To be honest, the last time I played a Harvest Moon game, it was on the GameCube. We're talking years ago, folks. But, like riding a bike, Harvest Moon is an experience that doesn't change much over time. Fans like it that way, I imagine. And, just as I expected, Island of Happiness featured a lot of the same things previous titles in the franchise offered.



The thing about Harvest Moon games is you either love them, or you hate them. Meticulous caring of crops and livestock either appeals to you, or you just see it as a chore in video game form. That's just how it is. Personally, for myself, it's more of the latter, but I can see the zen-like calm that can come from playing a game like this. Also, those with OCD or OCD-like tendencies can probably fine a lot of satisfaction in making their farm just so perfect.

Really, though, what is there to say about the game? It's Harvest Moon. You plant seeds, you tend to the crops that come from them, you get some livestock and make sure they're happy. Following that, you find yourself a mate, woo them and settle down. Nothing much has changed here, except the size of the town and your prospective mates.

In Island of Happiness, you can control the game in two different ways. There's the tried-and-true d-pad approach, where you control your little farmer with the DS's face buttons. And then, there's the stylus, which allows you to control the game primarily through that, tapping on contextual icons that signify in-game actions. Both felt like adequate control schemes to me.

To be honest, there isn't much else I can say. From the time I spent playing, the game felt like Harvest Moon. If you're curious about the franchise and don't know that much, pick up one of the previous titles on the GBA and you'll get an idea. Look for Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness later this summer.