Harvest Moon GBC Game by Natsume Reviewed by The Avardancer Size: 8 megabits Save: Battery + (Actually quite cool) Automatic Timer! Released: 1999 Works with: Any version of Game Boy. **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: To be perfectly honest; I devoted a large amount of my time to the original black and white Harvest Moon. I spent way too much time on the thing. Then.. along came Pokémon. That distracted me for a while. Then I got a Game Boy Color, the game looked.. dull on it.. and I stopped. I used to play this all the time. I waited for the color version, Natsume, kept NOT releasing it. I saw it one day in the BARGIN BIN in Wal-Mart! The fools! A game like this does not belong in that bin. They must have thought it was a shipment of the older games. All the sales associates at the Wal-Mart over here are blamed idiots anyways. They don't know the first thing about proper Customer Service. Anyways, I bought it and started to play it. What do I think of it? Read on. **************************************************************************** Gameplay Descripion: Having played the original version; it was easy for me to make the transaction. Instead of a guy named "Phil"; I chose a girl named: "(Heart Symbol) Amy". I named the cat "Phil". I put the heart suymbol; so I can plant all the types of crops. It's the normal game; but with a few "enchancements". The story hasn't changed. The play hasn't changed... much. The story is this: "Your ancestor had a ranch. He was... 'The Ranch Master'. He also had no heir.. until.. well.. he found you. So, he wants YOU to take his old beat-up, run-down ranch and make it productive. He will check back on you every year. The game really doesn't have a"point". You run a farm. It has goals that YOU make. If you want to make a Million dollars... go for it. I want to make the whole ranch.. green. I mean, I want it all to have a lot of grass and a nice garden. I also want to earn one of the hidden items. Mainly, the Umbrella, Pick Ax, and Butter Machine. The game has a LOT of hidden depth for those who stick with it. To be honest -since it requires the gamer to set their own challenge- Harvest Moon will bore some people to death. I am sure of it. It's a thinking persons game. No monsters, no real action. Okay.. rushing around trying to complete all the chores I need to do before certain daily deadlines is exciting to me; because I work with deadlines. I adore deadlines. This game is meant for mature players. Not in a indecent, dark way; but in the nature of the game. This is a game that parents will like. I notice that a lot of parents don't realise that there are "mature" games for them on Game Boy, besides Tetris. Harvest Moon is as fun as YOU make it. The more you plant, the more you do in the game; the better it will be. The new "TIMER" option is a Godsend. It allows the game to "continue" by itself without you. In other words, you turn the timer on (Fast or Slow. Slow is better.), and turn off the game. Come back later, and time has passed in the game. You just do what hasn't been done, or fix a Harvest Sprites mistake(s). Not bad at all. I was afraid that I wouldn't like the timer. I like it. It makes the game more interactive and makes me think things like: "I hope they are taking care of my cow...". You can name the Horse, Cat (Or Dog), and any of the cows. I like that. I also like the little secrets. The color also helps the gameplay. I'll explain it a little later in this review. Overall, the game is an excellent if you make it excellent. If you play badly, the game will play badly. The game has no real end. The ending is up to you. You can trade items to other Harvest Moon owners. (Even non-color ones.) There are a lot of scripted events in the game. That's cool. The game takes place in "days". The days are divided into about 12 hours, and the months are divided into four seasons. The four seasons consist of 30 days. So, it's not a one sitting event. Not in the least. I like how it gives you a recap of what happened when the timer was on and you were away. I wish from the bottom of my heart that this game was even bigger. If it had 60 days per season, the ability to make bonfires, plant more than the already large amount of crops, and maybe the ability do things like make crafts, and make preserves, etc. I hope I can get the Fishing Pole in the game. I want that. I don't miss the "dating" aspect of the Super Nintendo,Ninendo 64, and Play Station versions. Dating, and "love points" only get in the way of the simulation feel of farming. It's not about the nookie. It's all about growing some korn. Err.. Corn. I wish I had a bread maker in the game. Or the ability to make milk.. or maybe worry about bugs. Yeah, I want the to include some aspects like DDT, or natural pesticides. (DDT