Harvest Moon: Sugar Village

[Evil Avnovice]

Recently announced by Marvelous Entertainment, this title will see release in Japan on March 19, 2009. (Gamekyo (http://www.gamekyo.com/newsen29409_harvest-moon-sugar-village-announced-for-the-psp.html))

http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/Images/74221120081210_162731_0_big.jpg (http://www.gamekyo.com/images0_4_29409.html) http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/Images/74221120081210_162731_1_big.jpg (http://www.gamekyo.com/images1_4_29409.html)

[Heresyte]

I can't keep up with this many games. There are now 5 harvest moon games being developed.

[Purple Santa]

I need to play at least one. Any suggestions?

[Evil Avnovice]

I need to play at least one. Any suggestions?

Me? I'm waiting for Rune Factory Frontier (Wii), as that will be my first introduction to Harvest Moon.

[Heresyte]

I need to play at least one. Any suggestions?
Magical Melody for Gamecube is very good, and would probably be your best bet right now. Havest Moon 64, Back To Nature (PS), or Friends of Mineral Town (GBA) would also be good introductions to the series but would probably be hard to track down. I haven't played a lot of the newer games due to lack of time, and they've mostly gotten mixed reviews so I wouldn't recommend them so someone who isn't familiar with the series already. Stay away from A Wonderful Life (GCN), it wasn't very good.

The first Rune Factory was a bit 'meh', so I don't know if I could recommend it (or it's 2 upcoming sequels) as introductions to the series. It was fun, but it was basically half-assed Harvest Moon mixed with half-assed dungeon crawling.

[Purple Santa]

Me? I'm waiting for Rune Factory Frontier (Wii), as that will be my first introduction to Harvest Moon.
Well I was asking anyone who comes along and has played the games. I am surprised you haven't played any of them. I guess you can't play ALL the Nintendo titles ;)
Magical Melody for Gamecube is very good, and would probably be your best bet right now. Havest Moon 64, Back To Nature (PS), or Friends of Mineral Town (GBA) would also be good introductions to the series but would probably be hard to track down. I haven't played a lot of the newer games due to lack of time, and they've mostly gotten mixed reviews so I wouldn't recommend them so someone who isn't familiar with the series already. Stay away from A Wonderful Life (GCN), it wasn't very good.

The first Rune Factory was a bit 'meh', so I don't know if I could recommend it (or it's 2 upcoming sequels) as introductions to the series. It was fun, but it was basically half-assed Harvest Moon mixed with half-assed dungeon crawling.
Thanks! I'm going to try to track down Back to Nature for PS or Friends of Mineral Town.

Half assed dungeon crawler? That's why Avnovice wants to play Rune Factory 2 :)

[Heresyte]

Half assed dungeon crawler? That's why Avnovice wants to play Rune Factory 2 :)
Actually Rune Factory 2 is a DS game, and it involves a different story and different characters from the first game. Rune Factory Frontier for the Wii will be a direct sequel of the characters and story from the original Rune Factory.

TOO MANY GAMES.

[Variable Gear]

If you've never played a Harvest Moon game, I'd recommend Harvest Moon 64.

[Purple Santa]

If you've never played a Harvest Moon game, I'd recommend Harvest Moon 64.

Please tell me that's a Virtual Console title and not a suggestion I drag out my N64 :)

[Variable Gear]

Please tell me that's a Virtual Console title and not a suggestion I drag out my N64 :)
Unfortunately, Harvest Moon 64 isn't available on the VC, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Virtual_Console_games_(North_America)#Nint endo_64) but the original Harvest Moon for the SNES (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvest_Moon_(video_game)) is.

I've never played it, but word is that it's still a quality farming simulation (http://wii.ign.com/articles/851/851039p1.html).

[Heresyte]

Please tell me that's a Virtual Console title and not a suggestion I drag out my N64 :)
HM64 would be my number one recommendation if it weren't for it's lack of availability. That's why Magical Melody was the first thing I mentioned, because it's still easy to acquire (http://www.amazon.com/Harvest-Moon-Magical-Melody-GameCube/dp/B000E36ONKref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1229308326&sr=8-1) without resorting to piracy.