Tales of the Shirehas been compared to every farming game and cozy life simulator out there, fromAnimal CrossingtoStardew Valley.But it would be wise for the game to draw inspiration from one title in particular:Hello Kitty Island Adventure.This Sanrio-based life simulator integrates its characters deeply into the game’s story, by tying abilities and customization options to raising the characters' friendship levels, andTales of the Shirecould use a similar approach to encourage players to engage with its large cast of friendly hobbits.
Hello Kitty Island AdventureEncourages Building Friendship Via Companion Abilities
Each of the Sanrio characters present inHello Kitty Island Adventure,from Hello Kitty herself to Big Challenges, the Little Twin Stars, and the recently added Usahana, has multiple abilities that players can unlock by raising their friendship level. As examples, Pochacco can help the player character run faster, Chococat makes crafting easier, and Badtz-Maru helps out with mini-games. As these abilities can only be unlocked through friendship, players are encouraged to give characters gifts and complete their quests every day in order to gain access to them.
In addition, many types of character and item customization are also unlocked through leveling up friendship. Tuxedosam, who runs the clothing shop, gives players the ability to dye their clothing, while My Sweet Piano lets them dye furniture. Characters also gift the player with outfits and furniture items related to them, such as a red bow from Hello Kitty, workout clothes from Pochacco, or a detective outfit from the mystery-loving Badtz-Maru. Players can wear these outfits and add the furniture items that they receive toVisitor Cabinsto encourage even more Sanrio characters to move to Friendship Island.
Tales Of The ShireWould Benefit From a Similar Character Focus
Tales of the Shirewill likely feature a large cast of hobbits for players to befriend. Hobbit society is extremely communal and friendly, and the player will have several neighbors that they can get to know, assist by completing quests, and invite to dinner parties at their very owncustomizable hobbit hole. Developer Weta Workshop has hinted that completing quests will unlock a variety of rewards, including clothing and furniture items themed around each of the hobbit characters.
The game would do well to also allow players to unlock mechanics and customization options by befriending other hobbits. Just like inHello Kitty Island Adventure,getting to know a particular hobbit neighbor could unlock a clothing set based on the one they themselves wear. Or perhaps it could lead to the ability to dye said clothing, or new recipes for the kitchen, or a new fishing technique. Ideally, characters will also offer quests for the player to complete once they get to know them better. This could work shouldTales of the Shirefeature returning charactersas well: players could, for example, get to know Gandalf and then learn how to set off fireworks at a party they throw for their hobbit friends.
Ultimately,Tales of the Shirewould benefit by not drawing just from itsLord of the Ringsinspiration, but from other titles within the cozy genre. Looking to the likes ofHello Kitty Island Adventure, Animal Crossing,Stardew Valley,and more would help create a game that will appeal to cozy gamers and encourage hundreds of hours of play time farming, fishing, cooking, customizing hobbit holes, and more. Unlocking items and mechanics by befriending various hobbits dwelling in the Shire is just one way thatTales of the Shirecould draw from the cozy games that came before it while also creating something new.
