 Preview By: Siou Choy |
Developer: | Marvelous Interactive |
| Publisher: | Natsume | |
| Genre: | Simulation | |
| ESRB: | Everyone | |
| # Of Players: | 1 | |
| Online Play: | No | |
| Accessories: | Compatible with Friends of Mineral Town (GBA) | |
| Estimated Release: | 03/25/2008 |
There’s another weird quirk that should appeal to the growing LBGT community: in Harvest Moon DS, you were given the opportunity to marry outside the usual talent pool, with options to bed the Harvest Goddess, Witch Princess or Leia the Mermaid sweetening the pot. This time around, since you’re playing as a female, those same ladies can become your (ahem) “best friend”. This is accomplished by means of a (don’t laugh) “Best Friend ceremony”. Of course, this might be one “best friend” you could do without, as they will move into your farm after the ceremony. While the more adult connotations of this may appeal to the prurient interest, the old adage “three’s a crowd” certainly applies – it’s almost as bad as having live-in in-laws!
Unfortunately, it seems that when games are meant to be tailored towards girls, developers appear to have no clue how to make said games appealing to the fairer sex. So it is that a lot of useless aesthetic options get tossed into the mix, such as the option to change wallpaper or clothes. This absurdly old-fashioned stereotype of the housewife/interior decorator last reared its hoary head in Another Wonderful Life, and it’s happening here too.
Regardless, fans of the Harvest Moon series will most likely pick this one up, despite its being just a slightly revised edition of the last series release. Newcomers and those who passed up Harvest Moon DS might be best suited, since there are extras and variations not found in the former entry. Either way, the Harvest Moon brand of farming can get downright addictive, and comes recommended. Harvest Moon DS Cute is expected to be released in March.
Posted: 2008-02-28 17:47:36 PST