Harvest Moon
Reviewed by Kyra Austin
This game is where you start out in a farm your parents have left you
to turn around in 2 1/2 years or so. In this time you grow crops, raise
livestock, get married, have a kid, and all of this in your own power.
There are four months, each with it's own music, backgrounds and events
such as the festivals. You can also gain a clock during the game to help
you keep track of time in the game, which helps a lot! Basically, all you
have to do is make money...and have fun! Also, if you enjoy games like
Pokemon, Sim City, Theme Park or Theme Hospital then you would most
likely love this game as well.
Graphics: 9 out of 10
The graphics for Harvest Moon are extremely good for a Super NES game
but then again aren't that good. Every month, as I have already told you,
has a differently background, and in winter the whole place is covered in
snow and when you walk on certain places you leave footprints, and also
at the mountain top the graphics are probably even as good as Game Boy Advance.
The graphics in this game really suit each time, place or month and really
brings you closer to the game, which can also cause addiction. But this
game is superb so how can you not get addicted?
Music and Sound: 9 out of 10
I really like the music and sound effects for this game and it would
have gained a 10 out of 10 except that sometimes it can become a bit
repetitive, which is a shame. Same as the graphics, each month, festival
and location has a different theme. And again also it really suits them.
During the winter in your home the sound is so warm you can almost feel
the heat from the fireplace, and during festivals the music is so jolly
and all that it is really...realistic! That is the only way I can describe it!
The sound plays a huge role in the game but at night this is the time
where it becomes repetitive after hearing footstep after footstep and so on.
Game Challenge: 10 out of 10
The challenge of this game is to successfully run a farm, which may
sound easy but is quite challenging, especially if you are a city-slicker.
The first time I played, I did not know that you had to dig a hole in the
ground before sowing the seeds, and that plants except grass did not
grow in autumn. The game is also challenging because when you get
married and your wife always wants you home before 6:00 PM, and you
only have limited time to water the crops, buy seeds and other necessities
from the town which closes at 5:00 PM, and only until 5:00 PM to deliver
everything to your shipping box because that is the time the shippers
come to pick up the goods. A good thing about all this is that time does
not move while inside your house, the chicken house or cow house
(are those the right words?)
Game Play-Fun: 10 out of 10
I believe this is one of the best games ever produced, and it will also
be among my favorite games. What makes this game so fun is the challenge,
the days and time, the fact that you are in control, working(!), and making
girls fall in love with you which is exciting. Also the festivals are so
exciting they are like, well, festivals! Also what makes playing this
game so fun is basically the fact that you control a lot of the stuff
that happens, like you can decide whether to get married or not, whether
to grow potatoes or turnips. And all that I have mentioned above makes
this game so indulging, exciting, magnificent, addictive...I could write
on forever describing how much I love this game!!!
Frustration
Frustration with this game is hardly any. I still can't figure out how to
use the fishing rod and am dying to fish, but that is my frustration, not
in general. In general, some frustrations are being home by 6:00 PM when
you have a wife, not having long enough days, not having enough money
quickly, and other small details which are frustrating challenges.
Replayability: 10 out of 10
I could replay this game all my life if I had the time, but I don't. I am
serious, I could keep on playing this game over and over again until it
became ruined by over-use or something! Simple things that make you
go back to replay are "Did you get married?", "Did you have a kid?" or
even simple things like "Did you plant the Seed of the Snow Flower?"!
Things like that will never bring me back to Harvest Moon but things
like the weather forecast, who I married, and the tunes that were
played every month would definitely tug at my mind until I pulled it
out of it's box and started playing it again.
Game Value: 10 out of 10
I have absolutely no idea of how much the game costs because for one,
I didn't buy it, my dad did, and also he got it second hand with the Super
NES and several other games for around $50 (no I'm not kidding and this
is not an error) but even if the game cost $50 I would still buy because
it is absolutely MAGICAL!!!! Not only do you get hours and days and even
weeks of entertainment, you can always replay it in many different ways
which will always keep you occupied. But if you are not sure you like the
sounds of this game, rent it and if a smile appears on your face, buy it!
Overall: 9.9 out of 10
I hope I have given you a good description of Harvest Moon and hope that
you get addicted to it as I am, and that you love it to pieces... well, that's
my review of Harvest Moon and I hope it helps you to decide whether to
buy it, rent it or forget the whole thing, but if you do buy it, I know you
won't regret it. Just to tell you, I have heard it can be found Game Boy
(Harvest Moon and Harvest Moon 2) and also on Nintendo 64 (Harvest
Moon 64) so if you don't have a Super NES then try finding it on Game Boy
or N64 because it should be worth it.