could be cheaper; but it would lower the value of your crops. Ladybugs, and Marigolds would be a little more expensive; but hav eno adverse effects.) The game starts out slowly; and just a bit hard, That's a good thing. Older gamers will definately enjoy this game. Liked: Great Gameplay, with many secrets, and special bonuses to find. Lots of stuff to do. Hated: If you stink at playing the game.. it will reflect you game playing skills. If you aren't having fun.. it's your fault. **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: It's a "colorized" version of the older game. Sort of. Okay.. it is. But it's difficult to tell that. Unlike The Legend of Zelda 4: "Link's Awakening" DX, it's not too obvious. The colors are "natural" colors. Brown, different shades of Brown. If it's supposed to be a certain color; than it will be that color. NO gratuitous "Look it's color" sections here. To be honest, the game looks like it was designed for the Sega Genesis. Okay, in some places it's a little washed. The colors are subtle in the game. For example: Your Cows nose (muzzle) is a light pink. Each of the different stages of grass is a different color. Winter, while seeming oddly monochrome at times, is in fact a shade of off-white. Several different shades of white. And the contrast of your character to that white is cool. The water is a very pale blue in the winter. Under ground, the water is a dark blue. Lots of nice colors. The problem is that the screen really isn't "large" enough to allow you to see many of the subtle details closely. The colors as the times begins to change are cool. Lots of nice useage in here. To be honest; it's not too shabby on Game Boy Pocket/Original/Light. It's nicely made. The graphics are really cool. The Super Game Boy border is nice and the Super game boy Colors are decent. Although.. on Game Boy Color... this game is the illest. I mean, seriously gorgeous. Although, you need to dig deeper into the game to appreciate it. And that's what I'm here for. It looks good. The colors are accurate, and subtle. Lots of variety in color. To be honest.. I stopped playing the game before; because.. everything looked so much better; but.. now that it's updated.. and even better looking.. I can tell that I won't be leaving the house without it. It's now earned it's place as a game I carry with me to show off what the Game Boy Color can do. Liked: It's great! Hated: A little subtle? The Game Boy Colors screen is a bit too small to see everything this baby can cook for you. **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: Some decent music.. that sounds too.. "energetic"; but is actually quite long. On-the-money sound effects. From the axe to your cats meow. (Or dogs bark. Whatever.) Sadly.. no "Moo", "Neigh", or "Cluck". Too bad. Anyways, I like it a lot. The music changes for each season. And when it rains.. it sounds.. "realistic". I like it when it rains. Although, when you run, the rain sound gets "interrupted" by your boots "clomping" on the ground. This is barely noticeable. And if you think a game is bad because of that small sound interruption... something is wrong with you. Seek help. Liked: Good sound! Hated: No "Moo" sound... **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: To be honest, the first month will be hard for you; because the game requires you to think in "grids". If you're not putting an item in the grid.. you'll probably skip that target grid and go onto the next and that could be annoying. You learn. The game is well-designed in the way of hidden stuff. Lots of it. Very nice. The translation is laxed once again. But, it's almost.. quaint. I mean, it seems strangely natural that the characters would be a bit.. confused. They live in a backwoods area. He he he. The game is meant to be.. "explored". Don't go rushing about it; doing every thing. No.. take it slow and enjoy it. Have some fun with this funk. *Insert chuckle* Liked: Neat game! Very.. unique. Hated: A little touchy at times? Maybe a bit too unique for it's own good? **************************************************************************** Improve: Add "MOOOOO!". More plants, more days, more. just give me more. RIYL: The original Harvest Moon, Survival Kids, new experiences, making your own fun. **************************************************************************** Final Words: If you can handle it.. you'll dig this game. I love it. It's contender for game of the year in my opinon. **************************************************************************** Score Gameplay: ***** Graphics: ***** Sound/Music: ***** Play Control/Game Design: **** Personal Opinion: ***** Total: 24 out of 25 Final Score: 96% **************************************************************************** Currently Known Codes: (Any secrets?)