[ToxicShadow]

As I know a number of users on Evelon have mentioned that they have interest in or played games in the Harvest Moon series, I figured we could chatter and discuss what is currently going on with the Harvest Moon series. This is especially to inform those about it that may not know, as well.

This youtube video explains it in more detail pretty well, but I'll sum it up pretty quickly, too, for those that don't know or don't want to watch. The newly released game, Harvest Moon: Lost Valley is a completely separate game from the original, "Harvest Moon" series that originated in Japan that we all may know or love. Essentially, the "real," Harvest Moon game, the one that is a part of the series that has existed up until now, is going to be called, "Story of Seasons." It has yet to be released and will be released in February of this coming year. This was caused by the company Marvelous no longer going through the company Natsume to release their translated game. However, Natsume owns the name, "Harvest Moon," so Marvelous had to select a different name for the translated release.

When I originally found out about this, I was still considering purchasing both games. Honestly, I sort of "collect," Harvest Moon games, since I enjoy the series so much.

However, I have noticed that Natsume's recently released title has received very poor ratings. From the videos of gameplay I have seen with it, it honestly seems like a farming version of Minecraft, but that's only my opinion. I don't think I'll be getting the game, at least not until I can get it very cheaply used or some such thing just to say I gave it a fair shot.

Yet, I am very much looking forward to Story of Seasons, since it follows the original series, which I love so much. I'm especially looking forward to the feature of being able to customize the character you play. (Which apparently existed in Harvest Moon: A New Beginning, which is a part of the series from before Natsume and Marvelous split up, which I still need to get my hands on.)

I'm curious, though, as well, has anyone purchased and played Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley? I'd rather hear inside opinions about it, if I can.

Any other discussion of the games and such, even the previous Harvest Moon games, is welcome!

[Sarah]

I bought Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley when it was released and I've been playing it for a few hours every night since. I really enjoy the game, its easy and it fits in well with how I play most Nintendo games. I like to put on a youtube video or a tv show and watch that while playing harvest moon games on auto-pilot. If someone plans to get the game and expects to give it their full attention I don't know how long the game will be interesting. Its a lot of nothing in the beginning and the game progresses slowly even if all the attention is put towards the story line. One could chose to buy a crap ton of seeds and plant them or they could chose to terraform their farm to their liking and that's it for a long time. Even once I unlocked spring very little changed, I didn't even get to see the season because I was already in the beginning of summer. It is relatively easy to unlock the new seasons if you apply yourself and work hard only for the unlocking of the seasons. I do really like how the game is played though, I have enjoyed playing for hours just digging dirt and selling it and then doing it all again the next day, but I have something else that is more interesting going on at the same time that holds my attention. If I do not have something else to watch or listen to while playing the game I don't play the game because it is boring as all heck.

One thing I don't care for at all are the people. There is no town to go to, and the way you befriend someone is way different. Firstly, without a town I have no idea when the people are coming to visit the farm with their goods or services so when I have things I need it gets frustrating because I have no clue where the people are. Yes, when they first arrive the people do tell you when they will be in town but I have horrid memory and didn't write their times down. In the past games you could give the people gifts and they would be friends with you. Now you have to take their requests that are random and typically tedious and they don't even raise their friend level very much. Plus I don't find any of the bachelors attractive at all, in the past I've had at least one that was good enough looking or had a nice enough personality that I could go for someone but this time it seems I'll have to just settle for whichever is the least bad. Though if you play as a boy I find that all three girls are cute.

I am really excited for story of seasons too. The only thing that has me hesitant right now is the way the characters look. It reminds me of the awful way the characters looked in rune factory one, but I'll probably still get the game anyway. I haven't really heard much about the game either so I don't know very much about it.

