward trend towards the revival of retro games, either through remasters on current generation consoles or full-fledged remakes. One recent platform that makes access to older games possible isSony’s PlayStation Plus Premium. While its library of classic games is still limited, it holds so much potential for fans of oldHarvest Moongames.
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How PS Plus Premium Could Be A Haven for Harvest Moon Fans
After years of pressure from PlayStation fans, Sony finally added a new tier in the PS Plus service that would grant players access to games from previous generations of PlayStation consoles. The specific level that offersaccess to classic games from the PS1 and PS2is PS Plus Premium, which is, of course, the most expensive. At the moment, while the library of games is still limited, Sony promised that it would continue to release even more games allowing players to revisit their favorite retro games.
Unfortunately, none of the oldHarvest Moongames are available on PS Plus Premium at the time of writing. The onlyHarvest Moongames players can access via PS Plus are the recent entries made by Natsume and not the original developer. It is worth noting theHarvest Moongames under the Natsume brand are not as belovedas those under the original franchise. However, since the original series still has a solid fan base, it wouldn’t be surprising if Sony does decide to include several entries in the originalHarvest Moonfranchise. Of course, it would be nice to see allHarvest Moongames on PS Plus Premium, but there are two specific entries that Sony should prioritize first, given that they were the ones that propelled the franchise into popularity.
Harvest Moon Games That Should Be Added to PS Plus Premium
First up isHarvest Moon: Back To Nature, which was initially released for the PS1 in 1999. For the uninitiated,Back To Naturewas the firstHarvest Moongame outside Nintendo consoles. While its story and characters remain mostly the same as its predecessors,Back To Natureintroduced several quality-of-life features still used in farming simulators today. Given its charming story and improved gameplay mechanics,Harvest Moon: Back To Naturewas remade for the Game Boy Advance and was calledHarvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town, which is widely considered the best entry in the franchise.
Unsurprisingly,Friends of Mineral Townbecame an iconic entry that the game was remade again decades later for the Nintendo Switch and was titledStory of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town. WhileFriends of Mineral TownmadeHarvest Moonking of farming simulators, none of that would have happened withoutHarvest Moon: Back To Nature.
AnotherHarvest Moongame that should be added to PS Plus Premium isHarvest Moon: A Wonderful Life. WhileA Wonderful Lifewas initially released for the GameCube, it was later ported to the PS2, taking advantage of the console’s powerful performance. It is no secret thatHarvest Moon: A Wonderful Liferemains a beloved game to mostHarvest Moonfans, thanks to the introduction of some realistic elements that are considered ahead of their time. Of course, no game is perfect, andA Wonderful Lifedoes have its flaws, such as the unremarkable cast of characters and its simplified marriage mechanic. Nonetheless,Harvest Moon: A Wonderful LifeandBack To Naturewould be great additions tothe growing library of Sony’s PS Plus Premium. Not only would their inclusion make PS Plus a haven for farming simulator enthusiasts, but they could also introduce the wonderful world ofHarvest Moonto a new generation of players.
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