Doraemon Story of Seasons: Friends of the Great Kingdom review

Friends of the Great Kingdom isn’t just another entry in the Story of Seasons franchise. Instead, it captures the heartwarming feel of Doraemon, while bringing some much-needed innovations to the accessible agrarian simulation.

For over 50 years, Nobita “Noby” Nobi has been earning zeros on his school assignments. The Doraemon Story of Seasons franchise explains why: the protagonist is better suited for studying agriculture rather than formal academic subjects. The recent release of Friends of the Great Kingdom has a habit of reiterating the agrarian advice offered by NPCs. But Noby hardly needs their instruction. With some player intervention, he’ll generate bountiful crops, care for stables full of animals, and perhaps even fix the predicament that one of Doraemon’s gadgets has gotten the character and his friends into.

Much like 2019’s Doraemon Story of Seasons, the sequel blends Fujiko Fujio’s beloved property with the mechanics of Story of Seasons / Harvest Moon / Bokujō Monogatari. In execution, it’s an inspired crossover. Typically, the property’s plot revolves around finding a romantic partner. While that’s a commendable goal, after a quarter century’s worth of mainline titles and spin-offs, the pursuit can feel a bit stagnant. Since fans know that Noby will marry Sue/Shizuka (witnessed in 2020’s Stand by Me Doraemon 2), Friends of the Great Kingdom offers a storyline more in line with the Doraemon manga and anime. As such, expect plenty of heartwarming stories, like providing a home for a persistently losing racehorse.

The game’s story begins with Noby using a telescope to examine the night sky. But he’s interrupted by his mother, who scolds him for not doing his chores. Attempting to offer a bit of escapism, Doraemon offers a rocket-powered journey through the cosmos by reaching into his fourth-dimensional pocket. Along with Noby are friends Sue, Big G, and Sneech, who each yearn for a short intergalactic break.

Immediately after landing on an astonishing Earth-like planet named Illuma, they help an injured young boy named Lumis. Grateful for their assistance, the appreciative youth invites Noby and his friends to his farm. The group seems to adapt to Illuma quite effortlessly, with Noby reviving a derelict farm, Big G helping the local construction team, and Sneech lending a hand at the town restaurant.

But when the Queen’s guards suddenly apprehend the gang, worry threatens to dampen energetic spirits. Fortunately, Lumis identifies himself as the Queen’s son, sparing everyone from harsh punishment. But the Monarch worries about the injurious potential of Doraemon’s gadgets, confiscating the rocket. Soon, it becomes evident that Noby and his friends will have to prove their good intentions if they want to get back home.

Fortunately, getting in everyone’s good graces is an absorbing activity. If you’ve played any of the Story of Seasons games or even a clone such as Stardew Valley, it’s also exceedingly intuitive. Working the land involves tilling the ground, planting seeds, and daily watering. Since crops are seasonal, you’ll have to pay attention to the color of the seed bag, but otherwise, the process is tranquil and will probably push you into a gratifying routine.

Likewise, you’ll have the option to raise livestock. Mechanically, flora and fauna are similar. You’ll purchase cows, chickens, sheep, and now alpacas and use different tools to keep them content. A regular routine of tools and feeding produces dividends like milk, eggs, and wool, which can be sold for a tidy profit. Arguably, the greatest reward is being able to breed your farm animals, creating barns and coops full of happy revenue streams. Like most of Friends of the Great Kingdom, the appeal might motivate you to perform interrelated tasks, such as expanding the size of your stables. Naturally, this involves securing raw materials and saving money, before letting the local construction firm offer their labor.

Maximizing efficiency is a ubiquitous allure throughout the game. Like any agrarian simulation, your ambitions are tempered by personal energy and time. As such, you’ll eventually invest in better tools that permit you to work at a faster rate. But once you begin cultivating relationships, Great Kingdom’s best advancement becomes available: NPCs can do some of the work for you. Having a helpful robot tackle the responsibility of daily watering demonstrates that the future of the genre might be automation. Although I didn’t get to try it out, Kingdom can also be played cooperatively. I’m eager to see how much the division of labor could help productivity.

Running on Unity, Friends of the Great Kingdom is a competent performer on Switch, with moderate load times and a steady framerate, even when the action is zoomed out and the screen is filled with crops. Artistic touches like reverse vignetting, which lightens the edges of the screen, and watercolor-influenced visuals create distinction from other agrarian sims. While Great Kingdom’s twilights and evenings bloom with gold and azure, the level of saturation can make details a bit tough to see. Fortunately, Noby probably won’t be doing much work after sunset. Although he can take naps or eat food to restore some stamina, the game’s lighting signals that it’s time for some needed rest.

Arguably, Kingdom’s best graphical feature is low-slung perspective shots that show wheat fields gently swaying in the breeze or a beachside bluff that’s absolutely picturesque. While you can use the Switch’s built-in screenshot function to capture the moment, it would be wonderful if Great Kingdom offered a photography component that hid the user interface. While the soundtrack is prone to repetition (I’m currently about 40 hours in and still have much to do), it’s quite beautiful and is a welcome companion while farming, mining, socializing, and raising animals.

Comparatively, Friends of the Great Kingdom feels a bit less grindy than its predecessor. Most social bonds are growing at a faster rate and the rate of unlocks seems to have been improved. Importantly, Doraemon’s abilities open up new environmental possibilities, ensuring players won’t get fatigued by staying in one area. Like most Story of Seasons titles, there are always multiple tasks to choose from. Pleasingly, the user interface helps keep you organized, with helpful tools like a calendar to track events, to-do lists, as well as keeping track of your rapport with everyone (and everything). Sure, there were moments when I wished the menu screen defaulted to the map, but after a while, Illuma felt like home. Certainly, Noby deserves an extended break from those distressing exams.

Doraemon Story of Seasons: Friends of the Great Kingdom was played on
Switch with review code provided by the publisher.