Video Games : Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility

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from: Natsume, Inc.

: Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility
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List Price: $49.99
Amazon.com's Price: $46.99
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Amazon Maximum Age: 20 years
Amazon Minimum Age: 60 months
Binding: Video Game
Brand: Natsume, Inc.
EAN: 0719593120018
ESRB Age Rating: Everyone
Label: Natsume, Inc.
Manufacturer: Natsume, Inc.
Model: WII12001
Platform: Nintendo Wii
Publisher: Natsume, Inc.
Release Date: September 30, 2008
Sales Rank: 196
Studio: Natsume, Inc.

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Editorial Review:

Product Description:
You have moved to an island that was once enchanted ? However, it has been years since the mystical Mother's Tree has shown any signs of life, and the Harvest Goddess has vanished. The island has lost its connection with nature and the inhabitants don't know what to do. It's up to you to save the island. Till the Earth, tend to and befriend animals, nurture friendships and build a family. When the giant Mother's Tree awakens, the Harvest Goddess will smile upon the island once again.



Amazon.com Product Description:
You have moved to an island town that was once brimming with life and energy. But now, however, the island is in trouble and it's up to you to save it. The mystical Mother Tree that once watched over the island has disappeared, and the Harvest Goddess is nowhere to be found. The island has lost its connection with nature and the inhabitants don't know what to do.

Till the earth, befriend and raise animals, nurture friendships, and build a family. When the giant Mother Tree is reborn, the Harvest Goddess will be able to return and bring prosperity to the island once again.Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility is filled with exciting features that are sure to delight both new players and longtime Harvest Moon fans. There are lot of crops to grow, a variety of animals to care for, tons of festivals to participate in, and an exciting story.
'Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility' Key Game Features:
  • Feel like you're really farming with sickle, hammer and watering can functionality via the Nintendo Wii Remote.
  • Play as a boy or as a girl, marry, raise a family and pass your farm on to your heirs.
  • Experience more of a variety of gameplay as you work part-time jobs.
  • An amazing variety of crops, animals, events, and mini-games.
  • The deepest and biggest Harvest Moon to date.
Screenshots:

Tilling the fields in 'Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility'
Help the island by tilling the land.
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Meeting the townsfolk in 'Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility'
Meet the townsfolk.
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Develop lasting relationships in 'Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility'
Date and eventually marry.
View larger.





Customer Reviews
Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Happy Tenth, Harvest Moon!
The Great:
This Harvest Moon has the most features yet, ranging from more animals (and many, many more pets), to more plants and activities to do (such as part time jobs).

The game is harder than other Harvest Moons (save for possibly it's partner, Island of Happiness for the NDS), so one must remember to start out small.

The controls can be done using the Classic Controller or the Wii-mote; so those of you who prefer the classic gaming feel will have their fun, while players (like me) who love the Wii-mote will enjoy things immensely.


The Good:
The characters have a lot more diversity, instead of one "being the shy quiet type" but still yacking away like the rest, these characters actually vary from kind to cruel, shy, to ridiculously outgoing (one even believes he deserves his own fan club!)

Sure, the voice acting isn't knock your socks off (not Rune Factory or anything), but it's far, far better than it was in Magical Melody, and a nice touch.

Also having been entirely redone is the weapon upgrade system; you upgrade equipment with items called Wonderfuls, which enhance your weapons in various ways, enabling you to highly customize your hoe, hammer, water can, et cetera.

The world is huge; you can find many, many townsfolk and areas to explore just in the first part of the game, and there is a lot to unlock.

The animals are adorable, and there are so many more to raise. Having a farm is a lot more fun, not to mention all the other tasks you can do in the game.

I find the music quite fitting, but it does get a little repetitive. Also, there isn't any awkward silences at night; the music quiets down instead of stopping at night instead of like all the other previous games.

And finally, the minigames are ridiculously fun and can be quite difficult.


The Bad:
It's still rather the same game in terms of marriage and friendships: give gifts and talk to them every day.

You definitely get used to it, but your character's voice is annoying. If you have chickens, petting one each day, you hear "there, there" eight times, etc.


The Just Plain Weird:
Every time you first meet a new bachelor(ette), they have white sparkles around their face. It's just a bit freaky.


The Ugly/Also Weird:
I haven't been able to confirm this (I've only read it on many sites since the game has been out, but I believe having a child is a little (or a lot) weirder in this game. Apparently the island just resets, so your child can, well, marry the same person the parent married; it's just like a new game file, but your child has all the money you had. (Natsume, work a bit more on your planning, please. This is just too weird for me.)


Good or Bad, you Decide:
This is the first game not done by the traditional artist. I personally like the style,but feel it is admittedly sub-par to the original artwork in all the other games. However, that only applies to the people, I feel the animals and scenery is far better done.

Yet again, no same gender marriages in the game. Good for squeaky clean game if you don't want your kids to see that, but it is something some fans have been asking for, and it also makes it hard to get all the events, since you have to replay the game as a boy and a girl, etc.


