1. MysticWraith

   8

   I have played every Harvest Moon game ever made. I'm admittedly a huge fan of the series, but that doesn't mean that I can't tell a terrible Harvest Moon game from a great one. This one falls somewhere in between, but it does lean towards good. This game has been criticized over and over again for not bringing enough new content to the series. But does it need to? I recommend ignoring those reviews; us Harvest Moon fans have proven that we just want to manage our farms in peace. Breaking tradition with Harvest Moon does not typically result in anything good. Anyway, on to a break down of the game: Story There isn't one. The only Harvest Moon game that came close to having an actual storyline that meant anything was Back to Nature (and Friends of Mineral Town, its remake). Whenever a story is involved in Harvest Moon, it's really just a cover (usually a pretty bad cover) for some major gameplay element. In Magical Melodies, it was finding "notes" to resurrect the Harvest Goddess, but it was really just an achievement system. In Island of Happiness, it was finding something or other (sun pieces I think?) that bring back sunken islands. It was really just a way to allow the player to unlock more features as he or she plays. In this version of the game, the storyline of two feuding villages is really just an excuse to have two villages--and it's not actually a bad element of the game at all (more on this later). If you're looking for a storyline, however, then look elsewhere. This game is very shallow in that department. Graphics At the time of writing, there is only one other user review here, and it criticizes framerate issues in the game. That user must have a bad copy of the game, because while there are framerate issues here and there, it can be solved simply by stopping motion for about one second. Not a big deal, and certainly not a distraction from the game. As for the 3D effect (if you buy the 3DS version), it's definitely phoned in. Nevertheless, it's a graphical improvement from the DS version. Gameplay This is key, as any Harvest Moon fan knows. We want more things to do, yet the same things to do. This is where the game totally delivers. As for the basics, you have your house with kitchen, your horse (which you can ride immediately!!), and the ability to expand your home in terms of house and property. We have maker sheds (more than before!!), and we have a robust agricultural system with the introduction of irrigation trenches (well, re-introduction as the third Gameboy Color version had them as well). Gone is the dedicated field, and now we can plant where we please on the property (okay, the field is still there, it's just covered with grass to make it look like it isn't there--but it works). The marriage system is here again, the characters are unique, and the animation is great. As for the two villages, I actually like them. Both are unique. While the storyline does suck, the game itself more than makes up for it. All the issues that opponents of the game point out are to be expected. Sure, the game isn't revolutionary in the series--it doesn't need to be! It has a few new options here and there (alpacas!!), and it truly succeeds in all areas except for storyline. For any Harvest Moon fan craving a new (yet familiar) experience, look no further! A must-buy for any true fan of the series!… Expand

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2. Xanadu_Me

   4

   Maybe it's just me but I just couldn't get into this game, although it seems right up my alley. The graphics do not take advantage of any of the 3DS' positives it is a straight port from the DS version of the game it seems. The constant long winded conversations with other characters that you can't skip doesn't help this game either. Just not engaging or inviting as a cute game world which other Harvest Moon games have been.… Expand

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3. MisterTaxi

   4

   Okay, this is a harvest moon game. If you are familiar to these games it's much of the same(which isn't a bad thing). The problem with this game is poor programming. If you choose to own more of a farm than a ranch, once you grow too many crops you LAG and the game FREEZES on the screen with said crops. This made me very annoyed, because that is what part of this game is, a farming simulator. Now the farming is gone. If you went with a more Ranch style, then you're met with random freezes crossing the mountain. Besides the dreadful programming errors, there is a lot of flaws with the game's design. The most annoying would be the weekly cooking festivals, they are most boring thing to watch, and it's a shame, because it's the goal of the game to attend this terrible festival so the two towns who are split between way to many loading screens to become friends. If you really want to play this game, get the DS version, as it does NOT have the bugs. I'd suggest just skipping this one completely though, try one of the many other, WORKING, Harvest Moon or Rune Factory titles.… Expand

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