Release Dates
| Platform | North America | Europe |
|---|---|---|
|
N64 |
December 21, 1999 |
— |
The franchise made a major leap forward with the release of the Nintendo 64 console. Though returning players found much in common with the prior two games in the series, particularly the premise, there were numerous additions awaiting them in Flower Bud Village. One of the biggest shifts was the speed at which time passed. Many fans consider Harvest Moon 64 to be among the most challenging in the franchise’s storied past.
Harvest Moon 64 included a multitude of tweaks on a winning formula. The calendar continued to feature four thirty-day seasons, but unique weather patterns now challenged players throughout the year. And speaking of challenges, players now had to compete with various rivals when trying to court the five bachelorettes in Flower Bud Village. Those who were too slow to marry could see the object of their affection say yes to another man.
As one might expect, given the shift to a more powerful console, the graphics were significantly enhanced, as was the feature-set. Harvest Moon 64 boasted a larger assortment of spring and summer crops, new livestock in the form of sheep, and room-specific home extensions. Additionally, the concept of cooking was first introduced to the series in Harvest Moon 64. Though the player couldn’t actually cook any meals, there were thirty-five recipes to collect in order to impress a traveling Gourmet judge.
Fun Facts
- The television inside the ranch house only contained three functioning stations in the North American release.
- Befriending Harvest Sprites was a great way to see to it that your animals got fed during a major storm. The Harvest Sprites used a tunnel to access your barn during major storms and feed your livestock for you.
- Thorough players could locate a map leading to a special music box that the character buried as a child long ago. This music box could be repaired and used to play love songs to win affection of a bachelorette.
- Commonly used tools like the Hammer, Axe, and Watering Can were upgraded through use. The more the player used a particular tool, the better it became automatically. Tools even changed from Iron to Silver to Gold as they improved.
- A traveling photographer visited Flower Bud Village whenever the player won a festival event or experienced a major life moment. There were sixteen total photos to collect in an album on the bookcase.