Harvest Moon GB

Harvest Moon GB
Developer(s)	Victor Interactive Software
Publisher(s)	Natsume Co., Ltd Nintendo Australia Pty. Ltd
Platform(s)	Game Boy, Game Boy Color
Release date(s)	Gameboy JP December 19, 1997 NA August 1998 Gameboy Color NA December 31, 1998
Genre(s)	Life simulation/Role-playing video game
Mode(s)	Single-player
Rating(s)	ESRB: E (Everyone)

Harvest Moon GB (牧場物語GB, Bokujō Monogatari GB) is a game in the Harvest Moon series of video games developed by Pack-In-Video. Harvest Moon GB is the first portable Harvest Moon game. The plot revolves around the character's grandfather visiting the player as a spirit and asking him to run his farm. They accept, and begin their life as Ranch Master. In this game you can chose to be a boy or girl. An improved colored version for the Game Boy Color was released later under the name Harvest Moon GBC.

Gameplay

The initial goal is that in a year's time, the character must bring up the farm by growing and selling crops, and raising livestock. There are also plenty of secrets to unlock in the game. At the end of the first year, the main character's grandfather comes back to the farm to check up on it. If he thinks it's looking good, the player may continue the game for another couple years. If he thinks the farm is short of success, a Game Over is given.

Crops

Crops are a primary source of income in Harvest Moon GB. After being planted, the seeds must be watered every day until they can be harvested. All harvested crops (along with anything able to be sold) may be put in the shipping bin to be sold. Some crops can be re-harvested a number of days after the initial harvest. Almost all crops require active farming and maintenance, although every day, the player can harvest two Mushrooms from his underground cellar for a small sum of money. Most conventional crops can be obtained by sowing seeds on plowed ground and watering them until a fruit forms, which is harvested, and the ground becomes clear tilled ground again. An exception is during Summer and Winter (Only Summer if you didn't start the characters name with a symbol, because if you do, that gives you more seeds) where the sown seeds grow plants which will produce fruit on a regular basis if watered. Different seeds can be sown during different seasons and the seeds are bought from one of the shops in town. Any seed sown outside of its designated season will not sprout.

Animals

At the beginning of the game the option is given whether to have a dog or a cat as a pet. If you choose a cat, wild dog won't attack your chickens. If you choose a dog, wild dogs may attack, though moles will not destroy your crops. The player also receives a horse early in the game, which can be used for farm work, riding, and if you have a saddle bag you can ship directly from the horse.

There are two types of livestock - cows and chickens. Cows can produce milk, which can also be turned into cheese and butter, and chickens produce eggs. Each livestock can give birth, cows by using a certain item on them, and chickens by simply letting the eggs hatch.

Tools and items

There is a wide variety of tools in Harvest Moon GB. At the beginning of the game, the tools available are the axe, hoe, hammer, watering can (after you buy your first bag of seeds/grass doesn't count), and sickle. These tools may be improved, turning into "super" tools. The player may also receive a fishing rod, pickaxe and umbrella after reaching their grandfather's goal.