From the preview:
"HM: Island of Happiness for the DS doesn't begin in the traditional manner. The player, who can choose to be a boy or girl, is on a ship taking a trip when a storm destroys it. The player ends up on a deserted island with a family of four and a merchant and his son. They decide to make the island their home, and the player is charged with being the food/revenue producing farmer.
Farming is totally different in HM: Island of Happiness. There are different weather conditions each day, and certain crops do better in certain conditions. Also you don't have to water every day, as some only need water every two days. Rice also is available as a crop (you plant it in spring and harvest in fall) and once again mushrooms and orchards can be grown."
Josh from Controller Crusade writes "Anyone who has followed the Harvest Moon franchise since it burst on the scene in 1997 (1996 in Japan) knows the many ups and downs it has endured. The odd thing about Harvest Moon games is that even when they’re not that great they are still incredibly addicting. Depending on what aspect of the games you like to focus on, you’ll enjoy certain titles more than others. Personally I like to mix it up and do a little bit of everything, not pigeon hole myself into one type of task or chore. Here are my personal highs and lows for the Harvest Moon series."
Russ looks at the RPGs heading to North American retailers in November.
411mania talks about this week's game releases. Highlights include Dissidia: Final Fantasy, Mana Khemia 2: Fall of Alchemy, Metroid Prime Trilogy, Cursed Mountain, and Harvest Moon: Magical Melody.
