Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon
| Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon | |
|---|---|
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| Developer(s) | ArtePiazza |
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| Platform(s) | PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2 |
| Release date(s) | |
| Genre(s) | Simulation/role-playing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon (イノセントライフ ～新牧場物語～ Innocent Life: Shin Bokujō Monogatari), also known as Harvest Moon: Innocent Life, is a farming Simulation video game for the PlayStation Portable (PSP). It is a spin-off of the Story of Seasons series of games, and was released on April 27, 2006 in Japan and on May 15, 2007 in North America.
A special edition of the game was released for the PlayStation 2 (PS2) called Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon (Special Edition) (新牧場物語：ピュア イノセントライフ Shin Bokujō Monogatari: Pure Innocent Life) on March 29, 2007 in Japan and February 12, 2008 in North America. Apart from minor changes, the PS2 version is essentially a port of the original.[3]
Gameplay
The game takes place on the relic-filled Heartflame Island which can be explored by walking or riding on a buggy. Players have the ability to explore the island's ruins and even visit a volcano. All these areas have their own terrain and is said to resemble a tropical paradise but in order to explore all over the island the player must collect jewels and break the seal.
Aside from growing plants and raising livestock, you also have weekly requests from Volcano Town for help with a job or two (upon going to your Sunday appointments). Usually you would get some items or new tools for thanks.
Development
The game features a new art style that steps away from the traditional style of the previous Harvest Moon games. It focus more on solving a main storyline like traditional RPGs, rather than concentrating on farm works. The concept used in Innocent Life would be continued on the Rune Factory series, which also involved ARPG battles. However, the removal of the marriage system in this installment also departs from any previous or later game in the Harvest Moon series except for Harvest Moon GB, Harvest Moon 2 GBC, and Harvest Moon: Save the Homeland
Reception
Reviews of the title were mixed, with reviews ranging from 85% to 40%.[4] IGN rated the game at 6.5, or "passable", saying that the story develops slowly and the gameplay strays too far from Harvest Moon's traditional farming focus.[5]
References
- ↑ "Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon Release Dates". Gamespot. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
- ↑ "Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon (Special Edition) Release Dates". Gamespot. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
- ↑ Haynes, Jeff (March 17, 2008). "Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon Special Edition Review". IGN. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
While this is deemed to be the "Special Edition," there are practically no true extras in the title to make it stand out as much stronger than the PSP version. Apart from a few new tasks given to you and a dictionary that defines practically everything within the game, there's very little that is new to the title.
- ↑ "Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
- ↑ Haynes, Jeff (May 18, 2007). "Innocent Life: A Futuristic Harvest Moon Review". IGN. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
Compared to other Harvest Moon titles, this one feels like it strays pretty far away from the franchise's formula. The inconvenient truth is that while you still harvest crops, the farther into the game you go, the less important farming becomes and the more island exploration takes over. Unfortunately, the unbalanced level of exploration, slow development of the story and nonsensical character development (coupled with his virtual isolation) makes the game one of those titles that appeals to an even smaller niche of this niche genre.
External links
- Official website (Japanese)
- Mobygames entry