Harvest Moon 64 Review by Link584
"Harvest Moon 64 is a farm simulation video game developed by Victor Interactive Software and published by Natsume Co., Ltd for the Nintendo 64 video game console, and the third game in the Harvest Moon series. It was first released in Japan on February 5, 1999 and was later released in North America on November 30, 1999." - Wikipedia
Put on your work pants, boots, and gloves, cause this game might make virtual faming more fun then the real thing.
Put on your work pants, boots, and gloves, cause this game might make virtual faming more fun then the real thing.
Story
The story is pretty simple, and is summed up no better then this statement.
“After your grandfather's death, you decide to take over the farm he left behind. You have three years to grow crops, raise livestock, befriend villagers, get married, and have a child before your father returns to grade you on how you've done.” - http://www.ranchstory.co.uk
Design
The style of the game is isometric, and it really does work for a game such as this! The maps in this game each hold their own unique look and design, but all feel connected as it should. The town and each of the households have similar shape and sizes, but they all look how they should for being a small place. The bakery feels warm and happy, the bar jolly and fun, etc. While the whole world map may be small, the time flies by pretty fast and soon before you know it, a new season will arrive giving a fresh look to each place all over again! It’s all simple but charming. You’ll learn what each place looks like before long, but it’s that small town charm that works, and the graphics work with them.
The story is pretty simple, and is summed up no better then this statement.
“After your grandfather's death, you decide to take over the farm he left behind. You have three years to grow crops, raise livestock, befriend villagers, get married, and have a child before your father returns to grade you on how you've done.” - http://www.ranchstory.co.uk
Design
The style of the game is isometric, and it really does work for a game such as this! The maps in this game each hold their own unique look and design, but all feel connected as it should. The town and each of the households have similar shape and sizes, but they all look how they should for being a small place. The bakery feels warm and happy, the bar jolly and fun, etc. While the whole world map may be small, the time flies by pretty fast and soon before you know it, a new season will arrive giving a fresh look to each place all over again! It’s all simple but charming. You’ll learn what each place looks like before long, but it’s that small town charm that works, and the graphics work with them.
Gameplay / Controls
The point of the game is to grow crops, get married, raise animals, and you have a time limit on this (although it’s so far away you never think about it). It sound tedious, but because the game goes much faster then real life, you get rewarded quicker, and feel good about making connections with people. It’s hard work balancing making money to expand your farm, and try to swoon the girl of your dreams, while at the same time making friends and not forgetting to feed your chickens! A simple day lasts about 5 minutes (indoors time freezes though), and after just one day you feel proud of what you’ve accomplished! Do this for a whole season which consists of 30 days, and you feel proud of what you did during that time, and you can really feel where you stand with each of the townsfolk. The best part though is the festivals held every now and then. Great mini games that make you feel part of the town is the best feature this game has. And this game DOES have weather elements that can help or hurt you as well.
The controls are simple and easy to learn. You have an inventory button, a button for your equipped farming tools, another for picking up items and talking, and so on. There’s not complicated actions to learn like in fighting games, and the need for more buttons is unneeded. You learn them pretty quickly. Over-all it’s pretty fluid.
The point of the game is to grow crops, get married, raise animals, and you have a time limit on this (although it’s so far away you never think about it). It sound tedious, but because the game goes much faster then real life, you get rewarded quicker, and feel good about making connections with people. It’s hard work balancing making money to expand your farm, and try to swoon the girl of your dreams, while at the same time making friends and not forgetting to feed your chickens! A simple day lasts about 5 minutes (indoors time freezes though), and after just one day you feel proud of what you’ve accomplished! Do this for a whole season which consists of 30 days, and you feel proud of what you did during that time, and you can really feel where you stand with each of the townsfolk. The best part though is the festivals held every now and then. Great mini games that make you feel part of the town is the best feature this game has. And this game DOES have weather elements that can help or hurt you as well.
The controls are simple and easy to learn. You have an inventory button, a button for your equipped farming tools, another for picking up items and talking, and so on. There’s not complicated actions to learn like in fighting games, and the need for more buttons is unneeded. You learn them pretty quickly. Over-all it’s pretty fluid.
Music
While the game looks good and plays well, the music can get repetitive. This is a small flaw compared to the fact you can get hooked onto playing this game for hours on end, but because you get hooked so badly that music acts as a little nagging feeling. It’s a small drawback, but the music itself isn’t bad. The tunes are nice at first and enjoyable, but after hearing the same soundtrack until you get to a new season is too long to go.
While the game looks good and plays well, the music can get repetitive. This is a small flaw compared to the fact you can get hooked onto playing this game for hours on end, but because you get hooked so badly that music acts as a little nagging feeling. It’s a small drawback, but the music itself isn’t bad. The tunes are nice at first and enjoyable, but after hearing the same soundtrack until you get to a new season is too long to go.
Presentation
Putting the elements above together work very well. Festivals are fun and lively. Fishing if you get the chance can be a great calm experience. Mining in cold winter months is adventurous and different. Large harvests of crops feels impressive and rewarding. The list goes on and on, but overall the presentation is a very neat package, with just the small complain, like music, here and there.
Putting the elements above together work very well. Festivals are fun and lively. Fishing if you get the chance can be a great calm experience. Mining in cold winter months is adventurous and different. Large harvests of crops feels impressive and rewarding. The list goes on and on, but overall the presentation is a very neat package, with just the small complain, like music, here and there.
Conclusion
There is a reason this game can still fetch a high price on eBay. It is amazing at what it aims to do, and it is a great member of the Harvest Moon series, as Ocarina of Time is to Zelda. I give this game a 4 out of 5 if you’re super bored, but when you are really ready to sit down and get your work boots on, it’s a solid 5 out of 5.
There is a reason this game can still fetch a high price on eBay. It is amazing at what it aims to do, and it is a great member of the Harvest Moon series, as Ocarina of Time is to Zelda. I give this game a 4 out of 5 if you’re super bored, but when you are really ready to sit down and get your work boots on, it’s a solid 5 out of 5.