Natsume recently streamed gameplay for its upcoming title Harvest Moon: Mad Dash on both the PS4 and Switch, showcasing the game's mini-game like mechanics and adorable graphics.
Harvest Moon was released on the Super Nintendo in August of 1996, receiving immediate praise from critics. After the first title, development for the series would be handed over to Victor Interactive Software who, in partnership with Natsume, would create many popular installments in the franchise. Shortly after releasing Harvest Moon: Save the Homeland in 2001, Victor Interactive Software would be acquired by Marvelous Entertainment, eventually causing a breakup of the partnership with Natsume, a company that had handled all North American releases of the Harvest Moon series of games.
After the release of Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning in February 2012, Marvelous would choose to have its own subsidiary, Xseed Games, handle all North American releases while also switching the name from Harvest Moon to Story of Seasons, giving Natsume the rights to the Harvest Moon name.
As a result, Natsume would go on to release its own series of Harvest Moon games starting with Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley in November of 2014, a game that received less than favorable reviews. Natsume wouldn't be deterred by the lukewarm reception and would release Harvest Moon: Skytree Village for the 3DS, a game that would achieve higher ratings than its predecessor. Now, more than four years later, the company has released gameplay footage for its upcoming title, Harvest Moon: Mad Dash.
The gameplay footage can be found on Natsume's official YouTube channel, where it's revealed that consumers have the choice of playing the game solo or with friends. Additionally, Natsume states in the description that players will have access to multiple activities within the game including fishing, milking, and harvesting, while also completing orders which will allow them to advance to the next level.
The footage itself shows a fast-paced game complete with mini-game like mechanics which require the player to match like items with one another within an interactive board to generate points and advance to the next stage. In addition to information related to points, the gameplay trailer also reveals some of the obstacles that each player will face, with one example being a herd of stampeding wild boars. Harvest Moon: Mad Dash will release on both the Nintendo Switch and PS4 on October 29th.
While the older Harvest Moon games would take a lot of time and effort to accomplish anything worthwhile, Harvest Moon: Mad Dash appears to be a bit more casual. It's clear that Natsume understands the market and the difficulty that comes with selling farming games and they have been able to create something that everyone will enjoy, giving them a greater chance of success.