Make sure you remove anything from the ground, including roads and paths. The game is VERY picky for where you place buildings and props, as it won't let anything overlap.
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Harvest Moon: A New Beginning (3DS) announced for North America
- Thread starter electroplankton
- Start date
Best game in the series IMO. There's a lot of features, a lot of content, and everything is well balanced. Graphics are nice enough, and no problems with the controls or interface. Feels like the game was designed from the ground up ... like a new beginning for the franchise 
Very well executed in general. My only complaint is that the game starts off slow. Every feature is introduced to you gradually, one at a time. The pacing definitely could have been faster, but once the game fully opens up, it's all good.
Very well executed in general. My only complaint is that the game starts off slow. Every feature is introduced to you gradually, one at a time. The pacing definitely could have been faster, but once the game fully opens up, it's all good.
My favorite HM so far. So much to do and customize. Money isn't as important here. Hoard everything, level up all skills, trade online, and grow the town. It's fun.
HOLD THE FUCK UP. TRADING ONLINE?!?!?!
I don't have a 3DS yet since I'm waiting for new colors, but I did pick the game up during the Target buy 2 get 1 sale.
Here is the back of the box.
Says 2-4 co-op local and online.
I don't have a 3DS yet since I'm waiting for new colors, but I did pick the game up during the Target buy 2 get 1 sale.
Here is the back of the box.
Says 2-4 co-op local and online.
Just came back from Gamestop with it. Bought the last copy
Interesting, I had no idea about this either. What exactly does the online functionality entail?
When you go online, you join a room with three other people, bring some of your cows/yaks/sheep, and trade an item. Each player will choose an item from his bag, then those items will be given to another player at random, and you don't find out what item you get until after you've received it. After that, you can go and get some milk and wool from all the animals that were brought in by the players, which will be sent to your own item bag. Once you're done with that, you leave the room. The great thing about this process is that you can repeat it as much as you like, and it doesn't advance the in-game time, so you can grind for lots of milk and wool that can be used to make high-quality dishes or make outfits at the Tailor.
The item you get at "With Anyone" meetings is entirely random as there's no way to communicate, but you can set up rooms with 3DS Friends in order to get desired items, provided you talked to your friend beforehand.
The item you get at "With Anyone" meetings is entirely random as there's no way to communicate, but you can set up rooms with 3DS Friends in order to get desired items, provided you talked to your friend beforehand.
I know right? Can't even import from US because of region-locking. Fucking hell.
There two different games/series.
Judging from the last few posts in the Rising Star Games thread there's nothing more than "hopefully later this year"
How fast is your SD card? I bought a class 10 and I have no slow downs. 3DS comes with class 4.
I didn't download it. It's all on the game card.
-Pyromaniac-
Member
I don't really notice any slow down. I play with 3D off if that matters. Didn't download it either.
There's a definite framerate drop whenever you're in the town or on your farm, probably because of the customization or something. It runs pretty smoothly indoors and in any of the wilderness areas. I got used to it, but it's definitely noticeable.
No slowdown here though, the game keeps running at a clip even with the inconsistent framerate.
No slowdown here though, the game keeps running at a clip even with the inconsistent framerate.
Yeah that's what I'm talking about. There's definitely frame drops whenever you're in town.
Best game in the series IMO. There's a lot of features, a lot of content, and everything is well balanced. Graphics are nice enough, and no problems with the controls or interface. Feels like the game was designed from the ground up ... like a new beginning for the franchise
Very well executed in general. My only complaint is that the game starts off slow. Every feature is introduced to you gradually, one at a time. The pacing definitely could have been faster, but once the game fully opens up, it's all good.
Would I like it if Harvest Moon: Back to Nature was my favorite Harvest Moon game? I really miss the franchise, the last HM game I played was the GC one.
This is your new favorite Harvest Moon game.
-Pyromaniac-
Member
it's quite different but I'm with you when I say BTN/FOMT was probably the last one I truly loved, the rest since have either been meh or decent or good at best. IMO this one is great. The good things about it far outweigh the bad things.
What don't you like?
The Mana Legend
Banned
The framerate doesn't bother me that much since it's a game that doesn't really require fast input. But the framerate issues are definitely there.
-Pyromaniac-
Member
Takes a little while to get things going, when you first start the game. I miss upgrading my house rather than decorating it/adding furniture and whatnot (though I do LOVEEE how they streamlined building things), what else....not even sure there is anything even worth mentioning. Maybe I wish there were more cutscenes between characters, I like that kind of stuff that gives the usually one dimensional characters something else. Which is something that has been mostly absent since HM64/BTN. There are some but not as much as there used to be.
