Harvest Moon, the series now recognized as the pioneer for the incredibly popular farming simulator genre, got itself off to quite a prolific start in the late 90s. The series debuted on the SNES in 1997, almost a year after the release of Nintendo's successor console, the N64. This was, it goes without saying, a 2D title, and only a year later in 1998, a Gameboy version of the title was released as well. So it would probably come as a surprise that, with the clock striking midnight and the calendar turning to 1999, fans of the blossoming series would be in for a new title before the year was over. But true enough, Harvest Moon 64, developed once again by Victor Interactive and published by Natsume, (or Natume, based on the game's title screen typo) would make it three consecutive years with a Harvest Moon. And for many, HM64 remains a favorite in the series. Its simplified nature provides a unique view into the genre, focusing strictly on a limited, grounded farming sim experience. And, of course, all the joys and pains that come with it.
If the September '22 Nintendo Direct taught us anything, it's that the farming sim genre is certainly a bit oversaturated. Spurned on by the success of Stardew Valley, there's an incredible amount of farming and life sim games coming out every year, and with so many new titles, one might wonder what need there is to go back to older, less polished games in the genre. In fact, Harvest Moon 64's most appealing trait might just be its stripped back gameplay and setting. This is a relatively straightforward game, and in that regard, it nails that basic farming aesthetic more than most modern titles. There's no HUD or overlay, and while some might find the menuing or lack of an on-screen clock frustrating, it all helps to create a distinct atmosphere that you really only find in these older titles. HM64 certainly has that personality in spades, and your fellow villagers and an idyllic valley town all come together to create a palpable yet pleasant nostalgic feeling, even if you're picking it up for the first time.
This is also the Harvest Moon title that introduced the timed day, and at first, it can be a bit jarring for players to get accustomed to. It's actually one of the game's best assets, as even though time progresses quite rapidly when the player is outside, it allows for some creative solutions which the player can figure out on their own, and as a result, makes the planning part of the day sometimes more enjoyable than the day itself. This game also introduced the stamina system, and together, it provided the backbone for all games in the series to come. What that allows for in HM64, then, is a surprisingly addicting gameplay loop where you are always planning your days in advance, ensuring all your crops are watered and animals fed, interacting with villagers, all while trying not to miss the local fair. And it's simple, but endearing. And then, about halfway through, that appeal just sort of vanishes.
HM64 is a game that is designed to be played indefinitely, but to reach the credits, you'll have to make it to the 3rd spring, when your dad comes to visit and assess your work. The problem is that, even on someone's first playthrough, they're going to run out of things to accomplish around halfway through that time period. And once you do, the game just ramps up in tedium; by the end, it's likely been incredibly boring for about a full season or two. There's benefits to a down-to-earth game with minimal activities, and the townsfolk do help to alleviate some boredom with some interesting backstories, but on a whole, there isn't enough to achieve in this game, not enough to aspire towards to fit its inflated play time. By end credits, you'll have accumulated more money than you'll ever know what to do with, and the dialogue with villagers will easily become repetitive, to the point where you can predict what people will say before you speak to them. Frankly, the later half of this game-or whenever you decide to purchase the greenhouse-is extremely light on content, and with nothing driving you on, its previously tight, focused gameplay becomes an exercise in futility. After all, if there's nothing pushing you, why keep going? This is compounded by HM64 being a bit of a technical mess; the translation (as alluded to a few paragraphs back) is notoriously bad, and you're likely to encounter a handful of screen freezes during your time in Flower Bud Village.
Few games have such a clear and noticeable dichotomy as Harvest Moon 64 does. It's intensely captivating and then utterly mind-numbing; charming until it's grating, addicting until it's off-putting. It's one of the rare games that would likely benefit from intentionally playing suboptimally. It's rightfully appreciated for its innovations in the genre as well as its rustic initial appeal, but with its barren end game, it's the type of town that you're happy to visit, but you wouldn't want to live in.
If the September '22 Nintendo Direct taught us anything, it's that the farming sim genre is certainly a bit oversaturated. Spurned on by the success of Stardew Valley, there's an incredible amount of farming and life sim games coming out every year, and with so many new titles, one might wonder what need there is to go back to older, less polished games in the genre. In fact, Harvest Moon 64's most appealing trait might just be its stripped back gameplay and setting. This is a relatively straightforward game, and in that regard, it nails that basic farming aesthetic more than most modern titles. There's no HUD or overlay, and while some might find the menuing or lack of an on-screen clock frustrating, it all helps to create a distinct atmosphere that you really only find in these older titles. HM64 certainly has that personality in spades, and your fellow villagers and an idyllic valley town all come together to create a palpable yet pleasant nostalgic feeling, even if you're picking it up for the first time.
This is also the Harvest Moon title that introduced the timed day, and at first, it can be a bit jarring for players to get accustomed to. It's actually one of the game's best assets, as even though time progresses quite rapidly when the player is outside, it allows for some creative solutions which the player can figure out on their own, and as a result, makes the planning part of the day sometimes more enjoyable than the day itself. This game also introduced the stamina system, and together, it provided the backbone for all games in the series to come. What that allows for in HM64, then, is a surprisingly addicting gameplay loop where you are always planning your days in advance, ensuring all your crops are watered and animals fed, interacting with villagers, all while trying not to miss the local fair. And it's simple, but endearing. And then, about halfway through, that appeal just sort of vanishes.
HM64 is a game that is designed to be played indefinitely, but to reach the credits, you'll have to make it to the 3rd spring, when your dad comes to visit and assess your work. The problem is that, even on someone's first playthrough, they're going to run out of things to accomplish around halfway through that time period. And once you do, the game just ramps up in tedium; by the end, it's likely been incredibly boring for about a full season or two. There's benefits to a down-to-earth game with minimal activities, and the townsfolk do help to alleviate some boredom with some interesting backstories, but on a whole, there isn't enough to achieve in this game, not enough to aspire towards to fit its inflated play time. By end credits, you'll have accumulated more money than you'll ever know what to do with, and the dialogue with villagers will easily become repetitive, to the point where you can predict what people will say before you speak to them. Frankly, the later half of this game-or whenever you decide to purchase the greenhouse-is extremely light on content, and with nothing driving you on, its previously tight, focused gameplay becomes an exercise in futility. After all, if there's nothing pushing you, why keep going? This is compounded by HM64 being a bit of a technical mess; the translation (as alluded to a few paragraphs back) is notoriously bad, and you're likely to encounter a handful of screen freezes during your time in Flower Bud Village.
Few games have such a clear and noticeable dichotomy as Harvest Moon 64 does. It's intensely captivating and then utterly mind-numbing; charming until it's grating, addicting until it's off-putting. It's one of the rare games that would likely benefit from intentionally playing suboptimally. It's rightfully appreciated for its innovations in the genre as well as its rustic initial appeal, but with its barren end game, it's the type of town that you're happy to visit, but you wouldn't want to live in.