Table of Contents
Harvest Moon
Harvest Moon, known as Bokujō Monogatari in Japan, first entered the gaming world on August 9, 1996, debuting on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). Yasuhiro Wada created it. This innovative game combined farming simulation with relationship-building elements, offering a unique and relaxing gaming experience vastly different from the action-packed titles dominating the market then.
The original concept was inspired by Wada's experiences visiting his grandfather's farm as a child. He wanted to create a game that captured the essence of rural life and the joy of watching things grow over time. This vision resonated with players worldwide, planting the seeds for a long-lasting and beloved franchise.
The origin of Harvest Moon is a tale of nostalgia, innovation and perseverance. At the heart of this beloved farming simulation series lies the vision of one man, Yasuhiro Wada, whose childhood memories would turn into a gaming phenomenon.
Yasuhiro Wada's Inspiration
Yasuhiro Wada, the creator of Harvest Moon, drew inspiration from his childhood experiences. Wada grew up in Kyoto, Japan, where he often visited his grandmother's farm in the countryside. As he grew older and moved to the city, Wada felt a growing disconnection between urban life and rural traditions. He wanted to recreate the feeling of a slower-paced, nature-connected lifestyle he remembered from his youth. Wada observed that fewer Japanese people were engaging in farming, and he wanted to create a way for people to experience farm life virtually.
Concept development
The concept of Harvest Moon evolved through several stages. Wada first pitched the idea of a farm simulation game in the early 1990s. Unlike most games of the time that focused on conflict and action, Wada wanted to create a game about growth and relationships. The concept was initially met with skepticism, as many thought a farming game wouldn't be entertaining. Wada continued to refine his idea, emphasizing the emotional connection players could form with the virtual farm and characters. The game combined elements of simulation, role-playing, and dating sims, creating a unique genre blend.
The First Harvest Moon (1996)
The first Harvest Moon game was born from the creative vision of Yasuhiro Wada and a small, dedicated team at Victor Interactive Software. Over about 18 months, they worked tirelessly to bring Wada's unique concept to life on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.
Development Process
The development was not without its challenges. The team wrestled with the SNES' technical limitations, finding innovative ways to create a living, breathing farm world within the console's memory constraints. They pushed boundaries by implementing a day-night cycle and changing seasons, elements that would become hallmarks of the series. The most ambitious aspect of their design was the seamless blending of farming simulation with social interactions. This combination had never been attempted before in gaming.
Game Features
Harvest Moon introduced players to a charming world where they could experience the joys and challenges of rural life. At its core, the game revolved around managing a farm. Players would till the soil, plant crops, water them daily, and harvest their produce. The game also allowed players to raise animals, with chickens and cows providing eggs and milk. A variety of upgradeable tools helped players manage their agricultural duties.
What set Harvest Moon apart was its rich social element. The game featured a cast of colorful villagers with whom players could interact, build relationships, and even romance. Five eligible bachelorettes were available for courtship, adding a dating sim aspect to farming life. Seasonal festivals and events punctuated the game's calendar, providing a sense of community and tradition. These elements were wrapped in a charming 16-bit aesthetic, complemented by a catchy, pastoral soundtrack that perfectly captured the essence of rural life.
Reception & Impact
When Harvest Moon first came out in Japan, only a few people bought it at first. But it became popular as more people played it and told their friends about it. People loved how different it was from other games. Instead of fighting bad guys, you got to run a farm and make friends in a small town.
Harvest Moon was unique because it showed that video games could be fun without violence. It was the first game to focus on farming, and many other games later copied this idea. Even though it wasn't famous immediately, many people now consider it a classic game.
The game proved that players enjoy games about everyday life, like growing crops and making friends. This led to many more Harvest Moon games being made, and it's now one of the most loved game series ever. It showed that watching plants grow and caring for animals in a game can be as exciting as saving the world.
Early Expansion (1997-2000)
After Harvest Moon became a hit in 1996, it started growing fast. From 1997 to 2000, the game spread to new game systems. It went from the Super Nintendo to handheld Game Boys to more powerful consoles like the Nintendo 64 and PlayStation. Harvest Moon has better graphics and more things to do on these new systems. Each new game added new features and made the old ones better. More and more people started to love these games. Harvest Moon changed from a weird little farming game to a famous series many people enjoyed.
Portable Versions
In 1997, Harvest Moon came to the Game Boy. This was a big deal because now you could farm on the go. The Game Boy version was more straightforward than the original, but it still had the main ideas of farming and making friends. 1999, they made Harvest Moon 2 and 3 for the Game Boy Color. These games added new stuff, such as playing as a girl farmer and raising more types of animals.
Nintendo 64 Adaptation
Harvest Moon 64 came out in 1999, and it was the first 3D Harvest Moon game. This was exciting because now you could see your farm and the village in 3D. The game had more detailed characters and a bigger world to explore. It added new features like flower festivals and mining. Many fans still think this is one of the best Harvest Moon games ever.
