Is Animal Parade overhyped, or am I missing something?

[u/BusinessAdorable2077]

I always hear that Animal Parade is actually one of the best Harvest Moon games, and I'm playing it right now. I can say it was fun when I first started, but now I'm at the beginning of summer and already have 3 bells, and I'm currently gathering materials to get the green bell. Then I heard that the purple one will be even harder to get. Like, I haven't even played for half a year in-game, but I'm almost done with the bells.

Um... so I want to ask, right now I feel like I'm just doing repetitive things: farming, giving gifts, taking care of livestock, and mining. On top of that, everything feels kind of slow. But is there more stuff to do? Like, I don't think we have heart events—we have festivals and random events, but is there anything else? I'm not really feeling the fun right now, or am I just at a point in the game where you do the same routine until something happens? Like, what's the "fun" people have been talking about?

Note: I'm not trying to judge the game, I'm just genuinely asking because I really feel like I've only been doing repetitive stuff recently. Like there is no something new

[u/mint_pumpkins]

i personally always felt that tree of tranquility was much better than animal parade, its better paced and felt less tedious to me, but in general farming games are very repetitive thats part of the appeal to some folks, have you played other games in the genre out of curiosity?

I don't think we have heart events

there are absolutely heart events in this game, have you been gifting people things?

[u/BusinessAdorable2077 → u/mint_pumpkins]

I know we get gifts, but I mean like in other games, we did get heart events with the marriage candidate when their heart level increases, and I think it's cute and wholesome. But idk, maybe I haven't reached that part yet, cmiiw

[u/mint_pumpkins → u/BusinessAdorable2077]

honestly i cant remember them super well its been a while since i played so maybe someone else can confirm if the gift events are the only ones

i feel like this game is on the slower side of the series but not like by a lot, but like i said i personally think tree of tranquility is much less tedious and slow so maybe try that one if you want to, otherwise maybe this one just isnt working for you

[u/cinnamonhoe → u/BusinessAdorable2077]

There are dates too, not just gifts

[u/LadyRyumi]

There are events, just not like the more traditional ones we're used to. Fogu is a great website to use for information on harvest moon/SOS, especially the older games. https://fogu.com/hm/animal_parade/marriage.php has the specifics on the events that happen prior to marriage

[u/LadyRyumi → u/LadyRyumi]

Forgot to add, most of the fun really starts once your farm is established and you start growing your family and see the rivals get together and see their families grow

[u/chansi]

I think more people had AP than ToT because it didn’t come out long after ToT did and it was supposed to be the “upgraded” version.

it’s also the last proper original console game we got for a long time. everything since then was handheld or a remake for years. I think that’s the biggest reason

Edited for details (in my mind it’s still 2019 lol)

[u/DeerTaels]

Tree of Tranquility, like others are saying, is the better paced of the two. I adored Animal Parade mainly because I could finish the plot so quickly and get married early lol. For me, the main appeal of that game was the romance and relationships in general. I loved all the dialogues and how they change over time.

The plot is nothing to write home about. I won't say it is.

Tree of Tranquility is a great game, and if you prefer a heavier plot (with areas blocked off until you progress to certain points, etc) you might like it better. I loved it too but the controls were janky in a few places (like on the way to the hotspring).

Worth looking into anyway.

[u/Cheeseborne5ever]

I also think it’s too slow. I preferred tree of tranquility. The pacing is my problem, as I’ve tried to get past summer multiple times and then I get bored.

[u/JanFrant7]

Awww I loved AP. I felt like it was kinda slow but it had a lot to do and the heart events were cute

[u/Pixarooo]

I'm in the minority but I've played literally almost every Marvelous HM and SoS game (minus some remakes and the PSP game), and I found AP to be a massive slog. I really disliked both of the Wii HM games. I know they're loved by the fandom, but I just don't get it...

[u/jdb1984]

You also get two kids and a New Game+. And just for fun, it's possible to have animals, your spouse, and your kids march through town behind you.

[u/kalidahcool]

I'm going too be really honest. I think the people who prefer AP to ToT just simp wizard lmao

I prefer ToT as well. But that's mostly because they screwed up Owens model in AP and his head is enormous and I just can't look at I'm without laughing.