Harvest Moon: More Friends of Mineral Town
Female character puts a new face on farming sim.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that there is virtually no objectionable content beyond players' ability to buy and consume alcohol and give it as gifts. Instead, there are positive messages about building both a strong work ethic and healthy relationships. The female main character is new for Harvest Moon games, and may serve as a good role model.
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What’s It About?
As in other Harvest Moon titles, kids playing HARVEST MOON: MORE FRIENDS OF MINERAL TOWN start with a run-down, abandoned farm and attempt to build it into a thriving family farm. A frazzled businesswoman, tired of the stress from her city job, sees an ad in the paper for a farm. After she buys it, she's surprised to find the farm far from being operational and even further from being profitable. A lot of hard work is going to be required to make this a successful venture.
There is a lot to be done, much of it every day. Fields need to be cleared, seeds planted, and crops watered, and all of the animals require feeding, brushing, and a friendly chat to keep them happy. There is also an entire town to explore, where players can talk to townspeople, buy things, give gifts -- and even woo a future husband. As the seasons progress, the tasks change, and inevitably players end up with even more animals, crops, and challenges.
Is It Any Good?
This is a tough game to play, and some players may tire of the repetitive tasks. At some point, watering every single plant in the field (with a watering can of all things) seems more like real work than real fun.
But the farming premise feels fresh, as does the focus on time and relationship management. Gameplay reinforces positive social behaviors like honesty, loyalty, and friendship. Finally, the game offers a challenge to even the most dedicated of role-playing gamers. With so much to do -- and so many different paths to take -- the game has a lot of replay potential.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what parts of the game they feel are fun, and why. For example, is it the building up of the farm, getting more advanced tools, or forming a relationship with townspeople? Also, ask your kids what they think about the female main character. Were they surprised? Why aren't there more games with female protagonists?
Game Details
- Platform: Game Boy Advance
- Available online?: Not available online
- Publisher: Natsume
- Release date: July 26, 2005
- Genre: Role-Playing
- ESRB rating: E
- Last updated: November 4, 2015
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