By Theresa Afful

If you are searching for a cozy game that has a similar vibe to Stardew Valley, then you don’t have to look for long because a new remake of a classic game was just released. The Story of  Season: Grand Bazaar, which I played on the Nintendo Switch, is a heartwarming life and farming simulation, set “in a place full of fresh breezes and colorful characters.” 

This remake of Harvest Moon: Grand Bazaar takes place in the fictional Zephyr Town, a once prosperous locale known far and wide for its grand bazaar and chill atmosphere. Over the years it has fallen on hard times and is unable to live up to its name, which literally means “gentle breeze.” As a new farmer your job is to revive the town to what it once was, by planting and selling your wares at the bazaar. Not only do you get to start your own farm but also get to start your own family, as you are given romance options with the locals and are able to go on dates, and even marry your favorite character. 

The artwork is very cute and its anime nature fits the genre. The design and artwork of the game have come a long way from how it was in Harvest Moon DS: Grand Bazaar which was released over 16 years ago. There have been many noticeable changes to the game’s artwork  and design over the years. One of them being the grass. In the Harvest Moon DS edition the grass remained still and didn’t stand out as much (although breeze moved the tree branches)., 

In the remade Grand Bazaar, the grass is much brighter and moves along with the wind which stands out a lot and gives me a feeling of reality.. Another change is the map design as it used to be brown and somewhat dull in the DS version but is now vibrant and full of life. Though this is completely unrelated, I noticed that the graphics of the Harvest Moon DS: Grand Bazaar reminded me of the Legend of Zelda games from around the same time (like Phantom Hourglass). 

The writing is exactly what I expected it to be once I saw the cover, I say that because it doesn’t stand out and is very predictable. It is neither good nor bad. In almost all farming games it’s the players job to build up their farm to help the town and often there’s a little bit of romance in the game and then you call it a day, Story of the Season: Grand Bazaar follows this dynamic. I understand that it’s a remake but they should have enhanced the story more, at least as much as the art style. Even the game mechanics now add gliding through the air by holding onto a big leaf. New and better writing would have been a real boon. 

The characters all have unique personalities which fits them. Kevin, one of the kids who resides at the village, is very mischievous and likes to play pranks on his parents and the other locals. This trait fits him well. Another unique character is Derek who is seen as a big brother by Kevin. Derek is honest and kindhearted. He’s always looking out for Kevin and making sure he doesn’t go too far with his pranks. He even suggests safer pranks he knows won’t harm anyone. But they will still keep Kevin happy. The voice acting from Keven, Derek and all the characters is very well done. Each line is delivered perfectly, and the voices all match the character perfectly.

The music isn’t that life-changing, but it’s very calming. With such soothing music the player is able to relax while playing. The songs remind me of the kind of background music played on those princess movies and shows like “Snow White” and “Sophia the First,” which is very nostalgic. Even the sound of the character walking through the grass is super calming. Everything sounds as it’s supposed to sound like the soft breeze and the sound of the river as it flows under the bridge everyday. The developers really did a great job here. 

I played Grand Bazaar for a month and during my gaming session I noticed many things. Such as how surprisingly useful weeds are and how small the inventory at the beginning was. But it could be later upgraded as you continue playing. Another thing I noticed was that it was often difficult to switch the items on the stall during the bazaar as you had to move the character to the right position before being given the option to switch or place something down. To me, this was a huge waste of time as you need to be quick during the bazaar before the customers leaves. 

Grand Bazaar was generally fun, entertaining – and sometimes stressful. I loved many aspects of it, from farming to building relationships with the locals to cooking extraordinary meals with the ingredients you harvest from your farm. I wasn’t too focused on the romantic aspect of the game and just wanted to build my farm up.  The controls of the game aren’t that hard to grasp. Even if you are struggling to please customers, the controls are accessible to you in the paused menu along with tips.

Although I had my ups and downs, the past month the game was still very interesting and relaxing. I have only played a handful of farming games, and by far this one has become one of my favorite games overall. I have a feeling I will be constantly returning to play Grand Bazaar in the future whenever I am feeling bored. It did have an impact on me. I might even start my own farm after playing this—who knows? Well, maybe a window garden. 

Bronx resident and NYVGCC intern Theresa Afful is starting her second year of high school after graduating Mott Hall III middle school.

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