Overall:
While I am somewhat wondering if this game was a bit rushed, I still find it's one of the better Harvest Moons; with all the new features, it might be the best. It's definitely worth playing. I gave it four stars for the first season in game, (first impression) because it can be hard to get hooked at first, but once you get going, this is the top Harvest Moon.


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - The next generation of Harvest Moon
The feel and look of this version is like no other of Harvest Moon. I feel I'm playing a whole new type of game. The franchise has taken a HUGE step. I think the people who make this game took the good of the old games, and fixed the very annoying parts of the game.

Graphics: It is the most beautiful Harvest Moon yet. Leaves fall from trees, there is shading on everything. The ripples in the water look so real.

Music:This could be good or bad depending upon you. The music is average, but it can get rather annoying at times.

pros:
1.In every district of the island there is a shipment box that you can use to place the items you want to sell. So you don't have to keep running back home. There is also one close to the mine! There are multiples in the hill top plot (if you choose this place as your home)
2. In every store you can get money by getting a part-time job.
3. You can still go out and do what you need to do even if there's a typhoon or snowstorm!
4. During a festival, you can go in and out the festival as you please,you are not stuck in it. People walk around the island as normal. Stores are closed.
5. You're child attitude is determined by who you marry. When he/she grows up, you can play as the child! And you can pick it is a girl or boy.
6.You can ride a horse or ostrich around the island.
7. The animals come in different colors.
8. You can make a wild animal your pet.
9. If you are looking for someone, you can click on there name on the menu and a track will pop up. So you can find them in no time!
10. Just by ringing a big bell all the animals go outside and inside. No more wasting time putting the chickens outside!
11. Wild and farm products will not desepear. They will stay were they are until you pick it up.
12.For girls: the bachelors this around actually look nice. I've played many HM versions and always thought the designers always put in more effort on the bachelorets then the games. There is variety in characters of both genders.

cons: 1. The par-time job takes the whole day. So you should plan before you go to do a job.
2. You have to pull out weeds because they effect your crops. You can't ship them, and they take up a lot of energy.
3. The mines have gases just like in Magical Melody.
4. The camera takes time to get used to. It moves to different angles when you go to different areas, and sometimes you feel as if you are not seeing something important. The control does not give a very good camera option.
5. There is a bit of loading time whenever you go into a new section. It's not long enough for you to loose focus. I use it to go over my strategy quickly in my head. The game continues before you can even finish your thinking process.

fun: You can change outfits in the game. (not a necessity, but it's fun!)

different:Each type of animal has a life span and will die at the end of there life span.

same: I know many reviewers are complain about the stamina. I think they forget that in all HM games in the beginning it's like that. All you need is to upgrade your tools and eat power berries. Problem solved.

This is what I think of it so far. I'm only in the beginning of the game. I would recommend buying the guide though. There is so much to do and many secrets!


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Best Harvest Moon yet!!
Before I get into the meat of this review, I feel it's important to note which versions I've played in the past. I've played through most of Save the Homeland and A Wonderful Life on the PS2, a little of the one on the GBA, and some of Harvest Moon DS (I think that's what it's called... the first HM for the DS, anyway). I've also seen my boyfriend play the N64 version though I never got a chance to play it myself.

So, now for my impressions of Tree of Tranquility.

First of all, it's amazing. I feel like they took everything about the previous games that frustrated me and fixed them. I don't get bored as quickly as I have in some versions, for one. The first one I played was Save the Homeland and what made me mad was having to push the freakin' cows back in the barn. They never wanted to go in the right directions and got stuck on things. In this version, you ring a bell to let the critters out, and you ring it to make them go back in. Simple, easy, and just plain awesome. In addition, I like the system of leveling up your tools. At first it wasn't fun getting tired out so easily, but as your tools level up and get better the work isn't too tough at all. Upgrading or adding to your farm doesn't require an entire forest and quarry of rocks, either. I had my chicken coop built before spring ended.

Second, I love the variety in this game. You have so many more choices as far as the direction you want to take your character. Choosing your future spouse aside, you can choose your pets, too. I'm working on getting the orange kitty right now because he looks like my real-life kitten, but how awesome would it be to have a ferret or a baby boar as a pet?! There's also a turtle, a few different breeds of dogs, a bunny, and a few others.

Oh yes, and you can raise ostriches. Need I say more?

Last, but not least, it is simply addicting. Since I first discovered the HM games, I haven't become truly hooked on one like I was that first time. I've finally found one that's got me hooked for the long haul. It is fast-paced enough to keep my attention and yet still has that lovely relaxed feel that made me fall in love with these games in the first place.

My only advice to those buying this game is to either invest in the official guide or, if you are cheap like myself, [...]. It REALLY helps to get a few hints here and there on how to progress the story. I might have been stuck for quite some time had I not had a little help (though I find I have those sorts of troubles with just about any RPG).

In conclusion, you seriously need to buy this game. Whether you are an HM fan or not, you'll find this game engaging, therapeutic, and just too damn cute to put down. It's worth every penny.

