Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility

Release Dates

The first game in the series to be developed exclusively for the Wii, Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility took players to a new island filled with an entirely fresh set of characters. Upon waking up in Sundae Inn, Mayor Hamilton informed the player that the sacred tree on Waffle Island had died and the Harvest Goddess had disappeared. It was up to the player to restore the island by helping the Harvest Sprites create rainbows that would return the Harvest Goddess.

While the premise may sound familiar at this point, the shift to a console built around motion controls was a series first. Not only did the graphics take a huge leap forward on the newer, more powerful console, but players could mimic the act of swinging an Axe or using a Watering Can to complete a task. This new feature dovetailed nicely with a revamped upgrade system. Tools could now be “leveled up” simply by using them. The more a tool was used, the larger its area of effect grew.

Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility added a number of new features to the game. For the first time in the series’ history, it was possible to take on part-time jobs at the various stores around town. Players could also start a New Game+ mode that made it possible to start a new game as your child, complete with all the money you earned, recipes and items, and upgraded tools, among other benefits.

Fun Facts

• In addition to pitfalls, there were gaseous traps located in the mines that could harm the player, causing loss of Stamina, disorientation, or temporary blindness.
• Not only could players purchase an ostrich for their ranch, but it was possible to befriend any one of a number of wild animals located throughout the island, including a monkey, bear, rabbits, and a penguin, among other animals.
• Festivals played an important role in this game as a key way to build friendships and increase affection. The seasonal Flea Market was particularly important, as it contained items needed to complete rainbow recipes.
• A major element of the game’s quest was the completion of a special quilt. Only with both halves of the quilt completed could players discover the rainbows that would return the Harvest Sprites. But even the existence of the quilt was kept shrouded in mystery until the player shipped an abundance of goods.
• Marking a trend that would continue into the future, the number of crop varieties received a significant increase with Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility. Though the number was still quite small compared to future games, many more crops could be planted.