Well, there goes the neighborhood. The neat thing is that since you're now the new owner so you can make as many changes as you want. Do you want to buy some cute little cows and/or chickens? No problem; just plant crops, water them, harvest them and sell them. In other words, cultivate your farm and reap the benefits of money and happiness. When you become financially well, try your best to earn the attentions of one of the five local town girls in an effort to share your wealth and happiness with one by marrying her. All of the girls have different personalities and tastes; for example, Eve likes romantic moments, Maria likes kids, Nina likes flowers bought from her mother's shop, Ellen likes eggs and cooking supplies and Anne likes practical things. After you win one of the girl's hearts you'll eventually expand your house and have a baby. This adds tremendously to your happiness and makes your wife love you more than ever.

  Harvest Moon isn't just all-tedious work and no play though. You have the opportunity to go to social events and holidays in the local area, such as church on Sunday, the Egg Festival, the Starlight Festival, the Harvest Festival and others. These break up your daily routine and help to liven up your simple farming life. Not only that, but special events will occur when you do a particular thing in the game. A man might offer to trade you some magic beans for your cow. A dwarf might offer to make your tools better in exchange for some food. A peddler might sell you a tree of bells. A young horse might wander up to your front gate. A chicken in the clouds might give you a golden egg. A goddess might give you a new axe if you tell her the truth. A water spirit could just give you a berry that boosts your stamina. In all these side quests, your morals and kindness are tested and only through the right decisions will your life flourish. Obviously, some might think that this simple style of gameplay, in which every day is only about forty-five seconds and you have to do all your chores, goof off, then go to bed, is silly. This just isn't so though, as Harvest Moon is one of the simplest and most fun game concepts to come along in practically years...

  It's fresh to see a game in which you don't have to worry about dying, don't have any enemies, save nature itself, and the biggest problem you have is getting a local girl to marry you. However, the game does have consequences and if you laze about and don't work as hard as you can, you'll never get a wife, you'll never own livestock and you'll pay harsh prices for your slacked ness; if you forget to water your crops, milk your cows or feed your chickens, then be prepared for the worst. In Harvest Moon, only an honest day's work and your best effort are rewarded and the dirtier your hands get, the fuller your wallet and the more happiness you obtain. In short, Harvest Moon is an instant classic, an interesting farming game that proves you don't need all the inconveniences of three-dimensional gaming to have a lot of fun; you just need a game made about achieving happiness using your brain and your own two hands to shape your life and your farm into both a business and a home. A happy life is the focal point of Harvest Moon and we could all use a dose of simple happiness, even if it simply means playing an old 16-bit title from years past about living on love, happiness and the fat of the land to become a successful husband and farmer.
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