This game is great for girls and guys alike. One of the best Harvest Moon games to date! Better than BtN, 64, and FoMT.
I own a sheep and let me tell you that the animals in this game are highly realistic. You brush them, feed them, let them graze, shear them, keep them inside in winter, milk cows, collect eggs, and much more. You do all that with a real farm animal. The animals are a great, great part if the game. Wheater you keep their produce to cook, or ship it for some quick cash.
Cooking is great too. You have many, many recipies to make and you may even sell your creations to Won (Something that FoMT lacked). There are so many different ways to earn money and there's lots of stuff to do. You may fish, mine, and even bathe in the hot spring if you want to. Growing crops is not difficult. You hoe the land, plant, water, and harvest. There are a good amout of crop selections, new ones for each season (Except Winter).
The sound is repetitive, but you can change that by hooking up to Harvest Moon: Another Wonderful Life. You may buy records from Van, who comes once you hook up. The animal sounds are pretty realistic (The sheep sound like my sheep). The graphics are nice, but not XBOX 360. I don't care about graphics, as long as I can see what I'm doing, I'm fine.
The events in this game aren't as good as HM64, but they are pretty fun! There are even events where you go on a date with the guy you are wooing. The replay value is wonderful. It has kept me coming back longer than ANY GAME I HAVE EVER PLAYED.
I think this wondeful game is better than the other HM games because:
1. I am a big fan of portables
2. It has everything HM64, BtN, ect. lacked
3. It is great for guys and gals
4. It has more stuff to do then FoMT
If you love Harvest Moon, or are new to it, this game is for players new and old. This game is the perfect game for the inner-farmer and outer-farmer alike! I can't even begin to express my love for this game...! So do us farming fanatics a favor and try this game out, you'll love it for sure!