Publisher: Natsume

Developer: Natsume

Category: Role-Playing

Release Dates

N Amer - 07/26/2005

Official Game Website



Harvest Moon: Another Wonderful Life Review

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Living in the city ain't where it's at, and so you decide to take off and fulfill your father's dream of living on the farm. It just so happens that a good friend of dear old dad lives on a farm, and evidently nothing would please him more than that his friend's daughter come and live on the farm, too. Hey, keep Manhattan and give me that countryside!

Another Wonderful Life is exactly like the previous release A Wonderful Life, except that now the protagonist is a girl, instead of a guy. Other than that, the essential plot of marrying, raising kids, and then sending them off into the wide world is still the same. Same characters, same animals, even the same dogs to choose as pets.

At the start of the game, Takakura, your dad's old friend, explains the basic workings of a farm. The first several days on the farm will be spent taking care of the cow, which, besides the pet dog, is the only animal on the farm. Planting seeds and tending the fields is a primary concern, as well. Soon, Farmergirl will be selling milk, buying more seeds, and then buying additional livestock. Once a fishing pole is acquired, fish can be added to the equation. There are also items to be picked up around the town and farm. Romance soon blooms, and it is time to pick the right mate! The way to a man's heart is through his stomach, and these guys will love the special recipes Farmergirl whips up.

This game is identical to the first in terms of graphics. Some things look great, like the characters, and the running water, but other background items like roads are blurry. As in the first game, buildings can be seen through.

The interface is easy to manage, but again, the camera is hypersensitive. It's harder than it should be to till and water the fields, with the target square hopping all over the place, instead of the exact desired field square. I wish they would have fixed this when they remade this game.

A Wonderful Life was a good game, and Another Wonderful Life is also a good game. However, they are practically the same game. Players who own A Wonderful Life have absolutely no need to get this edition. If they don't have the first one, then either one will provide all the farming anyone could desire. The choice only depends on the preference for a female or male character.

Review Scoring Details for Harvest Moon: Another Wonderful Life

Gameplay: 8.5
Farming is fun with these games from Natsume. The pace begins slowly, but then becomes more involved and challenging. A more linear and prescribed game than Animal Crossing, which means more strategy is involved, but on the other hand, it would have been nice to have more open-ended play, especially in the town areas.

Graphics: 8.0 
The graphics are a mixed bag, but fairly good for the GameCube.

Sound: 6.0
Nothing special here.

Difficulty: Medium
The difficulty is of a medium level, easier in the beginning, then becoming tougher due to time issues and task choices.

Concept: 6.0 
Nothing new here, except for the gender change.

Overall: 8.3
While nothing has really changed, this game isn't presented as a new version, but instead as a different take on the previous game. As long as players know it's the same game, this is fine. While nothing major has been modified, the game as a whole was good enough not to really need much fixing, except for a few minor tweaks with the interface. The game was fun two years ago, and is thoroughly enjoyable today.



Harvest Moon: Another Wonderful Life Comments (0)



GameZone Review Detail

Gameplay8.5
Graphics8
Sound6
DifficultyMedium
Concept6
Overall8.3

8.3

GZ Rating

Girls just wanna have fun on the farm!

Reviewer: Anise Hollingshead

Review Date: 08/12/2005


ESRB Rating

Everyone
Alcohol Reference
Suggestive Themes

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