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Harvest Moon: Animal Parade Impressions

By Andre Segers, GameSpotPosted Jun 4, 2009 6:04 pm PT

We check out Parade to find out what's new in Harvest Moon.

The latest version of Harvest Moon was on display at Natsume's booth, and we had the chance to go eyes-on with the game as we were walked through its new offerings. For those unfamiliar with the franchise, the basic concept is that you're trying to run the most successful farm you can, while balancing your workload with maintaining an active social life. However, with each subsequent release, Natsume likes to switch things up by adding and removing features, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. We're not sure which way the latest version is heading quite yet, but some of the new features seem interesting.

Harvest Moon has long been known to recycle characters from previous games, but using them in different roles, and Animal Parade is no different. The game features a brand-new story with new challenges and stars some of the more popular characters from the series' past. In addition, many aspects of the game have been greatly expanded, such as pet ownership. Now you can have up to three pets at a time, and they can be chosen from a wide selection of animals, such as dogs, cats, bears, turtles, and even weasels. Furthermore, you can now teach each one unique tricks, which should deepen your bond with them. Oh, and now you can ride almost any four-legged animal around, such as cows, instead of being confined to your horse--we're sure they'll appreciate it.

To broaden its appeal to the female demographic, the game also introduces a wide range of accessories that you can clothe your farmer in. In a similar vein, the game also features a photography mode that lets you take a picture anytime you want. Even better, you can set a timer on the camera, letting you position your character in the frame before the picture is snapped. These pictures can then be posted to your Wii Bulletin Board and sent to your friends' Wiis.

Although finding a mate and having a kid has long been a mainstay in the series, Animal Parade will let you, for the first time, have two kids. In addition, you can put those slackers to work right away, toiling in the fields and watering the crops. Gotta teach kids discipline these days, y'know.

If you're a fan of Harvest Moon, stay tuned to GameSpot for more when Animal Parade launches this fall on the Wii.

31 Comments

  • VXLbeast

    Posted Oct 18, 2009 4:10 pm PT

    Nice, I have been wating for a decent Harvest Moon sequel since Friends of Mineral Town for my GBA.

  • --Thomas--

    Posted Oct 18, 2009 4:00 am PT

    Harvest Moon is really a great franchise. Can't wait for this one.

  • ZetsubouSensei

    Posted Sep 21, 2009 9:21 am PT

    I've been waiting for this game for a VERY long time. Although its the same exact cast, its great. I loved the cast and its probably my favorite HM cast of all time. At least getting the sprites is hell of a lot easier and less time consuming. @Lazay727: SPOILER ALERT:



    Its basically like ToT. Send one of your oldest or youngest kid to the other island (That looks like Waffle Town), and restart the game...BUT, you see the kid and he hands you the item that you wanted to give in the previous file. You also start out with pre-level tools.

  • Lazay727

    Posted Sep 1, 2009 9:37 pm PT

    ill buy it if it has replay value. i hated how at end of tot u basically just restart the game. the gamecube game got it right but there shouldnt be an ending. i liked how the story evolved and you picked your sons career. develop that more and ud have a good game, but no it seems they just push out same old crap. we'll see though, but i doubt they'll try anything with replay. cuz then they can't rehash the same game next year and delay it 100x.

  • Dinkyfish

    Posted Aug 24, 2009 1:33 am PT

    Please release this in the UK! We don't even have ToT yet

  • ariellejodoin

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 9:47 am PT

    I can't wait for it to come out! Although, it'll probably end up like ToT where they keep pushing the release date back a month whenever it gets close... that was lame. But I've been playing Harvest moon for 12 years now.. so I think I can handle the wait. Besides I have Rune Factory and ToT to tide me over,

  • Crisco552

    Posted Aug 16, 2009 8:21 pm PT

    is the release for japan only or is it also coming to America at that time or is it even coming to America?

  • surferblue05

    Posted Aug 5, 2009 6:33 pm PT

    Has anyone noticed that all of the charecters from ToT are in here doing their old jobs?

  • RunnersNation

    Posted Jul 22, 2009 11:20 am PT

    I'm going to wait for this, instead of getting ToT.
    Looks great!

  • UzukiFanRFF

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 4:16 pm PT

    i cant wait! ive been playing harvest moon since i was in first grade. (im going into 6th grade). i started with AnWL. I cant wait til it comes!

  • seaward12

    Posted Jun 29, 2009 6:17 am PT

    looks fun but for kids im not really in to the harvest moon thing but ill see how it is

  • jnjreams76

    Posted Jun 18, 2009 9:32 am PT

    I think i'd much rather have a new Rune Factory

  • wahyudil

    Posted Jun 17, 2009 7:34 am PT

    mmmm .... I will think about this if I manage to finished my last HM and RF when the game out ...

  • N64ever

    Posted Jun 15, 2009 12:40 pm PT

    I can't believe Natsume is releasing so many iterations. I like Harvestmoon and I would like to get a new version, but which one?! At least I have options

  • riariases

    Posted Jun 12, 2009 5:02 am PT

    @Hellooo_Nurse Yeah, I would rather have two girls. The boy in the GameCube version sucked like hell. He would always run off and start flirting with the bar waitress. Seriously? Its not cool to have a drunkard for a son.

  • eldin4444

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 10:25 pm PT

    At first, animal parade didnt sound like something I would buy, but.... to have a bear , a turtle and a weasel , and to ride a cow dude gotta have this game, well just if it reach an 8.0

  • bluedonfreak

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 10:30 am PT

    http://warbucksxboxsevents.webs.com/

    go here please and sign up

  • ShuichiChamp24

    Posted Jun 11, 2009 12:06 am PT

    Weasels and bears as pets......sweet! Can't wait to see more of this game.

  • Lazay727

    Posted Jun 10, 2009 9:36 pm PT

    I hope they give you better end game content. The last game at the end made no sense. Your kid leaves the island and magically apears on a new island thats EXACTLY the same. you might as well delete your file and start again because besides a brief cut scene its the same thing.

    That REALLY dissapointed me. I wont buy another HM game until they add some more deep replay value as far as endgame. I liked what the first gamecube harvest moon did with your kids and how you could influence them and it told a story even if it had to have an ending at least it gave you closure. Just my thoughts anyway.

    give me thumbs up if you agree.

  • taddia

    Posted Jun 10, 2009 2:18 am PT

    gelugon_baat u can change your nick but i recognize u, u r the usual wii flamer i've seen in the past here on the wii's gamespot pages... u could change your pic, so at least i could not recognize u.. god sake -.-

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