Well, perhaps I'm not one to talk about pennies, considering my boyfriend's the one who bought it (for himself, but we've been sharing). Heh.

(Another note: I'm playing as a girl and I'm currently near the end of my first summer and I'm "dating" Dr. Jin. I also have chickens.)


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - So far so good!
Well, I will start off with the fact that I am very pleased with the controls in this game. The Wii remote is utilized in such a way that it works perfectly. You can use your buttons or swing your remote around to achieve various tasks with your tools. I like having options on how to perform a task because sometimes I feel like swinging my arm around, and sometimes I don't. This is a great improvement over the new DS Island of Happiness that doesn't give you options in the way of control and was only stylus driven (which is a pain IMO).

As for this game, once you get going it really is very enjoyable and there is so much do. I know another reviewer complained how quickly their character tires from doing tasks throughout the day. This improves quickly as you upgrade your tools and skill level. Each tool upgrade lessens the amount of stamina used performing tasks. The hot springs used daily in the beginning is a major asset that allows you to double the amount of work you can perform in one day. There are herbs lying around at specific locations on the map that boost your stamina a little. The mushrooms in the mines area good source for an energy boost also. There is a great guide that you can buy for this game that is very helpful in getting you through that first tough season.

Fishing is really enjoyable. It also is a great source of money in the beginning. If you can buy matches from the General store and grill your fish at the fire pits next to the ocean that will boost quite a lot of your stamina if you eat them throughout the day.

I am already in the Fall season and have a barn, coop, and a 2nd level house. One cow, 1 sheep, 4 chickens, 1 silkworm, and finally my horse! Gardening is a lot of fun and with all that my character has accomplished there is still a ton of things to do that she simply hasn't had time or money to get to yet.

I like the Taylor shop that allows you to buy new outfits and hats! I was so happy when that store opened so I could upgrade my Rucksack! Whoohoo!

There aren't many cons to this game, but I feel they should be mentioned. Loading time between each area of the map is just annoying. I think that this takes to long and detracts from game play. Also, time is not stopped when you're in the mines, barns, or stores. It does give the game a bit more challenge, but its annoying to get kicked out of a store right when your about to make a purchase. Rushing in the barns to try and feed your animals, groom, shear, milk, etc. Trying to get out of the mines and hoping you make it home before the next day. I understand other HM versions worked this way, but I guess I am just not used to it yet.

All in all this is definitely a 5 star game. I haven't encountered any glitches so far (knock on wood). I look forward to seeing what else this game has to offer and I doubt I will be disappointed.


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Best Harvest moon game ever
I pretty much I am a big Harvest Moon fan and I played most of the Harvest Moon games except the ones on the original Gameboy. I was a little disappointed with Harvest Moon Island of Happiness because of the touch screen controls, so I was a little pestimistic about buying the Tree of Tranquility, but man it was worth all the money.

So far, I am impressed with this game and find this game way addicting that I played this game for 30 hours total for three days starting Friday. On Friday, I played a couple of hours and then on Saturday I played for 13 hours. I still have not completed an entire year.

Anyways what I like about the Game is the flexibility of what controls you want to use, so you can use the nunchuk or the gamepad (which you have to buy separately). I used the Gamepad 99 percent of the game except for the minigames. But wished that Island of Happiness had that option of touch screen or button play, maybe I have to get used to the controls and play more.

Here is what I like about the game:

Yeah in the beginning you run out of energy quickly, but I go to Carmel Falls and take a bath and restore my energy, the problem is it is somewhat of a long walk to get to. Fishing is pretty easy to do and the tasks are straight forward. I like the fertilizer and how you play a 1x6 piece and the farming is really easy. You can pretty much take up the entire field and do not have to worry about plants blocking your way.
The mining part in finding the stairs is easy because most of the times you do not have to hammer away 100 rocks to find the stairs and just about 10 rocks at the most and then the best part is sometimes the stairs is right there. Going to the 30th floor in the mine was easy compared to Magic Melody where it took me 20 attempts to get to the 100th floor. You do not have to chop down the entire forest to get your first couple of upgrades. Hmm the Gameplay is straight forward and challenging for the first part.

Annoying parts of the game

Upgrading your tools. Yeah you save money doing it, but the pain is finding the ore itself. There are two grades a shining and a non-shining ore. You have to find the shining ore in order to upgrade your tool so if you find a gold ore that is not shining, well you can not upgrade your tool. Then, if it is shining you have to go to the jeweler to get it polished which I did not know until I bought the guide.
The winding paths are also annoying, but I guess it makes the game look unique and then the characters repeating what they say, but that is typical in every Harvest moon game. But these little things is something you can get over quickly. I wish there was more festivals as well like the other Harvest Moon games.

Other than that the game is fun and worth the $50.00 I paid at Best Buy and I even bought the guide too because I like looking at the pictures and needed help with the upgrade part and how to unlock characters and some little tips to improve my game. But Natsume did a great job on the game.


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