Harvest Moon GB

Harvest Moon GB (牧場物語GB, Bokujō Monogatari GB) is the second game in the Story of Seasons series of video games, and was developed and published by Victor Interactive Software. Harvest Moon GB is the first portable Harvest Moon game, developed for the Game Boy. A Game Boy Color version was released later under the name Harvest Moon GBC. The Game Boy Color version was later released on the 3DS Virtual Console in 2013.

Harvest Moon GB
Developer(s)Victor Interactive Software
Publisher(s)
SeriesStory of Seasons
Platform(s)Game Boy, Game Boy Color
ReleaseGame Boy[1]
  • JP: December 19, 1997
  • NA: August 12, 1998
Game Boy Color[2]
  • NA: November 25, 1999[3]
  • EU: January 10, 1999
Genre(s)Life simulation, role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

Before beginning, the player is able to choose whether to play as a girl or a boy, and name themselves. At the beginning of the game, the player's deceased grandfather visits them as a spirit and asks them to take over his farm. He implores them to succeed him as a Ranch Master, stating he will check on the player at the end of each winter to determine his progress. The player must develop their farm by growing and selling crops, and raising livestock to reach this goal. If the farm meets his criteria for you to be a Ranch Master, the player may receive extra tools; if he thinks the farm does not, a game over is given.

Crops

Crops are the primary source of income in Harvest Moon GB. Different seeds can be sown during different seasons, but any seed sown outside of its designated season will not sprout. After being planted, the seeds must be watered every day until they can be harvested. All harvested crops (along with anything able to be sold) may be put in the shipping bin to be sold. Almost all crops require active farming and maintenance, although every day, the player can harvest two Mushrooms from their underground cellar to sell.

Animals

Either a dog or a cat may be chosen as a pet. If a cat is chosen, wild dogs will not attack chickens; if a dog is picked, moles will not destroy crops. The player receives a horse early in the game, which when grown can be used for farm work, riding, and shipping items.

There are two types of livestock - cows and chickens. Cows can produce milk, which can be turned into cheese and butter, and chickens produce eggs. Both livestock can reproduce: cows by giving them Miracle Potion (equivalent to artificial insemination), and chickens by hatching their eggs.

Tools and items

There are a wide variety of tools in Harvest Moon GB. At the beginning of the game, the tools available are the axe, hoe, hammer, watering can (obtained after buying the first crop seeds), and sickle. These tools may be improved, turning into "super" tools. The player may also receive a fishing rod, pickaxe and umbrella after reaching their grandfather's goal.

Reception

Harvest Moon GB was fairly well received, earning a 7.2/10 review from Nintendo Power.[8] GameSpot gave it a 7.4/10, saying "Harvest Moon [GB] is a relaxing and rewarding simulation of the simple life on the farm ... [but] you're better off waiting for the Game Boy Color version."[5] IGN gave the GBC version a 6.0/10, saying "Without the dating aspects and with only a few mini-quests to play through, Harvest Moon GBC is a lightweight version of a feathery game."[6] Total Game Boy praised the game, stating the gameplay was "extremely rewarding", praising the "certain charm" of the "childlike quality" of the game's tone.[7]

References
  1. "Harvest Moon GB Release Dates". Gamespot. Archived from the original on July 1, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  2. "Harvest Moon GBC Release Dates". Gamespot. Archived from the original on July 1, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  3. "Harvest Moon GBC". IGN. Archived from the original on 2022-10-23. Retrieved 2023-07-01.
  4. "Harvest Moon GBC for Game Boy Color". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on September 25, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  5. Davis, Cameron. "Harvest Moon GBC Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  6. Nix, Marc (2000-05-05). "Harvest Moon GBC". IGN. Archived from the original on 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
  7. "Harvest Moon GB". Total Game Boy (2): 20–21. 1999.
  8. "Harvest Moon GB for Game Boy". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 31, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
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