I feel ripped off in today’s world. I work my ass off day after day at
a job I really don't like, just to come home with a little bit of money
and a headache. Then I look at how good some others have it, example
being the main character in Natsume’s unforgettable Harvest Moon
series. How could a simple farmer have it so good? He is surrounded by
plenty of hot girls, makes a load of money finding stuff growing around
the land, and gets to go to a lot of fun festivals. Where are all these
things in the real world? Oh well, I can certainly forget it. Harvest
Moon 64 has enough unique moments to cover both sides of reality, with
a charm that will pull you in and not let go until the end. Who knew a
farming simulation could be so intriguing?
That’s right, a farming simulation.
You never knew what you were in for when you took this job. Supposedly
your grandfather dies and leaves you with a quaint little farm within a
remote village. Being as old as he was, he could never really keep up
with all the duties of the farm. He leaves you to pick up where he left
off, and expects you to turn the farm into some gaudy monstrosity. Now
you have your cottage, stables, pens, watering hole, and everything
that you need to get started in your glorious new occupation. Along
with the necessities, you also have a dog to look after; one of many
future animals you will be caring for. You have three years to upgrade
your farm, get married, make friends, and roll in as much dough as you
can. So, get out your shovel and pail and get busy; there is plenty of
work to be done.
A simulation's outcome is determined based on the player’s dedication
and execution. It is this kind of exclusive game-play that allows
simulation oriented games to take precedence over role-playing games in
terms of fusing with that virtual character. With this trait comes an
addiction that will grab you and not let you go until it has taken full
effect. An effect that begins as soon as you do, and ends when the
final credits roll. However, the game is not simple, and will certainly
not hand everything to you on a silver platter. You must set distinct
goals in order to build your farm successfully. Do you want to be a
lazy procrastinator who lives off wild plants and alcohol, or do you
want to be a success with a huge house and income? Your choices will
affect the conclusion, and just like in reality, you can't change the
past.
The game moves about in seasons, with thirty days being set to fall,
summer, spring, and winter. Days will go by quickly as the game moves
in an accelerated pattern; what is one minute in real time will be a
little over an hour in your virtual world. It is this fast moving time
system that will force you to plan your daily tasks wisely. Want to
spend the day weeding out the garden and chopping down stumps? Well, go
ahead, but watch your endurance meter closely, because doing too much
work outside could exhaust you and leave you sick the next day. So,
instead, why not take a trip down to the bar for some drinks. Just be
careful not to spend too much money. As you can gather, Harvest Moon 64
is all about decisions, and it is the elements within these decisions
that make the game unique.
An experienced farmer cannot work without the necessities, and Harvest
Moon 64 will provide just enough resources to get you started. You have
your basic tools, such as the hoe, hammer, axe, and watering can, which
will help you take on certain chores and tasks. Each tool is an
integral part of your success and works in a particularly strategic
manner. For example, you use the hammer and axe to clear boulders and
stumps out of the way. Next you'll use the hoe to till some land, plant
some seeds on the cultivated ground, and then follow up with the
watering can to hydrate them. What is interesting about the seed system
is that you can make certain patterns of tilled earth in which to plant
your seeds. And how well you design these patterns can affect the
plant's ongoing growth. On another note, tools are upgradeable, and if
you use them enough, you will soon find yourself with a collection of
super items. There are plenty of secrets to be found within the game,
and the rewards will reveal themselves to those who work for them.
The farm is certainly not the only part of the game in which you will
be involved with. You live in a community containing many people with
varying personalities, jobs, and daily lives. Why not wave hello to the
mail carrier as he makes his rounds around the valley, stop by and pick
up some lunch from the local baker, or just wink at the babe working at
the nightly bar. You can fully interact with all of the villagers, and
that interaction takes up a substantial part of your daily life. Aside
from stopping by occasionally, they will also invite you to festivals
such as the dog races, the horse races, and other interactive events.