PlayStation Entry
In 1999, Harvest Moon: Back to Nature came out for the PlayStation. This game made the ideas from Harvest Moon 64 even better. The graphics were improved, and there were more things to do. You could cook recipes, go fishing, and interact with villagers in new ways. This game was viral and helped more people discover Harvest Moon.
Golden Era (2001-2008)
This Golden Era saw Harvest Moon grow from a cute farming game into a detailed life simulation. The series tried new ideas, looked better than ever, and was available to more players on different game systems.
Key Titles and Innovations
Expansion to Multiple Platforms
During this time, Harvest Moon games came out on lots of different game systems:
- PlayStation 2
- Game Boy Advance
- GameCube
- Nintendo DS
- PlayStation Portable (PSP)
- Wii
This meant more people could play Harvest Moon no matter what game system they had.
Introduction of 3D Graphics
While Harvest Moon 64 was the first to use 3D, games in this era improved the 3D look:
- "Save the Homeland" on PS2 had nice 3D environments.
- "A Wonderful Life" on GameCube had detailed 3D characters and a whole 3D world to explore.
- The Wii games like "Tree of Tranquility" had even better 3D graphics.
Branching Out (2009-2013)
This period saw Harvest Moon try new things while becoming more popular worldwide. The series wasn't just about simple farming anymore, it was about running businesses, fixing towns, and even choosing rival villages. By focusing on handheld systems, Harvest Moon could reach more players and try new ideas using touch screens. This helped Harvest Moon grow from a niche farming game into a globally recognized series many people loved.
Experimenting with New Gameplay
During this time, Harvest Moon tried lots of new things to keep the games fresh and exciting:
- Harvest Moon: Animal Parade (2009, Wii) This game let you ride animals and had a big focus on bringing nature spirits back to the land.
- Harvest Moon: Grand Bazaar (2010, DS) You could set up your own market stall and sell directly to customers. It was like being a shopkeeper.
- Harvest Moon: The Tale of Two Towns (2010, DS/3DS) This game had 2 rival villages you could live in, each with different farming styles.
- Harvest Moon: A New Beginning (2012, 3DS) You could customize your whole town, deciding where buildings go and how they look.
Handheld vs. Console Releases
During this period, more Harvest Moon games came out on handheld systems than on home consoles:
Handheld:
- Nintendo DS and 3DS got a lot of new Harvest Moon games.
- These games could use touch screens for easy controls.
Console:
- Fewer games came out for home consoles like the Wii.
- Console games usually had better graphics but came out less often.
This focus on handhelds meant you could take your farm with you wherever you went.
Growing Global Popularity
Harvest Moon became more popular around the world during this time:
- More people in Europe and Australia started playing Harvest Moon.
- The games were translated into more languages.
- Harvest Moon started influencing other games, like Stardew Valley (which came out a bit later).
The Split (2014)
Imagine you and your best friend have been working on a lemonade stand together for years. One day, you decide to sell the lemonade yourself instead of having your friend do it. That's what happened with Harvest Moon.
Marvelous and Natsume's Separation
Marvelous (the company in Japan that made the games) decided they wanted more control over how their games were sold outside of Japan. Natsume had been translating and selling the games in North America for years, and they owned the rights to the English name "Harvest Moon." Marvelous partnered with XSEED Games to bring its games to North America and Europe.
Birth of Story of Seasons
Because Natsume owned the name Harvest Moon, Marvelous had to develop a new name for their games outside Japan. They chose Story of Seasons as the new name. The first Story of Seasons game was released in 2014 in Japan and 2015 in North America. This game was the next Harvest Moon game with a different name. Meanwhile, Natsume decided to continue making their own Harvest Moon games, which differed from the original series.
Fan Reaction and Industry Impact
At first, many fans were confused. Some needed to understand why there were now 2 different series with similar names. Others were upset that the "real" Harvest Moon games were now called something else. However, this split had some interesting effects on the gaming industry. It sparked interest in farming games as people compared the new Story of Seasons and Harvest Moon titles. Other companies saw an opportunity to make their farming games, providing more variety for players. Fans became more aware of the companies behind their favorite games.
In the end, this split gave players more choices. They could play the original series (now called Story of Seasons), try Natsume's new Harvest Moon games, or explore other farming games inspired by the original Harvest Moon.
Dual Paths (2015-Present)
Both series have their fans. Some people like Story of Seasons because it feels more like the Harvest Moon games they remember. Others enjoy Natsume's Harvest Moon because it tries new things.
Story of Seasons Evolution
Think of Story of Seasons as the original Harvest Moon series with a new name. They kept the core ideas of farming, making friends, and starting a family. New games added more customization options for your character and farm. They brought back fan-favorite features from older games. Some popular titles include:
• Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns (2016)
• Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town (2019, a remake of an old favorite)
• Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town (2021)
These games focus on improving the classic Harvest Moon formula that fans love.
Natsume's New Harvest Moon
Natsume started making their own Harvest Moon games, which were different from the original series. They tried new ideas, like having a whole world to explore instead of just one town. The art style changed, looking more cartoon-like. Some of their games include:
• Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley (2014)
• Harvest Moon: Light of Hope (2017)
• Harvest Moon: One World (2021)
These games often experiment with new features not in the original series.
