A look at Summer in HARVESTELLA

Put on some shades and join us as we take a look at the Summer season in this upcoming Life Simulation RPG. See characters, crops, combat, and some REALLY delicious food!
By Duncan Heaney

HARVESTELLA grows ever nearer - this new Life Simulation RPG launches for Switch and Steam on November 4, 2022.

The game lets you enjoy daily life, socializing and adventuring in a beautiful world, where each of the four seasons is governed by giant crystals known as the Seaslight.

However, these all-important crystals have started to act strangely. In the interim between seasons, a strange dust is released, killing crops, and forcing people to cower in their homes. It’s called Quietus - the season of death.

We’ve previously shown you areas governed by the Spring Seaslight and the Fall Seaslight. Today, let’s step into Summer.

The Summer Seaslight in Harvestella

Left: The Seaslight during regular seasons. Right: The Seaslight during Quietus


Summer Location: Shatolla

Welcome to the seaside town of Shatolla.

Shatolla from HARVESTELLA

Many of the residents here support themselves through fishing.

Aria from HARVESTELLA commenting that Shatolla is beautiful

There is a large tavern in the center of town. Fishers who have finished a hard day’s work gather here to drink and sing together.

Shotolla at night

Ever since the change in the Seaslight, giant bubbles have been appearing on the seas by Shatolla. People call these the Summer Bulla.

A man tells the protagonist of HARVESTELLA about the Bulla and the Sea Witch Lorelei.

At the same time, a whispered rumor begins to spread amongst the fishing community about the sea witch, Lorelei. They say her singing voice can drag ships to the bottom of the ocean.

Emo in the Shotolla tavern from HARVESTELLA

In the tavern, a singer known as Emo tries to bring courage and cheer to the fishers.

Heine, Emo, Aria and the Protagonist from HARVESTELLA

The diva of Shatolla wants to travel to the Seaslight for some reason. Although it doesn’t seem like she can tell anyone why...

The Coral Shrine in HARVESTELLA

Your journey will take you into the dangerous Coral Shrine!

The Coral Shrine in HARVESTELLA

Characters

Next, allow us to show you a couple of the characters you’ll meet in Shatolla: Heine and Emo.

Heine

Heine from Harvestella

Heine is an inventor with an atelier in Shatolla. He’s a young man who spends his days entirely absorbed in creating inventions. Everyone treats him as a bit of an eccentric.

Screenshot of Heine from Harvestella

A dandy and ladies’ man, he’s quick to start flirting with women.


Emo

Emo from Harvestella

Emo is the diva of the tavern in Shatolla.

Screenshot showing Emo and Heine from Harvestella

She seems to have a somewhat otherworldly air about her...


Adventure: new jobs revealed

Jobs determine your weapon and abilities in battle. You can equip many different jobs in HARVESTELLA, such as the previously revealed Fighter, Mage, and Shadow Walker.

If you recruit a character with a particular job, the protagonist becomes able to use that job as well!

Today, we’re going to show you a couple of new jobs you can use:

Mechanic

Screenshot of the Mechanic job

The Mechanic job is proficient at physical attacks and weakening enemies. It also lets you perform charge attacks.

Woglinde

Screenshot of the Woglinde job

This job that lets you wield magic through song to support your team. It also lets you perform charge attacks.


Adventure: Skills

Each job has its own unique skills, which you can obtain from its Skill Board.

The Skills menu from Harvestella

Some skills can be performed in battle while others take effect simply by being acquired.

The Skills screen showing the Circuit Ignition ability

JP (Job Points) are required to obtain skills, and are gained by defeating enemies in battle.

You’ll gradually unlock more and more panels and obtain skills that grant all kinds of effects!


Daily Life: Summer Produce

That’s enough about battles and action - let’s talk about food!

While some produce can be grown and harvested all year round, some fruit and veg can only be grown during a particular season.

Here is a look at some Summer produce!

Shatollan Paprika.

Bellhop.

Seatide Garlic.

Macocoa.


Daily Life: Summer Cuisine

You can sell all these crops to make money, or you can hold some back for cooking. Prepare to drool when you see these examples of summer cuisine…

Fisherman’s Sandwich.

Hop Juice.

Shrimp and Mushroom Tapas.

Melting Chocolate Fondant.


Daily life: Waterside and cave biomes

If you’ve played the HARVESTELLA demo, you’ll have seen the field outside the protagonist’s home. That’s not the only place to grow crops, however - there are fields in special environments too! There are some crops that can only grow in these environments.

Waterside biome

A waterside field from Harvestella

Here we see an irrigated field full of water.

Islet Watermelon Seeds

Sweet crops grow well in this biome.

Cave biome

A cave field in Harvestella

Spices and other seasonings grow well in the dry ground of caves.

Tending crops inside a cave in Harvestella

Daily Life: Renovation

The Renovator in Harvestella

The Renovator in Lethe can help you to improve many aspects of your daily life.

A small field in Harvestella
An expanded field full of crops in Harvestella

For example, they can expand your field, build or animal enclosures, or construct a kitchen counter to allow you to cook.

Animal Enclosures

A newly built Woolum Pen in Harvestella

Having an animal enclosure built will allow you to rear livestock.

Tending livestock in Harvestella

You can increase the number of livestock you can keep by building more animal pens.

Kitchen Counter

The Kitchen Counter in Harvestella

Placing a kitchen counter will allow you to cook meals. You cook with ingredients you collect and produce you grow.

Screenshot showing recipe for Mountain Stir Fry

Meals are essential on your adventures. For example, they can recover your stamina and HP.


We hope you liked this latest look at HARVESTELLA! The game releases November 4, 2022 for Nintendo Switch and Steam.

You don’t have to wait to play it though! A free demo is available now on Nintendo Switch! It lets you play from the start of the story until 15 in-game days pass, or up to when you complete Chapter 2.

What’s more, save files carry over to the full game - so everything you grow, and everyone you meet will be waiting for you when you play HARVESTELLA later this year!

Please enjoy the demo! We’ll have more to share about this fantastic new game as we get closer to release, so be sure to bookmark the blog and follow Square Enix on social media for news and updates:

Share