These festivals are awesome, simple to control, and can even earn you
some recognition. However, they are easy to miss, so mark your
calendar, and make sure you attend.
From this bustling community, you will also have a large selection of
women. There are five different women in the community, each with their
own distinct traits. From the shy librarian Maria, to the tomboyish
livestock owner Ann, each girl is so much different from the other, and
you will end up trying to match up with the one that best fits your
personality. For example, a guy that likes to drink and tends to stay
up really late, will most likely choose the bartender to be his spouse.
Besides some of the guys who show up to get drunk, you will notice the
beautiful waitress serving the beverages. After a couple of attempts to
make conversation, you will realize she is the secluded type who
doesn't want anything to do with you. Aside from your everyday duties,
you will try to turn her inherent bashfulness aside and get to know her
better. Welcome to the next aspect of Harvest Moon 64 -- the realm of
marriage.
Past simulation titles have never focused on marriage as much as
Harvest Moon does. In those games, your wife was little more than a
show piece. However, this is assuredly not the scenario here; your wife
will become a part of your everyday life around the farm. Doing chores,
such as putting eggs away in the shipping crate (and dropping them as
well), is among several activities your wife will be doing as you go
about your day. She even goes to festivals with you and offers you
something special on your birthday and anniversary. And if you manage
to keep your wife happy long enough, you can eventually have a child
together. Congratulations, you are now a father.
The premise of child care is actually easier than it sounds, and you
will begin to form a bond with your kid, as time goes on. There
definitely could have been a bit more to this portion of the game, but
there is enough on the table to help you forget about it. Aside from
crawling around the house and bothering your spouse, your child will
also have a happiness meter. Paying him enough attention regularly will
keep his appreciation of you high, and will also help in keeping the
wife happy. What is disappointing is that your child can only be a boy,
and never grows up beyond the toddler stage. Nevertheless, the
positives far outweigh the negatives in this department, and you will
honestly be having too much fun to care.
For their time, the visuals are actually a bit below the Nintendo 64’s
standards. The environments and structures of the game are muddled and
hard to make out from a distance. Water effects look fine though, and
the character models look cute with their two-lines-for-eyes design.
The interactive dialogue screen makes up for the poor graphics overall.
The screen shows a well-drawn picture of your character and the emotion
they're portraying. Also, the small clip scenes involved with some of
the character stories are executed well and will help you appreciate
the graphics for what they are.
By the way, do not forget to laugh at the hilarious misspelling of
words that Natsume is notorious for. Grammar errors, incorrect word
usage, and fragments are all catchable throughout discussions, but they
only add to the apparent light humor the game possesses.
Harvest Moon 64's audio presentation is solid, just like most of its
features. Each season has its own musical theme that will loop when you
go into certain areas, and every one of the themes is memorable. From
the hummable tempo of spring and summer to the passionate mellowness
that circles over the fallen snow in winter, the music in Harvest Moon
64 will keep you entranced throughout. Delving into the sound effects,
everything sounds as realistic as it should. Whether you're chopping
with an axe, slicing with a sickle, or throwing a rock into a lake, all
the sound effects sound exactly as they do in real life. There is no
voice acting to speak of, but if there was, it would honestly take away
from the quiet atmosphere emanating from the quaint little world.
Harvest Moon 64 is an underrated masterpiece. A wide variety of
character events, a deep marriage system, and an addicting lifestyle
all make this as good as it gets, adding up to easily over sixty hours
of fun. As in all simulations, everyday chores have the potential to
get repetitive. Harvest Moon 64's many features and fun tasks make
everyday chores fresh every time you do them. There are plenty of
things to keep you busy and the best part is that the game continues
even after you complete the three year trial. So you can continue
enjoying the festivals, making money, and watching characters change
and evolve. Choices are the foundation of Harvest Moon 64, just like in
any other open ended role-playing title. The choices you make create a
personal experience that doesn't get boring like most of its
competition. An experience that you will remember for a long, long time.