That's about it, the rest of my complaints aren't with the game itself and are more harvest moon general things
I should say that there are new things in this game that haven't been in previous games that are fantastic though. I like the idea of rolling out content as you play, I like a lot of the streamlining that has taken place, stuff like that.Hero of Legend
Member
Did anyone experience improvements frame-wise post update?
I appreciate the quick replies. I'll pick this up when I have a little bit more money (but I'll probably get it if I get accepted into this Japanese teaching program, play it on the plane, and then cry when my 3DS dies on me before I hit the 1/4th marker of my flight).
Marvelous AQL of Europe is handling the EU localization this time.
I don't notice any slowdowns when playing the game, but I don't play with the 3D enabled. I might just be accustomed to it too.
I haven't updated yet but I'll check once I update in a bit.
Edit: Still have frame rate problems.
So that means we will get it here by when.. ? Dx
Hero of Legend
Member
Since when did MAQL have a EU division (not Rising Star)?
Well, that's up to them I guess. One the other hand, EU received the virtual console Harvest Moon GBC before North America did. You could buy that in the meantime
Hero of Legend said:
http://maqleurope.com/
PaulExcellent
Member
The cows are cute.
GOTY2013!!!!!!!111ONE!
GOTY2013!!!!!!!111ONE!
-Pyromaniac-
Member
yes it issssssssssssSo this is really good? I haven't played a Harvest Moon since Friends of Mineral Town on GBA (which I adored), might jump back into the series with this
You mention earlier that ANB is different to BTN but amazing. What makes this one exactly great where the others, since that era, faltered if you don't mind answering?
I'm sure answer lies in this thread, but I shouldn't enter the rabbit hole, or I'll risk a high level of procrastination.
What happens after 64/BtN/FoMT is simple; a change in platforms.
The games after FoMT are on GCN and DS, then Wii and DS and a lot of them are experimental, too large in scope, or too buggy.
HM DS is close to the good formula but is far too buggy. Magical Melody is another good product but with a different feel and art style (and it spawned the HM games on Wii)
The games after HM DS and HM DS CUTE are also pretty good games flawed by one thing or another. Sunshine Islands has terrible controls, Island of Happiness has more realistic crop growing that isn't appreciated by all. Bazaar and Two Towns are the last two DS games and are gimmicky and uneven.
A New Beginning is also a bit gimmicky but the gimmick works. It has the right mix of create your own town, lots of fun and interesting content and its only real flaw in my mind is the first month of the game.
Thanks! Plus you gave me some details on the past Harvest Moon games.
So it sounds like this game is a new beginning for the franchise. Hahahaha.
I'm sorry, I'm writing a skit in Japanese, so I am forced to look at bad puns.
You just want to farm?
I prefer 64, Back to Nature and Friends of Mineral Town because they got the balance right. The atmosphere in 64 is one of the most addictive experiences I've ever had. Much better than SNES IMO.
I LOVED HM 64. The music for each season was so beautiful. I remember a few months ago when it was fall I went on youtube and played the fall music from 64 to get in the mood. Some things from that game I miss that you can't do in ANB.
Rune Factory is extremely basic Farming+Gauntlet like battles+RPG like skill leveling. I suggest 1, 3, or 4.
I haven't played RF4, so this is just based on RF3.
The farming aspects are a bit simpler in RF than HM, but they make up for it by expanding into the action RPG genre. Outside of town, there are a few "dungeon" areas where you can gather materials, mine, fish, chop wood, and fight enemies. You can't really ignore the enemies (they'll attack you), and they drop materials when you defeat them, so fighting is part of the grind.
Combat is typical 2D hack-n-slash stuff. There's different weapon types (eg: shortsword, longsword, spear, axe) which behave differently when you swing them, and there's also magic spells. Weapons and equipment can be forged and upgraded using the materials you gather. Your character has typical RPG stats like HP, RP, strength, vitality, and intelligence, which increase as you level up your skills.
To elaborate on that, your character has various skills, some of which are combat-related (eg: shortsword, longsword, fire magic, water magic), some of which are not (eg: farming, logging, cooking, forging). Your stats increase as you level up your skills, even if that skill is not combat-related. For example, your max HP and RP will increase as you level up your logging skill.
The farming and the combat aspects integrate fairly well. As explained above, working on farming, logging, etc. will increase your stats, which will help in battle. The food you cook can also boost you in battle. But I would say the focus is more on the combat side. I would describe RF1-3 as action RPGs with HM elements, rather than HM games with action RPG elements.
Damn I was tired when I posted that, yeah obviously haha.
I thought it was a new Animal Crossing for some reason.