• Review: Harvest Moon: Tale of Two Towns

    by
    Emily "Darkcamllama" Hatcher
    Published on 11-06-2011 06:38 PM
    3 Comments Comments


    Developer: Marvelous Entertainment Inc.
    Publisher: Natsume
    Platform: Nintendo DS and 3DS
    Genre: Life/Farming Simulator
    Rating: Everyone
    Release Date (DS): September 20th, 2011
    Release Date (3DS): November 1st, 2011



    Presentation
    Long ago, two villages lived in harmony. Yet one day, the bickering of the mayors woke the Harvest Goddess, who unleashed her anger by collapsing the tunnel connecting the towns. Blaming each other, the two villages remained rivals ever since. Now you, a young farmer eager to start your own life, have moved to the area, and are faced with the challenge of bringing the towns to peace once more. Each season (month) the towns meet at the mountain peek and compete in cooking contests. Your participation in these events will help strengthen the bond between the feuding mayors.

    Aside from one or two minor details, there is little difference between the two games, so I thought a nice side by side review combining both games would be interesting. I was not disappointed in the additions to the 3DS copy of the game, but having already gotten through a nice portion of the originally released DS version, restarting again proved to be a bit of a slog.

    Graphics
    Without the 3D, the graphics are still lovely to look at. With the 3D on, a nice level of depth is added to the levels. Playing the normal DS copy of the game, you may notice the screen resolution is a bit smaller, not a huge hindrance but you will see more if you play the 3DS version. One flaw I discovered with the 3DS copy of the game was a bit of random slow down. These moments usually happened while on the main farm, but once or twice would happen, very briefly, in other locations as well. Trees quiver in the wind, leaves and flower petals occasionally drift by along with translucent clouds to announce a possible change in weather. Weather can change mid-day in this game, going from sunny to rainy and vice versa. The change is nice, and the world around you will change accordingly.

    The sprites for the animals are adorable, especially the alpacas. No, I’m not saying that because I love them. Rather than trudging around like the cows and sheep, alpacas have a cute little hop to their step. Characters all have their own unique design, except for the few random NPCs of no importance. Your character’s sprite can alter their appearance throughout the game as you unlock more outfits, and yes, these outfits do add more than aesthetics to the game. Some characters (those bachelors/bachelorettes) will favor one outfit over another, and you will get bonus friendship points with them for wearing said favored outfit. One special outfit also guarantees the weather will be sunny the next day. All around, the artwork is endearing and well done, retaining the charm of the Harvest Moon series.

    Sound/Music
    The music in Harvest Moon games has always been charming and melodic, offering different themes for different occasions and seasons. At certain points in the game, long time fans will be delighted to hear some audio from previous games, slightly updated for the times but with no sacrifice to their original tones. Once evening falls, the music outside fades to the sound of the nocturnal creatures. Sadly, aside from the noises of the animals, there are no vocals included with the game. I feel like the addition of some voice could have really boosted the game a bit more. Simple greetings from the villagers, or even the occasional laugh or sigh such as those in the previous Harvest Moon game, Harvest Moon: Grand Bazaar, or the Rune Factory series, could easily add a nice touch to Tale of Two Towns.

    Gameplay
    Between the two copies of the game, there is little difference from how the game plays. Some bonuses for playing the 3DS copy of the game include not having to switch between walking and running and an extra touch mini-game for your animals. You need to manually click the run/walk button, the top L button, on the normal DS copy of the game, to toggle between running and walking. This resets every morning after waking. However the 3DS version of the game simply requires you to pull the analog stick all the way down to run, something most console users are already familiar with. Having to switch between running and walking on the normal edition of the game isn’t something that breaks the game if you are on the fence about which copy to get. That being said, I played my original DS copy on my 3DS and my DSlite, and I must say that controlling the character with the analog stick is so much easier than using the D-pad. No matter which version you purchase, if you own both plain DS and 3DS systems, the game is simply better played on the 3DS.

    Where you choose to live determines what your farming forte will be. Living in the more European styled Bluebell will mean your farm will be smaller in terms of fertile land for crops, but you will be granted more space for livestock, and will start off with an adult chicken and cow. On the other hand, selecting the more Asian styled Konohana means less space for fewer animals, but more land for growing the various crops. On the bright side, once you unlock the necessary farming tools, you can circumvent the crop land reduction in Bluebell and use the farmland in Konohana, essentially making the most of both farms while living in one place. However, that may leave little time to mingle with the villagers and forge in the mountain. Until you can bring the two mayors closer together, the tunnel will remain blocked, making your daily trips between villages much longer as you go over the mountain. To get the full experience of the game, it is practically required that you move to the opposite town at one point. If not, you will miss out on farm upgrades for that local, and also miss out on the various festivals as well. Moving becomes optional around the last week of each month. If you move from Bluebell to Konohana and have too many animals, you will be forced to take only a limited number, and the rest will be inaccessible until you return to Bluebell.

    One feature that has been included in almost every Harvest Moon game is marriage. Marriage is an important step to life, and you will be given several different companions to woo. Each gender gets a decent number of possible spouses, and some special characters are unlocked as time goes by. These special characters may have different requirements if you want to win their hearts, so be prepared to go above and beyond. Not only will you be wooing your future husband/wife, but building your friendship with your other neighbors is important as well. Perhaps more important is repairing the damaged relationship between the Bluebell and Konohana mayors. This only happens through the monthly cooking festivals. If you choose to participate and your town wins, the mayors will begin to get along a bit better. Choosing to cheer your townsfolk on will slow down the progress, but possibly leave you more time to upgrade your farm.

