Harvest Moon GB (1998)
Game by Natsume
Reviewed by The Avardancer
Size: 4 Megabits
Save: Battery, 1 slot.
Released: 1998
Works with: Any version of Gameboy.


Opening Snide Remarks: Wow! The much delayed sequel to the cult hit SNES
game arrives FINALLY on Gameboy. I have never played the SNES version. So,
I ca not compare them. With a name like Harvest Moon; I'll have to see if
Harvest Mercury is in it. (Or Harvest Mars. Wait a second...) Well, let's
get down and get Amish with the much anticipated game that has been delayed
more then Legend of Zelda 5!! I wonder if it contains Harvest Moonies....

Gameplay section: It's a FARM Sim/Rpg game. It has a strange atmosphere to
it's general Gameplay. The game is a bit repetitive sometimes; but it's
never boring. There's too much to do. You have to till the land, plant
some seeds, water them every day. Take care of your pet, sell your food,
make sure to buy enough food to live, watch your stamina, take care of
your livestock, take care of the farm, check the weather, and plan out
your days. Most of it is logical instinct.

The game is surprisingly fun and interesting. The whole "love" scenario of
the SNES game is missing; but the rest of the game is intact with added
bonuses like trading your animals with other people and the various mythical
elements like The Gold Hen, extra tools, etc. Is there a point to all of
this?

Well, there's that "Fix up the place and make it great in a year to please
some dead guy." That sounds like a movie plot actually. You start with a
horrible rundown farm and you have to clean it up. It's not an action game;
but it is really fun; if you have the patience to plan out your actions and
act with responsability. There's a TON of interactive elements in this game!
The interface is user friendly as well.

After a while the game seems dull; if you are watching someone play it; but
the Gameplay is strangely addicting when you play it. I don't know why; but
I like keeping my farm looking sharp, delivering produce, feeding my animals,
et cetera.

Graphics: The game looks great, the Super Gameboy Color is fantastic.
Everythings is easy to see and there's an amazing amount of animation. I
love it when it rains. :)

Sound: Sound is important and it's right on the money here! The sounds fit
the action on screen and most of them are original. Some of the sounds give
away clues to help you. Hear the rain? It sounds almost real...

Music: The music is bucolic. It's very peaceful and won't get on your nerves
but it doesn't add anything to the game.

Play Control: Sometimes there's a little bit of trouble where you accidently
water a spot you didn't intend to; but the play control isn't confusing or
horrid.

Final Analysis: Do you want to try something unique? Then you need to try
this game! It's not for those people with short attention spans; but it grows
on you. To me, it's one of the few games which I have been "emersed" into.
There's that point where you are part of the game and nothing else matters.
I was playing it at work; and I found it to be a bit to distracting. "Could
you wait on that file, I'm taking the cat out!" I already want a sequel.
I wish from the bottom of my heart that I could grow Watermelons, and Apples
in the game. They NEED a sequel to this game and it needs to let you grow
pigs, and cotton as well!

Yes, Vietnamese Pot Belly Pigs would be cool. Or the ability to breed
chickens and/or raise a fighting rooster. Cock Fighting is a sport I happen
to condone. My relatives in Panama fight roosters; both chickens in the match
usually end up as dinner; PLUS you can make some good money on the side. Too
bad, most people do not understand the sport and think of it as a barbaric
pastime. It's no more barbaric than sport hunting, catch and release fishing,
and paintball. (Catch and release fishing usually tears up the fish's insides
or people leave the hook in and the fish dies slowly of starvation. Sport
hunting is very barbaric if you do not eat what you shot. Paintball? About
the same if you nail someone from less than 8 feet away. Those pellets can
sting. Even through some heavy jackets based on the volocity of the pellet
and the air pressure of the gun.) Well, I would like to train a fighting
rooster. I mean, it would give me something to do once I finished all the
chores. It would make the game so much more interesting in the second year.

Well, enough propaganda. This game is pretty good and would make a welcome
addition to any Gameboy collection.

Score
Gameplay: *****
Graphics: *****
Sound: ***
Music: ***
Play Control: ****
Total: 20 out of 25

Final Score: 80%


Currently Known Codes:
Want to grow different crops at different times? Type your name in with a
capital Letter in front of it; or don't capitalize it. OR replace the first
letter of your name with the HEART symbol!

Get new tools: Tell the truth....