Because as anyone who has visited this blog in recent months likely is well aware, the last thing I need at the moment is to add more games to my 3DS backlog. (My as-yet-unused copies of Etrian Odyssey IV, Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask and Shin Megami Tensei IV are glaring at me right now, as are my underplayed copies of Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon and Paper Mario: Sticker Star.)
Still, I bought it. And now that it's in my hands, I can't say I regret that decision one bit. I mean, just look at the adorableness below:
Of course I've yet to actually pop the Hometown Story cart into my 3DS. There's a reason for that, though: rather than play it this past weekend, I put a good amount of time into Pokemon X, Sayonara Umihara Kawase and Touch Detective: Funghi's Big Breed (an import puzzler I've been meaning to try for ages) instead.
This coming weekend (if not earlier), though, I promise to put Hometown Story through its paces--or at least devote an hour or two to it.
By the way, do you think this game's cover has enough logos and other text on it? First, there's the "Family of Harvest Moon" logo in the upper-left corner, followed by the Hometown Story one to its right. Then you have the ESRB rating in the lower-left corner, Natsume's logo opposite and ... the gigantic blob of text you see above.
Although I applaud Natsume's design folks for their nod to French and Spanish gamers, I'm not sure we really needed the "Playable in 2D and 3D" blurb repeated three times.
Anyway, I don't suppose any of you also picked up a copy of this "Family of Harvest Moon" title--or plan to do so soon?
Dang, that got crazy! That text was fairly unobtrusive last time we saw it but now that it's multiplied (and Spanish has demonstrated itself to be a real space hog) it seems pretty excessive. From your more distant shot where the text is illegible (at least in the thumbnail) I thought maybe it was an intro blurb about the game! I wonder how the cover designer feels about having to add even more to it.
ReplyDeleteAlso looking at my own 3DS boxes I noticed some of them have the warning (none so excessive as this) but others don't. Turns out it's based on the age rating, the games rated E all have these warnings but the ones rated for older audiences don't. It makes perfect sense but that's still sort of interesting!
ReplyDeleteYeah, not sure what happened between the first version of the cover art we saw and this version. I mean, surely they aren't/weren't required to include Spanish and French translations of these warnings? Also, I have to imagine the cover designer HATED having to ruin the art with so much text.
ReplyDeleteOh, I didn't know that! Interesting. Honestly, I wish the warning only appeared on the back.
ReplyDeleteDefinite get. Just trying to finish up Pokemon first, because it's owning my gaming life and there's no need to rush to buy it if I'm not going to play it yet.
ReplyDeleteI can understand that, Tony. I'm playing a ton of Pokemon X myself at the moment. Still, I'm going to force myself to play some of this game this weekend, if not sooner!
ReplyDeleteRune Factory 4 has my farming needs covered. Seriously incredible game. I can't stop playing it and haven't touched Pokemon in days.
ReplyDeleteI've never played a Rune Factory game, Kensloth. What is it about RF4 that you like so much, if you don't mind me asking?
ReplyDeleteAnd now we're on one of my angry topics! ;) I'm sure the reason that they have to put it on the front is because many stores don't even allow you to look at the back before you purchase, since they keep all their games locked in glass cases now.
ReplyDeleteDo you remember how Toys R Us used to do it? They had those "cards" for every game, attached to the shelf, and you could flip it over to see the back of the box, and you'd take a little tag up to the counter to buy the game and then you picked up your game (or whatever) from that booth? I guess it seems a bit like a hassle when I explain it like that, but as a kid I thought that was incredible, it made it seem like buying a video game was a Really Big Deal. Anyway now TRU keeps their games in a glass case like everybody else. Too bad! :(
All the warnings should be included in a paper inside the case, doesn't matter if is in Spanish or English instead of "ruin" the cover art.
ReplyDeleteI agree, although apparently the folks at Natsume don't! :(
ReplyDeleteHere goes: It's basically Harvest Moon but with a fantasy spin. It has a bit of dungeon exploring and monster taming, it's got romancing and marriage, deep crafting system for food/items/weapons/etc. some city management such as choosing which festivals to have and what shops to upgrade, and of course farming! Out of all the RF titles, the freshly released 4 is my favorite. They just nailed everything so perfectly. Can't recommend highly enough. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the description, Kensloth! I may have to try RF4 sometime soon--after I've whittled down my 3DS backlog a bit, I mean.
ReplyDeleteDo you also like the Harvest Moon series? I've never played any of its games, strangely, although I've always wanted to (HM64 and Magical Melody, especially).
Of COURSE I remember how TRU used to handle things, Michael! Oh, how I loved those days. Like you said, the set-up at TRU made it seem like buying a game, or especially a system, was a big deal.
ReplyDeleteFondest memory: buying my TurboGrafx-16 CD-ROM attachment there. I felt like I had won the lottery. Ha!
I do, though I have found I like the pacing and increased amount of things to do in Rune Factory more. They are both made by Natsume so they are very similar. I played Harvest Moon : Tale of Two Towns on 3DS and found it kinda lacking. I've heard HM : A New Beginning on 3DS as well is a bit better. The older HM titles though are IMO the best. There is something just very cathartic and relaxing about doing simple chores and building relationships in those games.. they are almost like "the comfort food" of games to me.
ReplyDeleteHaha, yay! :D I think my fondest memories were hardware related as well, I got both my Genesis and Saturn from there (I hadn't thought about that in a while). At the time that TRU was about a three hour drive away from home, too. Very exciting. :D
ReplyDeleteI understand, Justin. And here's hoping you find another--and better--job soon.
ReplyDeleteAs for this game and its placement on your 'to buy' list: you may want to wait to hear my thoughts on it, as shidoshi, at least, isn't a fan. I'm still hoping I'll like it, though!
I'll certainly let you know, Kensloth--should I pick up one of the games, of course.
ReplyDeleteWow! So, you didn't get to go to TRU very often then, eh? We had a TRU not too far away from where we lived growing up, although I still didn't get to go there all that often. Also, I believe my TG-16 CD was the only system I ever bought there. Bought a TON of games there, though. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteYeah, going there was definitely not a normal thing. In both cases we were passing through that area as well, so I would coordinate my purchases with upcoming family trips. That just made it even more exciting.
ReplyDeleteI remember always thinking, even in the NES days, that Toys R Us had a way of making games look even more enticing than at other places. I really liked how they'd set the consoles out in the glass cases, like they were museum pieces. Everything looked cooler that way!
Oh, yes, I agree with that, too, Michael--that TRU made everything game-related look cool. Like ou, I especially liked how the systems all sat behind glass cases. When you finally bought one, you felt truly special :)
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