Home, Home on the Range.... (Harvest Moon: Another Wonderful Life (GC))

Member Name: seth1970

Product:	Harvest Moon: Another Wonderful Life (GC)
Date:	31/05/09 (14 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Enchanting game that can be ejoyed by the whole family.

Disadvantages: The audio isn't up to much

A couple of years ago, Game had an offer where you could take 4 of your games and 99p, and swap for any new game prices £39.99 or less. I'd bought quite a few games on a whim in there previous sale for £1.99 each, that turned out to be not so good, so I took these, and 2 £1.00 coins to Game to trade. I got Metal Gear Solid for the Gamecube (Which was a disappointment, but that's for another review), but there was nothing else that I fancied. The number 1 Gamecube game in the charts was something called Harvest Moon. I didn't know anything about it, and the description did not appeal, but I thought that if I bought it as part of the offer, I could always trade it in for around £15 at Gamestation, and still make £5 profit, so I bought it.

About a week later, I was just about to take it to trade in, but I decided to give it a go first, and I am so glad I did.

It is possibly the most absorbing, entertaining, fun game I have ever played in my 26 years of videogaming.

The basic premise is that you have inherited a farm in a small village from your dad, and with the help of your farmhand/guide, you live your life over 30 game years (10 you actually play, the others are cut-scenes), farming, making friends, selling items, courting and bringing up a child. Life evolves in the village. New people arrive, others leave, Buildings appear and disappear, and people you like die (as I was horrified to discover the other week!). Money plays an important part, as you need to produce and sell things in order to buy better farming equipment.

Each year has 4 seasons, each season lasts 10 days, and each day lasts 24 game hours (1 game hour is 60 seconds). The seasons determine what crops you can grow, and control the weather.

You start the game with 3 fields (that have various levels of fertility), 1 meadow and a cow. The cow provides milk that your farmhand can sell at market to provide funds. A happy cow provides better milk, so to cheer her up you and hug her, buy a brush and groom her, and let her out in the meadow, but bring her back in before it goes dark, or if it rains or else you will have a grumpy cow on your hands. The cow gives milk for 40 days after she gives birth to a calf, so you have to time it right to get the best out of her. Bulls can be bought to try and get her back in the family way, or you can buy a "miracle potion" that does the dirty deed with a minimum of fuss. Different cows can be bought that provide different qualities of milk.

Other animals including Chickens, Sheep and Goats are available through the game, and all need to be treated well to get the most out of them (before you ask, there is no abattoir!!). Chickens lay eggs, and need a rooster to help them do this. The occasional egg is fertilized, and these you can hatch. Again, the farmhand can take eggs to market to sell.

Vegetables are another source of income. You need to toil your fields first, and water them. Watering has to be done daily to ensure your crops grow well. You initially buy your seeds from a neighboring farm. The veg you plant depends on the seasons. Carrots in fall, potatoes in fall/winter, melons in summer etc. Later in the game you can invest your veg and make more seeds in a seedmaker (each item of veg creates 2 seeds). You can also create hybrid veg such as a carrotatoe (1/2 carrot, ½ potato) that bring in even more cash.

Other forms of income include working on the archeological dig, gathering plants and flowers, and fishing.
Fishing is a great aspect of the game. Different fish can be found upstream and downstream, and vary in size and price.

Items you gather or harvest can also be given to the different characters in the game to create friendships. If you talk to the characters, you get clues about what they like and dislike. You then offer items to them, and if they like them, the more you offer, the better the friendship, and this often results in you getting fantastic items.

You also need to woo a girl. There are several in the village, some easier to woo than others (like in real life!!). You need to do this before the end of the first year, or the game stops. In year 2, you get a son, and have to help bring him up and keep him happy.

A game about farming sounds boring as anything, but this really entertains many levels. My little girl loves sitting with me while I am playing it, which make a nice change, and it is very relaxing.

General game info-

Controls are quite simple. There is a key on the top of the screen so you don't forger which button does what, which is useful.

The Graphics are Japanese style which you either like or hate, and are quite cute. There are some fantastic subtle effects such as reflections and the flow of water, and leaves gently falling off trees. They fit in very well with the type of game it is. The characters are well animated.

The sound is the only disappointing aspect. The background noises of the sea and weather are fine, it is just the silly beep type noises you get when talking to other characters that annoy me.

It took me a long time to finish the game. Not once did it feel like a chore. At the end, you have lived the full life of this farmer, and it it a touch emotional.

Even at full price (around £39.99) I feel it is fantastic value for money, and wholeheartedly recommend it. Rent first to be sure it is your type of thing, though.

I previously posted a version of this review on Ciao under the name Sethsurvey.

Summary: Possibly the most charming, relaxing and enjoyable game I have ever played.