Harvestella – Talking to the creators of the brand new life-simulation RPG Interview

In the past few years, Square Enix has become one of the strongest supporters of the Nintendo Switch platform. Its line-up of games especially caters to fans of role-playing games, who should keep an eye out for the upcoming Harvestella game launching this Friday. The new title combines both life sim and RPG elements into one singular adventure.

Prior to its release, we had the opportunity to talk to the lead developers behind Harvestella. Daisuke Taka (Producer) and Hiroto Furuya (Director) from Square Enix were kind enough to take some time and answer our questions about the game. During the interview we learned more about what the game is and how it came to be in the first place. Please enjoy.

Mr. Taka (left) and Mr. Furuya (right).

© Square Enix Co., Ltd.

ntower: We would like you to first introduce yourselves to our readers. What were your responsibilities while developing Harvestella and what are some of the games you were previously involved in?

Taka: I am the Producer and in charge of game design. Previously, I’ve worked on the development of mobile titles, including Puyopuyo Quest and Another Eden.

Furuya: I am the Director and scenario writer. I worked with Mr Taka on Another Eden, as Director.

When the game was first announced this summer, it came out of nowhere! For how long have you been working on this title and how did it materialize in the first place? Lately, I’ve been seeing an influx of simulation games in the gaming landscape.

Taka: The development took four years. I joined Square Enix four years ago, so it was a project that started up right after I began working for the company. Personally, I really love the simulation and strategy genres, so I’m delighted to see a wide array of games being released.

With Harvestella being a completely new IP, I would like you to tell us in your own words what Harvestella is about and what you feel makes the game stand out amongst other titles similar to it.

Taka: Harvestella is unique among life sim RPGs in how it’s based around a main, serious storyline focusing on Quietus. There aren’t many other games where the life sim part happens against the backdrop of a world on the brink of crisis. I hope players will enjoy seeing what characters think and how they live their lives in light of Quietus.

Who do you reckon would have the most fun playing Harvestella? What’s the ratio of RPG and simulation elements?

Taka: I would love for players who want to enjoy both a good life sim and RPG to pick up the game.

And the ratio of RPG to simulation elements… they’re both 100 %.

Even outside the main story there's lots of fun to be had.

© Square Enix Co., Ltd.

Now, let’s further dive into the gameplay aspects. How does a typical day in the game world look like? What are players able to do and how is game progression structured?

Taka: It’s up to the player how they use their day. If it were me, I would work in the fields in the morning. I would water the crops, and if anything is ready to harvest, I would harvest and ship it. After that, I would think about whether to make progress with the main story or whether to go into town and buy some seeds to stock up, at the same time as making progress with character quests. Maybe if I had some free time, I’d go fishing or something.

As you make progress through the main story, you’ll be able to visit new areas. In those areas, you might be able to buy new seeds or find rare materials. And if that new area is a dungeon, it will be extremely difficult to complete it in a single day – try heading back and setting out for it again the next day!

Seasons seem to play a greater role during this adventure. Other than the four known seasons there’s also a fifth one named Quietus. How can players picture this time of year and how does it affect gameplay?

Furuya: Quietus is a natural disaster that occurs on this planet. In Harvestella, you’ll explore what Quietus really is, and then think about and decide how to face it.

During Quietus, the townspeople will hide away inside their houses. Of course, the shops won’t open either. Crops in the field will wither. It’s important to plan to harvest all of your crops before Quietus arrives.

Is there some sort of time limit in the game and will players be punished for taking too long for certain things? How much freedom will players have when choosing what to do?

Taka: We haven’t added a time limit, so you can play at your own pace. You could play for 10 or 20 years. You might think that you have to resolve everything right away…! But, we hope you’ll understand that’s just the RPG part showing through.

During their travels players will get to know a wide array of characters.

© Square Enix Co., Ltd.

Obviously, the world of Harvestella has a lot to offer. If you had to guess, how much time will players need to complete the main story? Are there many side activities to pursue and are players able to continue playing even after completing their adventure?

Furuya: It depends on your playstyle, but if you’re playing a decent amount of the side content, I imagine it should take around 50 hours to complete the main game. If you’re familiar with the genre or just focus solely on the main story, it might take a little less time.

There are lots of side-quests and character stories which can be enjoyed independently of the main story. These aren’t just fetch quests – we’ve given them a proper narrative structure and twists. I hope players will enjoy them, and start with the stories that catch their attention!

Of course, you can continue to play after completing the main story, so it’s perfectly possible to play all the side-content after finishing the story first.

It’s popular for simulation games to include some sort of relationship system. In this regard, Harvestella lets players engage in Character Stories and by doing so makes them learn more about the different characters. Can we assume players form a romantic relationship with someone by completing their respective quest? Can players do this regardless of the chosen gender of their main character?

Furuya: After completing the main story, a partnership event will trigger. If you move forward with that event, you can live together with the character you choose as your partner, regardless of gender.

Has there been anything during development that did not end up in the final game? Is there a chance we might see those ideas realized through DLC or in a sequel?

Taka: We do still have ideas. If we can turn the game into a series, I’d love to make use of them!

The world of Harvestella has its fair share of stunning sceneries.

© Square Enix Co., Ltd.

What struck me the most so far were the pretty character designs and the beautiful soundtrack. Has it been easy deciding on a direction for visuals and sound?

Taka: It definitely wasn’t easy. We spent a lot of time on these aspects and went through a lot of trial and error. We had many meetings with the composer, Go Shiina, and really developed his understanding of the game. He said that this was the most difficult job to date in his career! Thanks to his efforts, the soundtrack is absolutely fantastic.

Furuya: In terms of character design, Yasushi Hasegawa from SQEX is an artist with a very delicate touch, so we asked him to really bring out his own style to the fullest extent. Not only is he a great artist, but he’s also exceptionally talented at coming up with design ideas. And so, we were able to ask him to take care of the complicated and difficult character outlines for Harvestella with total peace of mind. I’m particularly fond of Aria’s sporty lab coat and the Omen designs, which are very refined.

The game will be releasing on the Nintendo Switch but also for PC. Has the game been intended for these platforms from the get-go? Were there any difficulties developing a version specifically for the Nintendo Switch?

Taka: Yes, that was the plan from the beginning. There were a lot of challenges, I’m really grateful to the Unreal Engine development team who offered great support with this.

Thank you very much for taking your time.

You can get to the German translation of this interview by clicking here.