Review of Witch's Witch

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Natsume gave me a opportunity to explore the upcoming DS game, 'Witch's Witch', some time ago but I only now have been given official permission to post about it. 'Witch's Wish' is due to be released on 25 May 2010 but can be pre-ordered at Amazon now for $19.99. I have added a link to this post that will take you directly to Amazon if you wish to reserve your copy.

'Witch's Wish' is a delightful little game that should appeal to any one who enjoyed 'Princess Debut'. Your Character is Vicky, an aspiring witch who must solve a mystery and make some critical decisions as to the future of her community in the course of her story. 'Witch's Wish' is not centred on romance as much as 'Princess Debut' but in its own way, shares some of the essential elements of that game and does have its own romantic elements where some of Vicky's friends are concerned.

First of all, there is the Touchscreen action, which is extremely clever, in that you have the opportunity to use Elemental Runes in the true sense of the word (signifying magical sigils) in order to cast spells. Somehow, you have a real sense of casting magic by doing this. A certain amount of accuracy is required to cast the Spells properly. As you gain experience by completing Chapters, you gain more potent elemental spells. Knowing which elemental spell to use at any given time can be critical to your success.

Exploring the Map to speak to the right people at the right time is the key to success in any given Chapter. If you do not receive the information you need from specific Characters, you will not be able to move forward. You can unlock new songs and pictures when you smash objects by casting the proper Spell. As there are three levels of Elemental Spells and you have the power to use them only in specific Chapters, the game very much hinges on knowing WHEN to perform a specific action or visit a specific area.

There is a wonderful arena named 'Witch One' where you can engage in magical duels with other aspiring Witches. Winning matches against the highest three opponents will allow you to gain new Badges and Fruits, the items that unlock new songs and pictures. Again, as you will possess the most powerful Spells only in specific Chapters of the game, it is important to know when to enter a match in the Witch One arena, which is not always accessible to your Character.

Although 'Witch's Wish' is suitable to players of all ages, including children, like so many of the games Natsume produces, it does deal with some very profound philosophical and social issues. This issues are discussed both with passion and with humour. Again, as is characteristic of Natsume games, even minor characters are developed in some detail and there is a wealth of dialogue to explore.

Social issues are evident from the very start in a world where rich and poor are divided by a wall and the shadow of the wall prevents sunlight from reaching Lower Town. Furthermore, only the rich have the means to attend magic schools, which are prohibitively expensive and thus magic has become the prerogative of the rich. Finally, the Wall was created by a 'legendary Witch', who long ago sealed away all the magic of the townspeople in order to prevent conflict between them.

Vicky, a young girl from Lower Town, aspires to become a Witch. Her motives, even at the very outset are pure. She wishes to be able to use magic to 'help others'. She passionately believes that:

'Magic is every one’s hopes and dreams! It’s wrong to seal something so important!'

Against this is the argument that:

'If every one wants to make their dreams come true, they’ll fight. Isn’t that right? Every one has different dreams... There’s no such thing as a world where every one’s dreams come true... Unfulfilled dreams either turn into something ugly and keep accumulating, or break out as conflicts.'

These are profound issues and one easily can perceive 'magic' as the power of technology. The residents of Lower Town who are manual labours desire magic in order to be able to use it to perform their tasks. The rich residents of the Upper Town are opposed to this, wishing to keep all magic power and knowledge to themselves.

There are more fundamental social and philosophical issues at stake concerning government and the right to control others as well as the limits to power and who should have the right to choose how much freedom is allowed to the masses.

A Joyous Yuletide and Magical Christmas Eve

I'm afraid I am not going to have much time either to answer game questions or to update my guides today or tomorrow... I do intend to make a Harvest Moon/Rune Factory video in honour of the season but Christmas takes precedence over game guides for a day.

This is Natsume's Christmas Card... I thought that all Harvest Moon fans would enjoy it!

If one is to spend Christmas partly in a virtual reality (and I full intend to steal a few hours in the next day to do so), one cannot do better than to celebrate the Starry Night Festival or the Holy of Holies Night with all the villagers and loved ones in the Rune Factory or Harvest Moon universe.

I would like to wish every one a most joyous and magical Yule.

Animal Parade Marches Joyously into my Heart

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This is nothing more than an announcement that my own copy of Animal Parade has arrived, complete with darling Duck and Sunshine Island's Pink Pig! I will begin my General Guide for Animal Parade now and hope that I can race against the clock to send at least a preliminary version to IGN before their deadline of 4.00 p.m. (PST) on a Friday afternoon... the Friday in question being Friday the 13th! This is a day that actually was NOT considered unlucky in many pagan traditions... it obviously has been lucky for me personally today.

