Rating Summary
“Better then then critics reviews”
- Avid DS player
- Pros
- Very addicting, Can play as boy OR girl
- Cons
- Must use stylus for all actions, repetitive
Nintendo DS - Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness —
I have played Harvest Moon games before but on a Gameboy (not a DS). I was never a real big fan I am currently addicted to Rune Factory, which is a fantasy version of Harvest Moon tho. I thot I would give this game a shot as it is a new version for the DS and hopefully better.
So far the game seems a LOT better then I remember it being. The nice difference is that you can play as a boy or as a girl (I am tired of always playing as a boy so that was a pleasant surprise). Your ship goes down in a storm and you are cast ashore on this island that looks like it was once inhabited but no longer is. Another family is on the island with you. They are shippers. Your character takes over the farmland on the island and you can start raising crops and animals, and fishing, etc. As you do more and expand the island areas, more people move to the island and open shops. Like all Harvest Moon games, the game is very addicting. You find yourself spending hours playing... "I'll just do one more day..." tends to be what gets me in trouble. LOL
The only real negative I found is that they made the game so that you do EVERYTHING with the stylus. I like other games (Like Rune Factory) where you can use the directional pad as well as the stylus on many controls (like walking/running, caring for your plants, etc) I got used to walking/running using the stylus but tending the garden is cumbersome. It can be difficult placing your character in the right spot. And sometimes when trying to chop wood, I end up picking it up instead and then you can't drop it again to chop it. I also have yet to figure out how to make a fence with my rock Ive chopped. It says in the walkthroughs that I can do that tho.
I got a walkthrough book from BradyGames and I would suggest you get one also if you get the game. If not that, I would definitely find a walkthrough online. Most things you don't need a book for, but it is invaluable to find out what certain characters favorite things are. That way when you woo a prospective mate, you will know what works and what not to do. The first time I ever played a Harvest Moon game, I could not figure out how to do this and it made me very frustrated. I am doing much better with having the book and it is making much more sense.
If you have never played any Harvest Moon games, let me tell you one thing. The game is very repetitive. Every "day" you have to tend your crops, tend your animals, and forage or make food. You can throw in some other things during the days too. BUt if you are a person who does not like repetition, don't get this game. I have a 12 year old that got bored with it in 10 min of playing. He can't take the repetiveness of the game. But it is something that I LOVE about the game.
Nintendo DS - Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness
