Harvest Moon - SNES

ESRB Rating: Kids to Adults
Release Date: 8-9-1996
Moby Score (1-10): 7.7
Genre(s): Simulation, Managerial / business simulation, Anime / Manga, Diagonal-down
Media Type(s): Physical

Take in the natural beauty and breathe the fresh country air in this fascinating farming simulation game. Experience first-hand the down-to-earth goodness of life on a farm. Your challenge is to dig in and build your life as a farmer with old-fashioned hard work and dedication. There are buildings on your property, but they are in need of livestock. You have a modest house, but if things get lonely in the field, it's going to take a remodel to woo a female farming companion. Success in this game is measured by the fruits of your labor, so remember, you always reap what you sow!

Harvest Moon is a single-player life-simulation farming game. The player inherits a neglected countryside ranch and is tasked with restoring it by tending fields, raising animals, and integrating with a nearby town over a fixed multi-year span that ends with a formal evaluation of the farm and the farmer’s life.

Play unfolds across four 30-day seasons that influence what can be planted, harvested, or foraged. Each in-game day offers limited time to clear land, water crops, feed livestock, and ship produce for income. Animals must be cared for daily, with chickens needing feed and cows requiring attention to remain healthy and productive. Managing the routine within the clock, the weather, and seasonal schedules is the core challenge.

Progression is measured in money earned, land improved, and relationships built. Crops are grown in tilled plots that must be watered regularly to advance growth stages, then shipped for profit. Livestock expands the farm’s output with eggs and milk. Tool use and planning are constrained by the farmer’s stamina, which can be increased by finding rare Power Berries hidden through exploration and special events.

Town life provides structure and optional goals. The player can befriend villagers through conversation and gifts, then pursue courtship and marriage with eligible partners. Household upgrades expand living space and enable family life. Festivals on specific calendar days offer social scenes and small mechanics twists, and some events can raise affection with townspeople.

Exploration beyond the farm yields resources, secrets, and stamina restoratives. The mountain area and other outskirts offer forage items and event triggers, while careful time management is required to deliver goods to the shipping bin before collection each evening. Efficient routing, weather awareness, and choosing between fieldwork and town visits determine the farm’s steady growth.

Long-term goals culminate in an evaluation after a set period near the summer of the third year, with outcomes reflecting farming success, social bonds, and family life. Multiple ending scenes can be earned by meeting different criteria, such as marriage, raising children, shipping large quantities of particular crops, or collecting all Power Berries.

*** Data by MobyGames.com ***

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