my only negative is that the majority of the single characters are a little TOO flirty/eager at zero hearts, which is just the norm for games with romance right now.

It looks super cute

canarycry: It is, without being super saccharine imo? I think it helps a little that while it's peppy and upbeat it's not verging into the realm of overly cutesy.

There's also way more writing and thought put into the characters than well, Stardew or most Harvest Moon/SoS games. Like there's actively different social groups present in the game with the cast of of characters.

i also don't feel like I'm locked INTO only farming, it's closer to more "general life sim" than "farm sim".

i do like how the museum in particular feels more integrated

like why is it here? it's eiland's personal project because he is a fucking nerd

people will talk about the museum's finds to you

and sometimes you get backstory out of it (like how the fishing lady was a former soldier so she mentions stuff about the warbanners you dig up)

Yeah, everything you do feels way more integrated.

The combat also feels actually good??? unlike the pain it is in SDV.

Like there's still a little clunkiness from the format/maybe early access but it doesn't feel stapled on.

using the copper sword feels kinda bad and then you get the iron sword and it's like

OH THIS ACTUALLY FEELS WAY BETTER.

letting you unlock the jump attack really early is a godsend tbh, it's a huuuge qol addition

It also makes more sense because the vibe/implied impression I get for the PC is more "vaguely initially down on luck/starting adventurer" than giving an office worker turned farmer a sword and telling them get at it.

While also having that former office worker trying to figure out farming.

rukafais: I keep slacking on picking that on up!!! There are so many good skills....

But honestly, I AM mining way more in this game than I did in SDV because I just hated the combat so much.

yeah it makes a lot more sense in a fantasy setting

like yeah ok you are a podunk beginner adventurer

who moved out to the boonies to try your hands at things

you know your way around a sword and whatnot

The economy also feels way better/more natural because like while yes, you can still do the usual "mine your ore to get ingots and upgrade your equipment" it's also not totally locked away if you decide you actually hate mining.

yeah you can just buy shit

and they'll be like HEY WE'RE SELLING BETTER TOOLS NOW

Which is funny because it makes MORE sense for the modern setting games to just buy all the tools!

ALSO THE FACT SHOPPING ISNT LINKED TO A VENDOR BEING PHYSICALLY THERE IS REALLY GOOD

and it sells the idea of it being a small town where everyone knows each other really well

Yeah, it absolutely makes sense for the setting.

There are also some aspects in here that I've also noticed in Coral Island in terms of general improvements on the genre that have been taken a step further here, too.