Petit Planet is HoYoverse's answer to games like Animal Crossing, but it's not sticking to the basics of the Nintendo formula. True to the grand ambition of other HoYoverse titles like Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, it's incorporating a diverse array of features, including some that will be more familiar to fans of Harvest Moon or Stardew Valley.
One such mechanic is the relationship system, which tracks the development of relationships with Neighbors in a more tangible way than anything that happens in Animal Crossing. In a group interview last week, Petit Planet's lead game designer Murphy explained the relationship system to ScreenRant.
Petit Planet's relationships are tracked via an in-game constellation system, which offers up discrete rewards for attaining certain benchmarks with each Neighbor. It's not just about earning cash, though. According to Murphy, "as you develop closer relationships with certain neighbors, it will unlock more features and gameplay experiences for you."
The core idea behind it is increasing your personal influence with each neighbor, going from a generally passive observer to someone who can influence their tastes and aesthetic. With a strong enough relationship, players will be able to choose outfits for their Neighbors or decorate...