The music at the portal of your new Adventure in Animal Parade could not have been calculated better to rouse my own excitement. It is traditional 'carousel' music, a stirring march that transports me instantly to one of my favourite memories from chilchood. I love the carousel. I still love it. When I mount one of those brightly-caparisoned wooden steeds and feel the wind in my hair as I ride the magical circle of enchantment of chilchood, my cares gradually are stripped from me and all the burdens of adulthood can be pushed to the back of my soul for a few golden moments. Animal Parade very fittingly has the same sort of music as the player spiritually mounts the 'ride' to adventure... (The Wii instruction to: 'Put on and tighten your wrist strap' only strengthens the illusion of riding a carousel actually, remembering the leather straps to be worn as a child to prevent an untimely tumble from the horse.)

If you watch the opening film in Animal Parade carefully, you won't need a Game Guide from me.... Although that statement isn't entirely accurate, it is a marvelous, enchanting film and it DOES give hints as to most of the vital elements and options in Animal Parade.

Another heartfelt thanks to Natsume!

N.B. No, I am NOT finished with Sunshine Islands by any means, but I would like to make a start on Animal Parade.

Natsume's Facebook and Twitter Pages

Natsume now has Facebook and Twitter pages for those who have access to these resources.
Natsume Inc. on Facebook
Natsume on Twitter

Thanks to Natsume...

Thanks to Natsume, I will be given a chance to explore Sunshine Islands and Frantic Farming in the near future. I will not publish ANY information about the games until given permission to do so officially but I would like players to know that I will be working on strategy guides for them.

There was a brief moment in time when I felt that I no longer had the energy nor skill to cover any game in a satisfactory manner. I am a perfectionist and none of my guides are perfect. In all honesty, however, the majority of players who use my guides do find them helpful and more than adequate. I put my heart and soul into them and will continue to do so.

I suppose I am writing this primarily to share my excitement at the opportunity to explore another aspect of the incredibly complex and diverse universe of Harvest Moon. Writing a guide for any Harvest Moon or Rune Factory game may be a lot of work always, but the thrill of exploration and discovery makes it worth every effort. Too bad I have only one life in THIS world and one can't reload each day to use the time again and again...

'Princess Debut' DS Game by Natsume

For Harvest Moon fans who are addicted to Courtship rituals as well as any DS player who loves dancing and stylus manipulation, a new game has been released by Natsume that is based on the old fairytale fantasy of the Princess finding her true love at the Ball. Unfortunately, I do not have this game so any review I write is based on secondhand information. By all accounts, it is not difficult to master, but is filled with humour and unpredictable interactions between characters.

The storyline is simple in essence: your character is a Princess who has a full season to court one of 6 Princes and master dance steps to prepare for her official Debut at the Court Ball.

There are four different modes of gameplay: Story, Ballroom, Practice and Movie.
The actual Dances are taken from motion-captured video of professional dancers, so any one who wishes to learn how to dance in real life can practice the steps if he/she likes in person. (I doubt many could work the stylus AND execute real ballroom dancing steps simultaneously but that would be another challenge...)

The game has 14 different possible endings and 18 different kinds of dance styles and music as well as 20 outfits to find/unlock.

It was designed in a way to make it easy for young players to succeed in finding true love's dream, but players of all ages have been enchanted by it, not only for its visual charm but for the humour and the many different outcomes that one can experience.

It may not be as complex as Harvest Moon but it sounds rather delightful. As an inveterate Romantic at heart, I very much would welcome a chance to play it!

Havest Moon Philosophy

'Rune Factory' takes the essential philosophy of Harvest Moon to new levels. All Harvest Moon games embrace an animist view of the world but in many games, the interactions between humanity and 'magical creatures' is fairly limited, although one can court and even marry a magical girl in some games.

Interactions with Harvest Sprites often involve befriending them and learning their likes and dislikes. In all Harvest Moon games, ranching success depends somewhat on affection levels with the animals. It is not simply a matter of keeping them fed but of paying attention to them and spending a little time with them on a daily basis.

In 'Rune Factory', one cannot purchase farm animals. One must find them in the wilds, where they have become 'monsters'. One then must confront them and defeat them. Once defeated, however, one must establish a relationship with them, first by building a home for the monster and then by using the 'Friendship Glove' to try to persuade the monster to become a friend.

Tabatha, a maidservant who is a magical individual in disguise, tells the hero that: 'If you can get along with the monsters in the caves, you can become friends with them! If you have this friendship glove, you can become friends with them. Win it over and it may become your friend. But be careful, you may be attacked before you win the monster over.'

