Get ready to milk it up: Harvest Moon arrives on Wii

By Joe Fourhman | September 29, 2008

After some false starts, Natsume is reporting that Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility is finally on its way to retailers near you.

Tree of Tranquility “continues the ten-year anniversary celebration of the popular Harvest Moon franchise.” Which, as far as I can tell, has consisted of an official drawing contest on Natsume.com, and some highly un-publicized preorder bonuses with Amazon.com (you could get a nice cow plushie). Still, that’s not as bad as celebrating Sonic’s 15th birthday with Shadow the Hedgehog.

I’ve always wanted to get into one of the Harvest Moons, but just never made the leap. This Wii iteration worries me with the potential for abusive Remote tricks (fishing! digging! throwing! milking!), and early E3 2008 previews were not encouraging. Although this is the kind of series that you either love no matter what… or you’d never consider playing in the first place. It’s that polarizing.

Press release after the jump.

HARVEST MOON: TREE OF TRANQUILITY FOR THE NINTENDO Wii NOW AVAILABLE

Feel Like You’re Really Farming With the Nintendo Wii Remote!

Burlingame, Calif., September 29, 2008 – Natsume, a worldwide developer and publisher of family-oriented video games, announced today that Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility for the Nintendo Wii has officially shipped to retail for an MSRP of $49.99. The launch continues the ten-year anniversary celebration of the popular Harvest Moon franchise. The ten-year commemoration includes special anniversary packaging, various retail promotions with special collectible pre-order plush toys, an exclusive 10th anniversary DS Lite Kit, strategy guides, and many more specialty items.

“We are proud to release Harvest Moon for the first time on the Nintendo Wii platform,” said Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO of Natsume. “With the new setting, characters, motion-sensitive controls, and the most refined gameplay yet, we’re sure that both Harvest Moon fans and new players alike will be delighted with Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility.”

Long-time Harvest Moon fans as well as new players will find an exciting, involving storyline and plenty of activities to experience, including cultivating crops, caring for animals, and participating in festivals.

In Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility, players find themselves in a troubled island town which once prospered with life and energy, but is now in serious trouble. The mystical Mother Tree that once watched over the island has disappeared, and the Harvest Goddess is nowhere to be found! The island has lost its connection with nature and the inhabitants don’t know what to do – it’s up to the player to save the island! Players will help to rebuild the island by working the land, befriending and raising animals, nurturing friendships, and creating a family. When the Mother Tree is reborn, the Harvest Goddess will return and bring prosperity to the island once more.

Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility is rated E for Everyone by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board.

For more information on Harvest Moon: Tree of Tranquility, please visit www.natsume.com or http://www.clevercomm.com/Natsume/