    Unlike other Harvest Moon games, you cannot upgrade your house whenever you please. At the start of each season, starting in the first summer, you will be granted the option to either upgrade your farm, or begin construction on the tunnel connecting the towns. The option for the tunnel upgrade will cancel out the home upgrade if the mayor’s friendship level is high enough. This game play element may extend playability, but may also frustrate players who want to upgrade their farms immediately. Each farm has different upgrades available, offering different structures and field types exclusively depending on where you live. Tunnel upgrades, once completed, will eventually lead to opening up the mines within the mountain, creating even more possibilities. Again, not being able to select both tunnel constructions and farm upgrades can be annoyingly frustrating at times, and the wait can easily make a player lose patience.

    Lasting Appeal
    Harvest Moon games frequently have lasting appeal due to the amount of choices you can make. With the two different towns come different chances at making your fortune, finding love, and different competitions and festivals to attend. In order to completely get a well rounded feel of the game, playing for an extended period of time and living in both towns will require a lot of time (both in game and in real life).

    Conclusion
    For fans of the series, Tale of Two Towns certainly shouldn’t disappoint. The improved story line, more chances to cultivate your farming experience, and new places to explore offer a variety of tasks to accomplish. For those who are new to the Harvest Moon series, you can look forward to a unique way to pass time with a game that is relaxing and enjoyable. The game can become repetitive, but setting the game aside and coming back to it can provide a nice refresher. For parents with younger children, the Harvest Moon series of games have always been family friendly and fun.

    SCORE
    8/10
    Comments 3 Comments
    1. ecchiSKETCH's Avatar
      ecchiSKETCH - 11-06-2011
      This had been one of the games I bought a 3DS for, but sadly I haven't gotten it yet. I really wanted that alpaca plushie.
    1. Gusto's Avatar
      Gusto - 11-06-2011
      I got a furry horse at E3 2009 that I keep in my pants when I can't sleep at night, but an alpaca totally wins mine lol.
    1. Judecca's Avatar
      Judecca - 11-07-2011
      Alpaca's are master cornerbacks

  • Review Scale

    Score 10- Flawless Victory: A score not handed out to every game. Games earning this rare score sit at the very pinnacle of excellence. These games act as the examples for which all others should be measured with. They are instant classics from the beginning. These games not only deliver what was expected of it, but also exceed the player’s expectations. The game’s features are innovative and original. No game is without its absolute flaws, but the finished product you bring home surpasses the anticipation the game has formed. A day one buy is a must. The game you hold in your hands with this score is a video game jackpot.

    Score 9 - 9.5- Outstanding: Games earning scores such as these absolutely must be played. Games that achieve this high ranking do so because they define the genres that they are in. Flaws are few and barely noticeable. Features seen in the game have been renovated to provide something new and fresh. The story, gameplay, graphics, and lasting appeal are all fantastic and is reason enough to bring the game home and to enjoy with family and friends. Every penny you spend on the game is so worth it.

    Score 8 - 8.5- Great: Any flaw the game may possess is overshadowed by its fun factor. These games would be great for gamers to play. These great games appeal to gamers more and more outside its normal player base because of what it brings to the table.

    Score 7 - 7.5- Good: Flaws do exist in these games, but the positive features of the game can counterbalance the flaws. Additionally, players who are predisposed to liking a game of a particular series or genre with this score should enjoy the game. These are in no way bad games, and much fun can be had with them. An overall good game is worth taking a look at, whether you are willing to buy the game or rent it first. That or you can also wait for the game to reach a good price.

    Score 6 - 6.5- Decent: Games falling into this category may suffer from numerous flaws (for example, graphics or gameplay), but are still worth playing. Granted, the player should be aware that a game with these scores may not guarantee them full satisfaction.

    Score 5 - 5.5- Average: An average game is one in which a game’s features are neither good nor completely terrible. Instead, the finished product is manageable. Little has been done to hold the player’s interest. If anything, rent this game before you consider buying it so that you can at least get a feel for the game’s overall experience.

    Score 4 - 4.5- Poor: Games falling into this category may only keep gamers entertained for a short while. While the game may seem enjoyable for moments at a time, it can quickly grow old and may never be revisited again. The game’s overall function is lacking in quality and may not hold the player’s attention for long. The game leaves little or nothing else to return back to.

    Score 3 - 3.5- Bad: If any positive qualities about a game in this category exist, it is not enough to redeem the game for its shortcomings. Sure you may find yourself playing it, but for how long? You will wind up not giving the game a second glance.

    Score 2 - 2.5- Horrible: Games such as these may not be totally unplayable, they nearly are. Additionally, they may lack, or greatly suffer in, the fundamental functionality of the software as a whole. The game simply does not come close to meeting industry standards at the time of its release.

    Score 1 - 1.5- Appalling: Gamers should avoid this game at all costs. The game was clearly not ready to make its way to store shelves in its status. Save your money and find something else. See it in the bargain bin? No! Stay away! Keep moving and look for something else.