Harvest Moon: Rune Factory (DS)

[Low]

Picked this up for the girlfriend, I've been playing a bit of it myself.
...

I am horribly addicted to a Harvest Moon game again. Damn it.

It IS the best Harvest Moon I've ever played, though. Fighting killer sheep which you also tame and shear for their wool is weirdly captivating.

I wish I was playing this right now.

Good to hear, reviews have been blah but it's cool to see a Moon game break from the formula a bit. *-neo

[YellerDog]

It's really fun if you like Harvest Moon games!

Combat is really simple, but it's really fun to upgrade your tools and use 'em as weapons. I'm finishing up the Fall season of Year 1, and it's completely open-ended so far.

The basic gameplay is very similar to Mineral Town. The only place where it really lags is the events, which were fun and quirky in MT. Fighting+Monsters + Farming is great, though. The graphics are on the upper end of DS games. I'd say PS1-quality 3D with really nicely painted backgrounds.

From what I've seen of the new PSP HM game, this one is the one to get.

[Opaque]

I love HM but the PSP one looks like shit and everyone says that's what it plays like.

I'm getting this tomorrow thanks to your recommendation.

[YellerDog]

Cool! I hope you like it.

Also: there are now BOSS FIGHTS in Harvest Moon.

[Opaque]

I don't know how I feel about that.

I really just want another Harvest Moon 2 from the GBC. I also really want the new Wii Harvest Moon to come out because it looks like the GC Harvest Moon and I loved the shit out of that game.

[YellerDog]

I don't know how I feel about that.

I really just want another Harvest Moon 2 from the GBC. I also really want the new Wii Harvest Moon to come out because it looks like the GC Harvest Moon and I loved the shit out of that game.

I think this one will surprise you. IMO, the core gameplay really benefits from the addition of season-specific dungeons. You can actually do stuff in the winter now.

Fighting is almost completely optional from what I've seen, but going into battle with a Panda-Apple monster against big monster chickens is not to be missed.

[Opaque]

Let's put my Harvest Moon love in context, these are the games I've now played and the order in which I liked them most:

1. Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town (GBA)
2. Harvest Moon: Back To Nature (PSX)
3. Harvest Moon 2 (GBC)
4. Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life (GC)
5. Harvest Moon 64 (Emulated on Xbox LOL)
6. Harvest Moon (GBC)
7. Harvest Moon: Save the Homeland (PS2)

I never touched the first DS games or the PSP future bullshit because the first looked like they didn't even try and PSP one appears to be complete trash. Will my taste fit this new game?

[YellerDog]

I absolutely loved Mineral Town GBA, and Rune Factory plays almost like a sequel to it. It really hits the spot.

[Opaque]

I'm sold.