Comparison of the Two Series
Story of Seasons:
- Stays closer to the original Harvest Moon style
- Generally gets better reviews from fans and critics
- Focuses on improving classic features
Natsume's Harvest Moon:
- Tries more new and different ideas
- Gets mixed reactions from players
- Focuses on changing up the farming game formula
Key Innovations Throughout the Series
These innovations have helped keep the series fresh and exciting over the years. Each new game tries to add something new while keeping the core farming and relationship-building gameplay that fans love. The evolution of these features shows how the series has grown from a simple farming game to a complex life simulation that lets players create their own unique story.
Relationship and Marriage Systems
- Early Games
- You could talk to villagers and give them gifts.
- There were a few characters you could marry.
- Getting married was mostly about giving gifts and watching cutscenes.
- Middle Era
- More complex relationships with villagers, including friendship levels.
- Heart events that told more of each character's story.
- Rival marriages were introduced in some games.
- Recent Games
- Same-sex marriages became possible in some titles.
- More detailed dating mechanics before marriage.
- Children can grow up and have more personality.
Farming Mechanics Evolution
- Early Games
- Basic planting, watering, and harvesting.
- Simple tool upgrades.
- A few crop types and animals.
- Middle Era
- More crop varieties and animal types.
- Introduction of crop quality levels.
- Sprinklers and other automation tools.
- Recent Games
- Complex crop mutation and breeding systems.
- Detailed soil quality management.
- Specialized farming areas (like greenhouses or hydroponics).
Character Customization
- Early Games
- You could only choose between a boy or girl character.
- Limited or no appearance customization.
- Middle Era
- More hairstyle and clothing options.
- Ability to change outfits.
- Recent Games
- Detailed character creators with many options for hair, eyes, skin tone, etc.
- Gender-neutral character options in some games.
- Ability to change appearance throughout the game.
Sales and Commercial Success
While Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons might not have the massive sales numbers of some AAA game franchises, it has maintained steady popularity over decades. Its loyal fanbase and consistent sales have made it a staple in the simulation game genre.
Milestone achievements
- 10 Million Mark
- In 2007, Natsume announced that the Harvest Moon series had sold over 10 million copies worldwide.
- This was a huge achievement for a niche farming simulation game.
- 100 Million Shipments
- By 2014, the series had shipped over 100 million units globally.
- This includes all games, spin-offs and re-releases.
- Mobile Success
- The mobile game Harvest Moon: Seeds of Memories reached over 1 million downloads shortly after its release in 2016.
Best-selling Entries
While exact sales figures aren't always made public, some of the most popular entries include:
- Harvest Moon: Back to Nature (PlayStation, 1999)
- One of the earliest big hits, selling well in both Japan and North America.
- Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town (Game Boy Advance, 2003)
- Often considered the best-selling entry in the original series.
- Harvest Moon DS (Nintendo DS, 2005)
- Took advantage of the DS's massive popularity.
- Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns (Nintendo 3DS, 2016)
- One of the best-selling entries after the name change to Story of Seasons.
- Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town (Nintendo Switch, 2021)
- Sold over 1 million copies worldwide within a year of release.
Critical Reception Over Time
The Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons series has maintained a generally positive critical reception over the years. While it may not always get perfect scores, critics consistently recognize its unique charm and the depth of its simple gameplay. The series is often appreciated for providing a relaxing alternative to more action-packed games, carving out its special place in the gaming world.
Review Trends
Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons games have been reviewed differently. When they first came out in the late 1990s, reviewers thought they were unique and addictive but weren't sure how to rate them. From 2001 to 2008, the games became popular, and critics loved them for their deep gameplay and exciting characters. Between 2009 and 2013, reviews were mixed because the games tried new things that only sometimes worked, and some people thought they were getting repetitive. After 2014, when the series split into Story of Seasons and Harvest Moon, Story of Seasons games usually got good reviews for keeping what people loved about the old games. The new Harvest Moon games got mixed reviews because some thought they had changed too much. Recent Story of Seasons games are praised for updating the series while keeping what makes it special.
Award Recognitions
While Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons games aren't usually big award winners, they've received recognition in various ways:
- Nintendo Power Awards
- Several games in the series were nominated for "Best Simulation Game" in the magazine's annual awards.
- Famitsu Awards
- In Japan, several entries have received high scores from the influential Famitsu magazine.
- Best Handheld Game
- Various entries have been nominated for or won "Best Handheld Game" awards from different gaming publications.
- Long-Term Impact Awards
- The original Harvest Moon has been recognized in various "Most Influential Games" lists.
- Fan Choice Awards
- The series often performs well in fan-voted categories at various game sites.
Future of the Franchise
The great thing about Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons is that it always tries to keep what fans love while adding new, fun elements. Whatever direction the series takes, it's likely to keep the core farming and relationship-building gameplay that has made it so popular for many years.
Upcoming Releases
As of now, there's one main game on the horizon:
- Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life
- This is a remake of the beloved GameCube classic.
- It's set to release on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC.
- The game will feature updated graphics and new content while keeping the charm of the original.