Faming simulators are known for creating worlds for us to throw ourselves into, so it's not too surprising that Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar—a remake of the 2010 DS game—follows suit. But, instead of just being your bog standard, friendly but still somewhat stand-offish farming simulator setting, there is something incredibly special about Zephyr Town. Whether you're speaking to its human inhabitants or interacting with its nature sprites, it feels like everyone really has a place here, and before long it'll sink its small town claws into you too.
It sounds pretty obvious, stating that every character in a game has a place there. But what I mean is everyone works in tandem with one another to create the kind of community spirit I haven't experienced in a farming simulator before. Each character still has their own stories and routines, but their lives are so intertwined with one another it's hard to really see them as standalone units. It feels different to a game like Stardew Valley, or even other Story of Seasons remakes—Friends of Mineral Town or A Wonderful Life—where each character knows what they're doing, and sticks to it without showing much care for anyone else.
Each time you speak to someone in Zephyr Town, they'll bring someone else into the conversation as soon as they get the opportunity. Whether that's saying something along the lines of "did you hear what they said to that person?" or "I heard from so-and-so that you…" there's always someone to talk about. These small interactions helped me feel far more involved in the going-ons of the community without having to constantly interact with each person. Even though that's also made easier with the addition of the call out button, which lets you run past groups of people and greet them all in passing as your daily conversation.