Then: 'The way to get along with something without speaking is through showing how you feel. Even if the monster hits you, you have to show it that you want to be friends.'

All Natsume games contain spiritual wisdom and a guide for players to follow in their real lives. One must be willing to deal with different personalities, to be patient with people who can be rude at first, but who ultimately display hearts of gold. One must respect the elderly and be kind to children. Listening to people and responding appropriately always is a vital element in Harvest Moon games. You can play the game without paying attention to the nuances, but you ultimately will wonder where you went wrong when you fail to obtain essential information and items!

In 'Rune Factory', the hero is both farmer and warrior. In every aspect of his life, he must work towards the good of the earth and the community. Learning how to maintain a balance in all things is the foundation of a hero's ultimate success in Harvest Moon. If he only is interested in wielding a sword, he never will be able to advance even as a warrior as the 'Runes' that restore energy are found only where crops are grown. If he is interested solely in farming, he never will be able to tame monsters that could provide him with eggs, milk and wool. If he neglects the other inhabitants of the village, he never will be able to acquire items and information that will allow him to attain his greatest ambitions...

Is Harvest Moon for DS worth the effort?

Having written a number of guides for Harvest Moon DS, and having explored the different glitches in the game, I wanted to make a statement giving my own assessment of Harvest Moon DS. It is one of the greatest games ever created by Natsume. The glitches exist really because it is such a marvelous game. Harvest Moon games are not linear. There are hundreds of variables that can affect the course that the game will take. There are sub-plots within the main plot. There are more than a dozen eligible girls that one can court and marry, or one can choose a single life. One can choose to be an active matchmaker for other couples or let circumstance decide.

Almost every Harvest Moon fan longed for a game that would unite Mineral Town with Forget-Me-Not Valley. Natsume made Harvest Moon DS in response. Very few game companies pay as much attention to the wishes of the players as Natsume does. In Harvest Moon DS, Natsume created a game that was far more extensive than any other in every possible Harvest Moon activity: farming, ranching, courtship, mining, fishing, gambling and Sprites! The fact that the game sometimes can overload the DS system cannot be ignored completely, but that having been said, it is amazing that a complex game like this can be played on a handheld system at all.

The games created by Natsume combine intelligence, ethics, philosophy, creativity, humour, characters with depth and simple pleasure. Even for a fanatical Harvest Moon player like myself, every new Natsume game holds surprises and new challenges.

If your game freezes, you should be able to play through it. If the save files freeze, it is a tragedy but you can start a new game. It is a privilege simply to be able to 'live' in the world of Harvest Moon, even when that life ends abruptly because of a freeze. After all, in this real world, one's life is no more secure. One could be hit by a car when crossing a street. I try to see the 'file freeze' threat in Harvest Moon DS as an 'act of God'. In some games, the player never will experience it. In fact, there are many players who have played multiple games of HM DS without ever encountering this problem. For those whose games have been terminated abruptly, I have great empathy. I have experienced it myself. It can be devastating. On the other hand, would you rather never had the pleasure of playing the game and exploring the incredible world created by Natsume? Would you rather never have had the chance to meet Muffy and Karen in the game game?

Harvest Moon DS offers so many events, apart from the regular heart and rival heart events, allowing us to delve deeper into the histories and personalities of all the characters we have come to love. Is that not worth any price?

As I begin a new adventure in Rune Factory, I may have abandoned Harvest Moon DS temporarily, but I am certain I will play it many more times in my lifetime. It is one of my favourite Harvest Moon games, despite the occasional glitches.

Incidentally, with respect to Rune Factory, I see today that EB Games now gives the release date as 14 August rather than 31 July. I definitely should have a preliminary guide by then!

Rune Factory Announcement

I now have confirmation that I will be sent an advance copy of Rune Factory in order to begin working on a guide for it.

I should have the game early next week and will begin the guide as quickly as possible. I am very excited about this: Rune Factory has been described as 'Harvest Moon meets Zelda'. Although I have not been able to play the game myself yet, I am more inclined to describe it as 'Harvest Moon meets 'Golden Sun' or 'Sword of Mana'. However one chooses to describe the game, the fact of the matter is that one is able to raise monsters, as well as creating and using weapons. I assume the usual activities included in Harvest Moon games are available as well: farming, mining, fishing and so on. As soon as I have the game, I will write a little review of it.

From all accounts, 'Rune Factory' will be great fun! To me, however, the most wonderful aspect of Natsume's games is the lasting appeal that they all have. Even when a new game is released, one does not put aside the old games forever. I look forward to a time when I will be able to play 'More Friends of Mineral Town', 'Magical Melody' and 'Harvest Moon DS' again...