RETAILBIZ: HARVEST MOON: FRANTIC FARMING / HERO OF LEAF VALLEY 62 MCV 08/10/10
Two new Harvest Moon farm sims make their way to DS and PSP…
by Dominic Sacco
IT MAY not be the easiest job in real life, but there’s something about farming that makes it surprisingly fun in game- form – especially on portable consoles. Harvest Moon is a well-established simulation series that has amassed a cult following since its original release on the Super Nintendo in 1996. Now Rising Star Games is providing fans with two new instalments – Harvest Moon: Hero of Leaf Valley on PSP and Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming on DS.
Product manager Yen Hau tells MCV:
“Harvest Moon on the Nintendo DS has been one of the best performing titles for Rising Star, with every new iteration taking full advantage of the success its predecessor experienced.” “On the PSP, Innocent Life is still experiencing sales some five years after its original release. Harvest Moon is still an incredibly popular brand and the portable consoles make it much more accessible to its core audience.” Innocent Life is an extension of the Harvest Moon franchise, similar to Rune Factory – which takes the classic farming gameplay and adds dungeons, weaponry and combat. But it’s the main Harvest Moon games that resonate most strongly with the fanbase.
HEROES AND VALLEYS In Hero of Leaf Valley on PSP, players must save the valley and their character’s family by raising money by farming. There are 16 possible pathways through the game, opening up a range of opportunities for players. To progress, users must grow crops, raise animals and mine ore in traditional Harvest Moon fashion. Hau adds: “Hero of Leaf Valley is the first proper Harvest Moon game to be released in Europe for the PSP, giving PSP owners a chance to experience the critically acclaimed gameplay first hand. “Growing crops, raising pets and cultivating relationships – it’s all there in the palm of their hands.” In Frantic Farming on DS, gamers can take on one of 12 playable characters in a variety of modes including Story, Mission and Score Attack. In the latter puzzle-based mode, players must match crop icons and colours as quickly as possible.
WWW.MCVUK.COM
It’s a new direction for the Harvest
Moon franchise and weaves in an engrossing story arc featuring the characters from the series’ ‘Island of Happiness’. Rising Star says this title lends itself well to the casual market. “There is an actual reason why the player is completing the current puzzle board, which leads to a more integrated and personal gaming experience,” comments Hau.
“The puzzle mechanic itself is one that is intuitive and addictive, allowing casual players to experience the Harvest Moon universe.”
Both titles feature the classic farming theme that fans have grown to love.
RELEASED: OCTOBER 22 (HERO OF LEAF VALLEY), NOVEMBER (FRANTIC FARMING)
FORMATS: PSP (HERO OF LEAF VALLEY), DS (FRANTIC FARMING) PUBLISHER: RISING STAR GAMES DEVELOPER: NATSUME (HERO OF LEAF VALLEY), MARVELOUS (FRANTIC FARMING)
PRICE: £24.99 DISTRIBUTOR: MASTERTRONIC CONTACT: 0845 234 4242
Whether it’s the new casual puzzle- oriented gameplay of Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming or the mix of classic adventure and simulation gameplay in Harvest Moon: Hero of Leaf Valley, there’s something for both portable console players this Christmas. With the ability to raise a herd of prize-winning cows, plant all manner of different crops and even marry a local villager of their choice, players can increase reputation and financial gain, while having fun at the same time. Come to think of it, farming doesn’t sound all that bad after all. Both new Harvest Moon games are due out before Christmas.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88