Wednesday, February 13, 2008

With Winter comes Snow, Mukumuku and Finest Curry




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Ordinarily, I would not be too excited about the advent of Winter in Harvest Moon, although I do love the beauty of fallen snow, contrary to the small white lie I told Kai in his Heart Event... I was obliged to declare Summer to be paramount in my list of seasons, when in fact I prefer Spring and Autumn... (I do hope Kai hasn't any sort of access to my journals!!!)

In any case, in Harvest Moon Cute, I eagerly awaited Winter, counting down the days, because Winter brings White Grass, an ingredient required in Finest Curry. Why should I care so deeply about Finest Curry? Only because it is Skye's Most Favourite. It happens to be Cliff's Most Favourite as well, but I doubt I will squander it on him more than once. The Mineral Town events move at such a snail pace that I am resigned to the slow rise of affection there. I have Cliff at Purple Heart now, but must engineer a rainy day in order to experience his Purple Heart Event. I deliberately rejected a prediction of rain actually for Saturday, the 1st day of Winter in order to be able to give Skye his first taste of Finest Curry tonight. Skye does not visit the Valley ordinarily in bad weather, although he will make an exception when he is on a 'job'.

When I gave the first Finest Curry to Skye, my heart skipped a beat. He actually blushed and stammered, quite unlike the smooth-talking 'player' he attempts to show the world at large. 'F-Finest Curry!! It is for me? You are like a goddess!'

Ahhh... How can I resist this lovely creature? I experienced Grey's Blue Heart event two days ago and my old fondness for him was kindled anew as he proclaimed his deep admiration for Carter and all those who 'chase a dream'. Although he declared that his ambition was merely to become a respectable blacksmith, I happen to know his SECRET ambition, which is to create beautiful jewelry. In fact, in Mineral Town, he once gave me a piece he had created himself...

From my old MFoMT journal:
Grey: Actually, there is something I want you to have.
Me: (?)
Grey then threw a blue brooch at me.
Grey: I hope you like it...
Grey (with tear): I made this on my own secretly from Grandpa. I'm not nearly as good as him, but still it's a good achievement for me. I made this for you. I want you to have it. I just wanted to make sure you like stuff like that, you know? I hope you like it.
Grey left hastily then, evidently wishing to avoid any negative response from me, although he should have realised I would have thrown myself into his arms and kissed the darling boy! The silver brooch he made is gorgeous!

END OF QUOTE.

So you see, there is a sweet history between us, but I still expect I shall choose Skye in the end... In my next life, however, I daresay I'll choose Grey once more. I have many lives to lead and many marriages to make...

This entry was supposed to be about Skye, not Grey! I'm all over the place today, aren't I?

In fact, I wished to speak of all the reasons why Winter can be an exciting and fulfilling time.

First, there is the White Grass which allows one to make Finest Curry at last. Then, there is the appearance of Mukumuku, sometimes known in the world as the Yeti or Abominable Snowman, but in fact, one of the sweetest creatures to walk the land.

With Mukumuku's arrival, you will be treated to a number of events that can occur only in the Winter season. I will devote a separate post to Mukumuku but suffice it to say now that the first of his events can be experienced even BEFORE you raise his friendship level at all. All that is required is that you exit the Sprite Tree after 4.00 p.m. on the 1st of Winter or any sunny Winter's day.

It is a very amusing event, with a long history known to those familiar with 'A Wonderful Life'. It will be the subject of my next post.

N.B. Note the sorry state of Skye's AP as it appears on 1 Winter before the gift of the Finest Curry. Skye's affection is at 44000 AP and 255 FP before the Finest Curry was accepted. When accepted, it will be at 44800 AP 255 FP. This is due to the fact that I was unable to experience Part II of Skye's Blue Heart Event long ago on a Sunday night... Carter's fault, because he lingered on the road until midnight.
Not experiencing Part II cost me a 1000 FP penalty simply because I did not trigger it and another 3000 AP that would have been gained if I had triggered Part II of the Event AND given the correct response in the course of the event. That means effectively that Skye's AP would have been at 48000 AP tonight before the gift of Finest Curry and at 48800 AP afterwards. With Finest Curry, therefore, it will take me 5 days longer to bring him to full red heart level!

This is moot, really, because I shan't marry Skye until I have experienced all four heart events for each of the Mineral Town bachelors... Those five days become meaningless in these circumstances. Even so, I feel it useful to point out the penalties incurred when you do not trigger both parts of one of Skye's events. It will not prevent you from marrying him ultimately, but it will slow you down considerably.

8 comments:

Jadis said...

I love winter in Harvest Moon DS Cute as well... mainly because I don't have to run around pulling up weeds and because of Steiner/Skye. I don't think Kai will ever be able to get to your journals either. I mean, he's stuck in the DS, right? XP

How did you manage to get the English version though? Is it on the NDS emulator? Because apparently, the DS version of it is coming out in late March... *sniffs*

I experienced Gray's blue heart event as well, and I have still kept the brooch to this day :)

Freyashawk said...

You are correct: the English version will not be released until 25 March. Natsume very kindly allowed me to have a temporary advance copy in order to write my guides so that they will be complete by the time the game is officially released. I have been working feverishly on them... in fact, I am almost done with the First Year Events Calendar Guide, the Courtship and Marriage Guide and the first draught of a General Guide.

Anonymous said...

I'm not an important Harvest Moon Guide-Maker, but I do love your blog. I am cursed with the fact that I only posses MFoMT and the typical DS version. I have not yet been graced with MukuMuku's presence on the DS version, considering I have only recently restarted and I'm still working through my first spring. Does he take gifts? And, if so, what does he like?
I also must ask your opinion on something: which of the Valley girls should I court? I haven't chosen.

Freyashawk said...

Anon, Mukumuku loves flowers. In HM DS, you can give an unlimited number of gifts to any individual in a single day. In fact, by giving many gifts of flowers to Mukumuku on his birthday, you can raise his FP to the point where he will pay you a visit and bring you a Big Fish the very next day... The event is included in my 1st Year Events Calendar Guide. I believe I devoted a post entirely to Mukumuku on this site as well.

As for your choice of spouse, that is a matter of individual preference. I suggest you marry one of the 'magical girls', however, as that will allow all the rival couples to marry. More events to experience that way! Of the magical girls, Leia is the easiest to court and marry.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the advice--I appreciate it! I am now courting Leia, but also give gifts to Flora--I want to have access the to Hot Springs near the circus grounds.

Also, is there any particular reason why I can only catch three or four fish from 6:00am to 6:00pm, but caught fourteen fish from 7:00pm to 4:00am?

Anonymous said...

Hey, KalypsoCry, have you ever read ttyl, ttfn or l8r, g8r? You talk like one of the characters--Angela, I think it was.

In Harvest Moon DS Cute, can you court MukuMuku or Murry?

Freyashawk said...

No, you cannot court either Mukumuku or Murrey. I never knew any one who actually was interested in either of them as a romantic partner, to be honest.

Freyashawk said...

As for fishing, yes, there is a reason why you catch more fish 'off hours' in the original HM DS. That is the way the game was designed, similar to the original GC 'A Wonderful/Another Wonderful Life' games. Fishing is best early in the morning before 9.00 a.m. and after 6.00 p.m.