Harvest Moon 64 (N64)
Ahh, the simple country life. Peaceful, relaxing, and a lo of replay value! This game will leave players looking for more and more. Despite all of the spelling and grammatical errors, this is probably one of the best games currently available for the N64. With so any different ways to live your life it is a good thing that you can save four games. With birthdays, holidays, marriages, children and anniversaries this game never leaves you bored, so sit back and relax as I take you through the arguably greatest RPG for the Nintendo 64.
Graphics: 7 out of 10
The graphics are a lot like the game, simple, yet elegant. Although the characters often lack some facial features, the graphics are a great match to the setting, rough, but kind of homely. You cam tell enough to get you through the game, but is done mostly through color. If your TV is black and white, then sorry but the graphics are just gonna be bad. The colors are rich and full, bold, as if it were painted, and smooth, as if it were drawn. The artists did an OK job on the graphics. The rush to get the game out before Christmas probably contributed to the simplicity of the graphics.
Music and Sound: 5 out of 10
Let's just say I've heard better. The music is annoying after a while, with one 1 minute song for each of the four seasons, it gets a tad bit monotonous. The sound effects are far from perfect too. With a dull "Pop!" every time something is picked up or put down and preschool like animal sounds. It's time that cows stopped saying "MOO" and started getting cow sounds. But of all terrible sounding things in the world I ABSOLUTELY LOATHE the sound of scrolling text. beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep..........ARG! make it stop!
Game Challenge: 9 out of 10
The game does not require speedy fingers, or split second decisions. It requires something that many newer games for the N64 do not require, patience, strategy, and most of all responsibility. Sure it would be great to go romping in the mountains all day, but the cows, sheep, and chicken won't take a day off from eating without falling ill. It would be marvelous fun to spend the day lolligaaing with Ellie or Poppurie, but the plants wont water themselves. This is a game that is challenging in more ways than that though, winning the heart of a girl, playing hard at the festivals, betting at horse races, and chopping enough wood to keep the pathetic shack you call a home in good shape. This is a lot more challenging than it all seems, and you will surly run into some problems in your game if you do not think your actions through.
Game Play-Fun: 9 out of 10
A wonderful game to behold. Its one of the few great games were someone can have fun without knowing crazy, hard to remember, button combinations. No two buttons need to be held at the same time to play effectively, just push the button watch it happen, push the other button, watch something else happen. See the Light? Do you see the Beauty? Finally there is a game that is appropriate for everyone, and the younger children, just learning button locations, can still have as good a time as anyone.
Frustration
Not very high. The characters don't do stupid things, you don't lose control of your character, I say that this is a game that no one will turn off in anger.
Replayability: 10 out of 10
It never ends. Just like the energizer bunny the game keeps going and going, season after season, year after year, your world remains in constant change. So I call upon the wise people older than you and I and say "Nothing remains constant but change"
Game Value: 10 out of 10
For a measly 35 dollars I say better buy it before people find out how good it is and the price goes up. Harvest Moon 64 is worth every penny. The people at Natsume are selling masterpieces for bargain prices!
Overall: 8 out of 10
Well folks, that just about raps things up. Harvest Moon 64 is a great game, but don't take my word for it, The readers of Nintendo Power Magazine named it most underrated game of the year. If you're a fan of RPG's Harvest Moon 64 is a must for your collection.