[MillietheWarrior]

I'm currently playing Harvest Moon: A New Beginning on my 3DS and I've had it for a while. I downloaded it, which was nice, and I've enjoyed playing it immensely. I'm especially enjoying the wide variety of animals you can raise, and the huge variety of crops. Those are quite fun. I do miss the individualized looking fish, though, as fishing was one of my favorite parts of the previous harvest moon games (Animal Parade especially). I do wish it was easier to make your town and gather all the items for your blueprints (in this one, you have to collect/buy the blueprints to create your town, and it's somewhat tedious; the old guy also gives you restoration plans, so you have to work through each of them, and some of the creations you make for the town require certain animals or certain abilities and such) But otherwise, this is one of the more fun Harvest Moon games (besides Animal Parade) and the artwork for the characters is spectacular. You can customize hair color, eye color, hairstyle, and your clothes (though you have to have those made for you, and can only have them done after you made the tailor shop and after gathering the items to create individual sets of clothes). But yeah, I totally recommend this one. I want to buy the new on coming out in February as well. It looks really promising.

I'm also open for trading of items in A New Beginning, if anyone needs anything or would be able to provide me with some of the items I need. ^^

[ToxicShadow]

Sara, I'm glad to hear from someone directly about the Lost Valley, so thank you for your response! It doesn't sound too terribly bad, though I'm a fan of Harvest Moon: Hometown Story, which I don't believe was all that popular with the masses, either. (Since it is also one of the ones where you sort of have to wait around for things to happen. xD) I still can't say I would go out and buy a brand new copy, but I think I would eventually get one to give it a fair shot.

Since I just (finally) got A New Beginning, though, my focus will definitely be on it for the next while. It should certainly hold me over until Story of Seasons.

Millie, I'm basically replying to what you mentioned in the other thread. I already managed to get far enough to unlock Rebecca, as well as the multiplayer, so I would definitely welcome trading and such. I'm not sure I'll have a lot to offer you, though, since I just started. I'm in the VERY end of the first spring as I am typing this, about to enter my first summer. If you'd like to add me, though, my friend code is: 2981 - 6880 - 9238.

I'm totally trying to unlock the, "special," animals faster than their auto unlocks by having my cows have calves and chickens hatch from eggs. (Built that Chicken Coop as soon as Rebecca came. Lol.) I want a Silkie SO BAD since I had a pet Silkie chicken in my earlier high school years, which I adored.

One feature I am especially enjoying is capturing critters, since I enjoy such things from all my Animal Crossing experiences. xD I think this particular Harvest Moon is making me even more of an item hoarder than I usually am, since I have no idea what all might be required for the blueprints and restoration plans.

Also, I totally LOVED Animal Parade! (Which reminds me, I need to finish wooing the Harvest King... I was so close to getting him to marry me before I locked my Wii up in storage. D=)

[Freezair]

Toxic, I can trade you a Silkie egg. I can also trade you Yam seeds if you like, so you don't have to wait around to unlock Amir and Sanjay, two of the bachelors. You need to ship 30 Yams and 30 Potatoes to be able to unlock them, but you usually can't get Yams until Year 2 or so.

[ToxicShadow]

(Answering from my phone, so please forgive me if I make any weird typos.)

Freezy, that would be amazing and I would certainly appreciate both an egg and the seeds, although I would feel bad if you offered me that many seeds, since I don't really have much to offer in return.

[Freezair]

Pffft. It's not a problem. I'm pretty far in the game, so not only do I have seedbags galore, I also have the seed maker and a greenhouse, so making more is suuuper easy. Plus, yams produce multiple crops over the course of a season and grow FAST, so even if I only gave you, say, four bags of seeds, you could have sixteen plants and ship enough within two crop rotations!

But yup, one silkie egg is no problem. I added you as a friend (whoops, looks like I missed your friend code ages ago, because you apparently had mine already ). Do you have a Steam account? The easiest way to reach me would be to add me on Steam and shoot me a PM when you see me online. (Username Freezair, natch.) No way I'll miss that!

[ToxicShadow]

So jealous of your seed maker. D= Though I am totally glad to hear that this game of the series has such a wonderful contraption. And, derp, I should have remembered that yams happened to be a regrowing crop from the past games. Lol. I fail. xD

Sweet~ I most likely added you from Pokemon. I sent over a request for you on Steam, which it seems like you already accepted while I was typing this. c: