Harvest Moon is a 3D life/farm simulation/RPG originally conceptualized by a Japanese gamemaker, Yasuhiro Wada, in 1996 and since have generated a whole line of Harvest Moon series.
The one I'll be reviewing is 'A Wonderful Life' for PS2.
I like how the environment, called 'Forget-Me-Not-Valley' follows a serene Japanese countryside setting which is affected by seasons that will change the species of plants that can be found and the kind of crops that can be grown by the main character- a boy who inherited the farm after the death of his father.
Crops have to be sown and grown, life-stock reared and bred, pets cared for, building relationships with people, etc.
Sometimes pleasant surprises will prop up such as the hens laying golden eggs which could be sold for a lot of money, the cows producing top grade milk, attaining gold wool from the sheep, meeting new interesting people, new births of the farm animals (in which they can be named) and the main character could even get married to a babe of his choice from his countryside and...
Make Baby!
These other NPCs (non-player characters) such as the life-stock/people will also mature over time. Death of some of the villagers will occur and even to the main character at the end of the game storyline/chapter which will then unlock a free-play mode.
Some screenshots of the game:
Fishing requires some experience and skill on the players part cos the fish won't be caught if it's reeled in too fast. The species of fishes caught varies and sometimes rare ones will fetch more money.
Even cows need to be treated with TLC.
Night time reveals some magical plants at particular locations which can interacted with.
Special pen for a newborn cow.
Drawback: The environment is really large and traveling around it feels kinda slow once I'm familiar with the environment (though the character is running). But i guess this is the problem not specific to Harvest Moon and that most RPGs will have the same effect once the player is familiar with the environment.
Other than that it is truly an immersive game for me and I like being in this fantasy world of farm life.
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