HARVEST MOON

Hehe.

Hehehehe.

Mwahaha! +_+

Finally...
I finally had the time to finish it. I've been so excited over it for so long, but now that it's over I feel kind of sad. Though... this wasn't the kind of game I would play again, despite loving it. This is a game more to experience than anything else.

I really had no idea what to expect at first. I was simply going to try it out a little, but... I ended up playing it for 10 hours straight the first time I 'tried it on'. Which was not at all what I was supposed to do at the time, yet I couldn't tear myself away from the screen. ^^ So what is it about this game that is so incredible? I actually don't know. There is no predetermined story developing as it runs its course, as most games I come to love. There's actually not that much happening at all. It's mostly based on everyday routines.

I had no idea what I was supposed to do at first either. So I didn't really do that much. I chopped some wood, crushed some stones, grew some vegetables and stuff like that. And of course, I fell in love. With the redhaired daughter of the tool shop owner. Ann was her name. I knew from the start that you could court the girls in the village. They told me so, that I should find a girl to settle down with. So I went around and talked to all the girls but... I knew the first time I laid eyes on her that she was the one. ^^
There was another girl who also caught my eye, though not in the same way. Maria, who spent most of her time at church. Somehow she felt so... sad. So I took my time talking to her when in town, on rare occasions I even gave her little gifts. And she seemed to open up, become a little happier. Which made me a little happier. Isn't that weird? I can't help myself, even in a silly game.

Anyway, I started courting my redhaired maiden. I gave her presents as often as I could, danced with her (and only her) at the festivals and everytime I went into town, whatever business I was there for, I always took time to visit her. And finally, after making my house bigger twice so a family could fit, I was able to propose to her. I was heartbroken when she asked my to come back that weekend. I was sure she was going to turn me down. But when I came back, once again asking for her hand in marriage, she replied;
"Are you sure? I mean... me?"
My heart melted and I sort of wanted to reply that I have never been as sure of anything in my life. But I am sure that was what he said when I wasn't looking. ^^

We got married and she moved into my house. She was the perfect wife. Every morning she reminded me of things I should do or keep in mind, and during the days she sits in my toolshed, trying to invent better tools to help me with my work. She also thanked me every night for my hard work before we went to bed together. And from time to time she would say things like; 'I have to do my best today also' or 'I hope I'll be able to cook better step by step. ...please be patient.' or 'Darling, please take care of yourself.'. The very first morning with her she tried it on for the first time, saying 'D-d-darling'.

My darling & me

Kyyyyaa. I love her so much. ^^ So I make sure to give her presents everyday, and that I'm home in time to go to bed together. Afterwards, I found out that was something you -had to- do for her not to divorce you. But I would have done it anyway. I might've spoiled her even. But she's totally worth it. Totally. <3
One morning, out of the blue, she said to me;
"Well... Uummm... say... I... umm... I guess I'm pregnant."
I was really happy. I was going to be a dad. ^^ Unfortunately there wasn't enough time left in the game in order for me to see my son being born, but I'm happy enough knowing he was on his way.
In real life though, she has become my rolemodel. I want to become a loving wife just like her. :)

Something I also became attached to was the cows. In the end, I had 12 cows. And every morning I milked them, petted them, fed them and talked to them. All 12 cows had their own personalities to me, even though they were simple replicas in a game. Which is a part of why I loved this game so much. All of my cows were named with utmost care, perhaps that was why I became so fond of them.
My first three cows were Lori, Meli and Cami. Lori had a habit of walking into the other cows' booths, and since she was the only mother I interpreted it as motherly care. Cami was a social wanderer, walking around all over the place while Meli mostly stayed in her place. She always had that habit, even in real life. My next three cows were Jeni, Vaji and Honi. Honi is the daughter of Lori, the only cow I breed myself, therefore Hon-i(ey). Jeni is named after my big sister and Vaji was named from the spanish 'vaja'. Vaji mostly hung around the food box, probably munching away while I wasn't looking. The next three cows was Puni, Rani and Sadi. Puni and Rani were twins, I bought them at the same time. Sadi was named after a lot of things that I like and she was the least obedient of them all. A very headstrong cow. The last three cows were Wani, Kyri and Neki. Wani was named in japanese, after the OP arc I was watching then. I like that name. Wani. ^^ Kyri was as Meli, very attached to home, unless she was with the other two. It was as if she wasn't as shy when she was with them, oddly enough. Neki was my last one, she was a loner. She mostly hanged around the upper left corner and for some reason, I thought of her as a little depressed. Kind of like me. ^^
Other than my 12 cows I also had 12 chickens, and even though the game didn't require you to name them I did anyway, in my mind. Everyone of those I breed myself, except my first. But in the end, they were bugging the heck out of me when I tried to feed them and collect their eggs since they were always, always, in my way.

Lazy days on the farm ^^

The very first animal I recieved though was a dog I named Mew<3. Every morning, during summer/spring/fall and nice weather, I carried him outside and every evening I carried him inside. I later found out that he could scare off wild dogs if kept outside during nights but somehow I couldn't bring myself to do that. ^^
I also got a horse. I found her outside the farm one day as I was on my way into town to talk with Ann. She was kept in a 'stable' but I could might as well say she was kept outside. I didn't really like that, I wanted her to have a more proper place to be but that wasn't for me to decide, obviously. I couldn't feed her either, that sucked. But we rode around on the field a lot together instead, as often as I had some spare time. Her name was Iris. ^^
Another thing that was kind of cool was the gnomes. But I'm not going to spoil everything about the game for you. ^^

In the end I had a farm development rate at 36% and my ranchmaster points was only 628. But more importantly I had a happiness rate at 888 and a wife who loved me with all her hearts. Though I did not see him in the game, the ending showed my son, who was born the 24th of Fall and whom I decided to name Edal.

My family with my newborn son ^^

But honestly, I don't care about the scores. Because you can't grade life, and that was what this was. I didn't play this game. I lived it. So no, the scores mean nothing to me. The experience though... that meant a lot. <3

The End.