Leave it to
Natsume to create a successful franchise out of a series of games that have you
taking an abandoned farm and turning it into a fully functional one just by
doing the same things over and over again. The Harvest Moon series has
always been a wildly unique, downright cute and surprisingly fun franchise that
plays like nothing you’ve ever played before. While a Harvest Moon game
has already appeared in a portable format such as the Game Boy Advance as well
as the Nintendo DS, it’s good to see the series on Sony’s PSP. Harvest Moon:
Boy & Girl might not be a fresh new Harvest Moon game but fans new
and old will still like this one nonetheless.
In actuality,
Boy & Girl is really two classic Harvest Moon games rolled into one
deliciously nearly perfect portable package. This UMD basically includes the
Harvest Moon: Back to Nature game that has you taking up the role of a boy
and his farm as well as the Harvest Moon game that put a girl as the lead
character. You’re given the choice between playing as the boy and playing as the
girl and while the game’s goal remains the same, both characters have their own
unique story and both characters are treated differently throughout the game.
If you pick the
boy, you find yourself in Mineral Town where you spent many a summer on your
grandfather’s farm. Your return to the farm isn’t a joyous one since your
grandfather has passed away and now you are the owner of his farm that is in
need of a capable farmer. You will be working the farm, preparing produce to
sell and wooing the local town girls to see who you would like to have as a
wife. As a girl, you start off aboard a ship on your way to an unknown
destination. Suddenly, a storm hits and you are tossed into the ocean. You wake
up on the beaches of Mineral Town where the Mayor offers you a home in exchange
for taking care of the abandoned farm. Taking up the challenge, our girl works
the land as well as picking out a local boy to claim as your sweetheart.
As I mentioned,
the stories might be different but the main goal is always the same no matter
the sex of your character. Your abandoned and rundown farm starts out a mess and
the fields are filled with debris such as boulders and tree limbs you must clear
before you work the soil. Your farm comes complete with chicken coops, barns,
stables and a wood shed. Your house also comes fully furnished and comes with a
television where you can watch everything from the news to the weather channel
as well as some other entertaining shows. You’ll even have a puppy to keep you
company (and you don’t even have to feed him but you do have to give him plenty
of hugs too keep your pooch happy).
Working the farm
is not a simple chore either and not because your character quickly gets
exhausted but because it requires your full attention as the days, months and
years pass. Each season not only introduces new difficulties for your farm but
it also holidays that are actually fun to participate in as well as brush up on
your social skills. You can decide what to plant on your fields since the
Mineral Town general store has a variety of seeds for the right price. You can
purchase new tools or upgrade the ones you have to help you plant and then
harvest whatever you decide to grow to put into a bin so your produce can be
sold in town. Yes, it requires a lot of patience and the same repetitive till,
plant, water and harvest pattern but somehow these chores are actually fun.
You can also
purchase livestock such as chickens, cows, sheep, horses and fish. Each animal
type requires specific changes to your farm in order for them to produce items
like eggs, milk or wool. For example, if you want chickens you’ll have your
chicken coop remodeled and you’ll have to buy chicken feed. If you want to sell
milk and cheese, you’ll have to grow plenty of grass for them to eat and you’ll
have to brush them every now and then. Taking care of livestock is certainly a
chore but it adds plenty of challenges and a change of pace from working the
land. Speaking of change of pace, you can stray from your farm long enough to
lend a helping hand in a vineyard, mine for minerals in a mine and even go
fishing.
The dating
aspect of the game is familiar territory for those who have played Japanese
dating simulators. Whether you’re a boy or a girl you’ll encounter a number of
single ladies and guys, each with their own personalities as well as their likes
and dislikes. You’ll be wooing them by offering them gifts that suit their
personalities as well as go on dates. Once you’ve chosen your guy or girl of
your dreams you can eventually get married and share the farm with your mate.
As you can see,
the game has plenty to offer and there’s never a shortage of things to do in
this rather lengthy game but all is not perfect in Mineral Town. For one thing,
the controls can be a bit unresponsive at times. There are also moments where
the game would run into some delays like when you’re brushing your horse,
listening to townspeople tell a tale or picking up your pup.
The game’s
graphics, unfortunately, aren’t as colorful or as cute as the console version.
In fact, even the last Nintendo DS game looked better than Boy & Girl.
This is too bad since the PSP is more than capable of outshining the DS
graphics. Instead, we’re treated to some murky textures and fuzzy backgrounds.
The characters are still super cute but the graphics could have been better. At
least the music is still upbeat and catchy and varies from season to season.
This is a good thing since there’s no voice acting or sound effects to be heard
in this game.
Harvest Moon:
Boy & Girl is
still a refreshing and addictive experience that might not have made a smooth
transition from the console to the PSP but it’s still a fun experience worth
checking out. The game’s few sore spots are certainly overshadowed by the number
of great things this game has to offer those looking for a lengthy, interesting
and fun title you should definitely buy if you’re new to the series or a
long-time fan.
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Gameplay: 7.0
You wake up,
hug your puppy, and then work the land until your character gets too tired to
pick up a hoe. Yes, it sounds dull but – surprisingly – it isn’t. The boy’s
story differs from the girl’s story but the outcome and goal is always the same.
Sadly, sometimes the controls can be a bit unresponsive.
Graphics: 5.5
The murky
textures and soft lighting just have no place on the PSP and the characters all
look like big-headed Hobbits. I must admit, though, the characters are somewhat
adorable either way.
Sound: 6.5
The different
tunes are actually catchy but you’ll wish there was a more diverse number of
tunes in this game since there’s no voice acting to be found. Oh, the sound
effects are almost nonexistent so don’t expect to hear much in this game.
Difficulty:
Medium
There’s a lot
of land to cover and you have to fight a number of obstacles that can sometimes
make working your farm a tad frustrating (like exhaustion and the harsh
winters). You would think that hooking up with a potential mate is hard but it
isn’t and taking care of animals isn’t as hard as I thought it would be.
Concept: 7.5
If somebody
asked me if I would enjoy playing a game where you would plant potatoes and
prepare for the spring harvest by working the land I would probably laugh but
Harvest Moon somehow makes these chores a fun experience. Boy & Girl
possesses a number of things to see and do in this game and the different
stories for the boy and girl characters give gamers an excuse to play all over
again. Also, there’s dating and other town activities to participate in
throughout the harvest year.
Overall: 7.0
Still unique
and oddly enjoyable, Harvest Moon: Boy & Girl might not be as perfect as
the console games but it’s still just as interesting on the PSP. A few framerate
and control issues aside, it’s hard not to enjoy your stay in Mineral Town and
the farm life that awaits you. If you’re a loyal fan of the series and you’re
looking for a good portable fix of the Harvest Moon games then you can’t
go wrong with this one.
