Introduction
Let's be honest with each other. A game about farming doesn't exactly make you want to jump out of your seat and shout "I MUST HAVE IT!". In fact, just saying the word "farm" probably makes most people shudder as they think of mud and the hard work involved. Never before have people been given the opportunity to manage their own farm from the comfort of their armchair. Until now. Enter Harvest Moon.
Graphics |
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For a GameBoy game, the graphics are superb. Amazing attention has been paid to detail. The crops you grow are very life-like. The settings you roam around in look like they could be real places. The animals you nurture and look after are cute and well-drawn. There's nothing negative that can be said as far as graphics go.
Sound |
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Sound is the only category where Harvest Moon is let down. The sound effects are fantastic - for example, stumps make a satisfying "thump" when you smash them with an axe. The problem comes with the backing music. One song is played continuously throughout the season (there are four seasons, making a grand total of four songs) and they all sound fairly similar. It can get slightly irritating.
Gameplay |
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The controls are a bit tricky to begin with (there is a limited amount of buttons, so some buttons do more than one thing), but once you've mastered it it'll be second-nature. The concept for the game is unique. Can you honestly say you've never dreamed of becoming a farmer? You haven't..? Oh.
Lastability |
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Harvest Moon scores top points in this category. The game never ends. You continuously earn cash, take care of your animals, grow plants, establish good rapports with the village people and eventually get married. The thing is, you won't get bored. You'll constantly be working at something, whether it's an upgrade for your house or turning your entire field into cropland. You'll have no time to be bored.
Overall |
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I can put my hand on my heart and say that I've played few games that I would recommend more enthusiastically than this one. Harvest Moon scores high in pretty much everything, and even the negative points I mentioned aren't gaping flaws, just minor inconveniences. If you're looking for an involving, good-value game, you won't get much better than Harvest Moon.
Final Score : 88 %
