Harvest Moon 64

Infobox VG
title = Harvest Moon 64


developer = Toy Box Studios Victor Interactive Software
publisher = Natsume Co., Ltd
designer =
engine =
released =vgrelease|Japan|JPN|February 5, 1999

genre = Farm simulation
modes = Single-player
ratings = ESRB: E (Everyone)
platforms = Nintendo 64
media = Cartridge
requirements =

nihongo|Harvest Moon 64|牧場物語2|Bokujou Monogatari Tsuu, lit. "Ranch Story 2" is a farm simulation video game developed by Victor Interactive Software and published by Natsume Co., Ltd for the Nintendo 64 video game console. It was first released in Japan on February 5, 1999, and was later released in North America in November 30, 1999. It is the third game in the "Harvest Moon" series. Most of the characters are descendants of the characters from the very first Harvest Moon game. The characters from this game (mainly the woo-able women) were transferred to become most or all of the characters in ' (and its and their later ), and ' (and its ).

Gameplay

The objective of "Harvest Moon 64" is to take over your grandfather's farm, which was left in disarray since his death, with weeds, stones, and tree stumps littering the farm land. The game operates on an accelerated time; a single day lasts very little time, and each season only lasts for 30 days. To get a quality evaluation, the player must cultivate and ship crops, raise quality animals, interact with the other villagers, get married, and have a baby. The player starts out with the bare minimum features for the farm - a small house, a shipping bin, a barn for sheep and cows, a barn for chickens, a silo, a shed, and farm land. The player's house contains a television, which can tell the player the next event, the weather, and other information; a bed which the player can use to end the day and/or save; a journal, containing miscellaneous statistics; a calendar, which shows the date; and a toolbox, for storing tools.

Outside of the player's farm are a variety of locales. The most active locale is the Flower Bud Village, which contains a church, a bar, a bakery, a town square, a flower shop, a library, a tool shop, and other areas of interest.

After going through each season three times (three years), the player's father comes and evaluates your living by talking to the townspeople, observing your farm (married, buildings, animals, etc.), and how many friends you have.

Animals

There are many types of animals, and two classes: livestock and pets. They require food and tender loving care, but livestock more so; because unlike pets, they can die. Livestock that can be bought and raised in the game include chickens, cows, and sheep. The player can make money by raising the animals; by selling the chickens' eggs, the sheep's wool and the cows' milk. It is best to have part of the field (if not all) all grass so the animals (mainly the cows and sheep) can get outside and eat, but the player should build a fence to keep the animals away from the vegetables being grown, and should brush the animals with the Brush everyday. They can be left overnight in the field and it saves fodder for Winter, but the player must be sure to bring them in if it rains the next day. If an animal gets sick, the player can buy medicine from the Green Ranch. The animals should never be outside during Winter.

If the player has a cow win the Cow Festival and its left outside, three young girls who go to the festivals will request a picture with the player and the cow that can be kept in the album.

The player may also acquire a dog and a horse. The dog once belonged to the original owner of the ranch, but now it is the playable character's responsibility to take care of it. The dog can participate in the Dog Race later in the game. After a certain event, it can also father puppies. The horse is obtained from Ann who lives on Green Ranch. It is best to brush the horse everyday and ride around on it to gain stamina. The horse can participate in the Horse Race later in the game as well (but not the first as it will still be a foul).

Vegetation

Planting, growing, and harvesting crops is one of the main focuses of the Harvest Moon series. All plant-life found in the game fall into three categories: vegetables, flowers, and grass. Seeds can all be purchased at the Flower Shop in the village.

Farmable crops include turnips, cabbage, corn, strawberries, and other vegetables. Each crop has different sowing seasons, cultivation time, and selling price. They must be watered to grow, and can only be planted in tilled soil. Several crops can be re-watered to regrow more crops to sell. If the player gets a greenhouse from the carpenters, all the seeds of each season will be available for purchase (except strawberries).

Tools

The five most basic tools are in the player's inventory from the start. They include the Hammer, the Axe, the Sickle, the Hoe, and the Watering Can. The Hammer is used to break rocks and flatten earth, the Axe is used for cutting stumps, the Sickle is used for cutting weeds, the Hoe is used for tilling the ground, and the Watering Can is used for watering plants.

House construction

The player can also visit the carpenter and his apprentices in the mountains to request additional construction for the house and farm. The player must have the right amount of money and lumber to have the carpenters build the building (the head carpenter usually comes by the farm, makes an estimate to see if the player has the right amount of items and then works the next day). The buildings are a kitchen (to store foods and keep track of recipes from friends), a bathroom (includes a shower to prevent the player from getting sick), a log terrance (patio), a greenhouse (to grow more vegetables), a stairway to the roof, and a baby bed (for if a player wants their wife to have a baby).

Girls, marriage, and raising a family

One of the many features of the game is the ability to marry a woman and have a child. Each girl also has an admirer that the player competes with. There are five women who the playable character can wed, each who have different hobbies and interests.

*Karen - A tom boyish girl who works at the bar, and lives at a vineyard.
*Maria - A modest girl who works as a librarian.
*Ann - An animal-loving girl who lives on a farm.
*Elli - A woman who works at a bakery with her friend, Jeff.
*Popuri - An upbeat girl who helps her mother and father raise and sell vegetables.

Festivals

In Harvest Moon 64, like many other games in the series, there are various festivals the player character may participate in.

Reception

IGN rated the game at 8.2, or "impressive", saying that though the graphics and sound could be much better, the game is addictive. [cite web | author=Marc Nix| date= November 28, 2000| title=Harvest Moon 2| format= | work=IGN | url=http://gameboy.ign.com/articles/164/164820p1.html| accessdate=2008-02-12]

References

External links

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