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Harvest Moon
Well as promised from the Special Offer of the Week section, i'm gonna help give you the run down on the series.
Essentially Harvest Moon is a farming simulation...yes i thought that too when i first heard about the series, but after giving it a little go on the ROM of the snes version (side note, i do not encourage this, you should always own the proper official cart/cd,but its understandable when not released in your region, tho still not right) i have to say i was hooked. The general story behind the games are that you've been give a farm thats a little run down, or in some cases a lot, and its your job to bring it back to its former glory and to get along with your fellow villagers, or your out faster than you can sheer your sheep.
It debuted in the mid to late 1990s on the super nintendo, unfortunately toward the end of its lifespan, but was a cult favourite particularly among Rpg fans and is a valuable collectors item these days. But anyway, on with series. Since then there have been several releases on various generations of the game boy, and it has sinced transfered onto the N64, Playstation and Playstation 2, and the new one should be on its way sometime this year for both GBA and Gamecube with the much used unique connectivity feature.
I'm not sure what that'll do yet, but that's more of something for the new section. Anyway, unfortunately us Europeans havent seen too much of the series. As i said, the Snes version didnt come out till late in the life cycle, so it wasnt seen as worthy of converting to PAL. This was followed by the ill fated N64 version, long since spoken about, released in Japan and America again, but was repeatedly delayed everywhere, and I believe only a short run over in America, so again its somewhat of a valuable collectors item..Unless you happen to have a copy then its absolutely worthless and you should just send it to me to save you the hassle of throwing it away! ^^;...eh it was worth a shot..
Game Boy versions we have managed to get hold of, as there is no region coding , aside from connectivity problems, so all people need to do is translate, so it was fairly simple to translate. I myself have bought a copy of the Game Boy color version, simply titled Harvest Moon GBC. Unfortunately being on Import for me, and them not including the cart, well i havent had the chance to enjoy it..but i do have a lovely box and instruction manual.
Once it moved home console wise onto the PS1, we've had the release of Harvest Moon : Back to Nature. Which is a wonderful little game. At the time the most extensive game in the series so far with more vegetables and fruit etc available than ever before. Unfortunately some games have a fatal bug in them, whenever you try and get married. Its not true for all versions of the game, but it is for some. If this happens though you are entitled to return it under its guarantee. Provided you got it new.
I myself had a copy with this fatal bug, and what happens once you get married, the cut scene of the wedding ends, and it never restarts again, its frozen, very frustrating if you cant locate another copy or hadnt saved beforehand.
There was another game on the Playstation, Harvest Moon for Girls, but yet again we're minus a European release and even an american one!!, and again very much a collectors item.
Contributed info - Although never released in the US, For Girl is an excellent game. It is basically Harvest Moon: Back to Nature, but instead of being a boy, you are a girl! You get to participate in the Goddess Festival, and even woo a guy! Even though the game ends when you are married, this game was still a hit! www.hmfarm.com
And then theres the Playstation 2 release - Harvest Moon Save the Homeland. Unfortunately it seems this one has bitten the 'Europe, wheres that?' bug and isnt likely to come out. Though you never know, for this one it is not too late, I just dont think we should hold our breath for it..
Good news however is that Ubi Soft, well known French publisher and the people behind such games as Rayman, have said they are committed to changing this and making sure we do see the releases the Harvest Moon series, as Natsume, the developers behind it if i havent already mentioned, have a real gem on their hands with this brand, and its a shame we've had to only see in drips and drabs.
So there you have a little background information on the series , that should serve as a good introduction. Click below for Part 2