Harvest Moon: Save the Homeland

Release Dates

Releasing just a week after Harvest Moon 3 GBC in North America, this was the first in the series to make its way to the PlayStation 2. Despite the familiar boy-inherits-farm premise, Harvest Moon: Save the Homeland featured a number of differences from prior games. And not just the significant jump to 3D cel-shaded graphics!

The game wasted no time in introducing the player to Harvest Sprites and the Harvest Goddess, the latter of whom asked several questions to gauge what kind of person had come to save the farm. This segued into an elaborate tutorial that helped get new players familiar with the series. Nevertheless, Harvest Moon: Save the Homeland was, in many ways, a condensed version of the game. It didn’t contain the ability to marry a villager or start a family; there were only four crop types; and there were no rocks or trees to clear, which meant Hammers and Axes weren’t necessary.

Time moved quite fast in this installment, and players had just one calendar year to save the farm from development. But there were plenty of other story-related events to tend to when you weren’t focusing on your farm chores. Harvest Moon: Save the Homeland contained nine different endings based on who you befriended throughout the year, the items you obtained, and the rare collectibles you managed to procure for other villagers.

Fun Facts

• Players could obtain a Flute that could be played to give your dog various commands. You could make your dog sit, lie down, heel, run, jump, or stand. The dog could even be used to herd cows.
• Though there wasn’t a Shipping Box on the farm, the nearby town contained seven distinct shops that bought and sold a variety of items.
• It was possible to save the game after completing the first year to earn a chance to begin in the spring again, on year two. All crops, animals, and items carried over, but the townsfolk were strangers once again. This made it possible to earn multiple endings.
• The Harvest Goddess granted wishes to players who visited between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on sunny days. She could increase friendship with a pet or girl in town, or replenish Stamina.
• Cooking was a huge part of Harvest Moon: Save the Homeland. Players could upgrade their kitchen and acquire over three dozen recipes to be cooked in a Frying Pan, Oven, or Pot.