DESCRIPTION

The third Game Boy Color release in the Harvest Moon role-playing series once again challenges players to revitalize a piece of land. This time a friend needs help building a productive farm on a remote island. The location poses unique challenges as players travel by ferry to the mainland for supplies, entertainment, and to sell goods.

The biggest change in the series is the option to play as either a boy or a girl. Each character has individual traits and items. The boy farmer is more adept at clearing fields, planting seeds, and tilling soil, while the girl farmer excels at raising livestock. The character determines the majority of tasks players will undertake. The other jobs can be assigned to the computer, who will control the opposite character of the player.

Cooperation is the key ingredient to performing well. Livestock cannot survive without grass, and milk, eggs, and wool, cannot be gathered without happy livestock. Players must ensure each character is performing the right tasks or the farm will suffer. At the mainland, players can earn extra money by fishing, entering their horse in races, or taking on an extra job. Furnishings can also be purchased to spruce up the homestead.

As the game progresses, your relationship with your partner may grow into love and even marriage. Happy mates will be productive workers in Harvest Moon 3, so building a healthy marriage can be profitable for the farm as well as the heart. For those having a hard time deciding which character to choose, two save files exist via battery backup. The title also supports the Game Link so two players can trade livestock and seeds. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide