'Harvest Moon: Back to Nature' Returns for Free on PlayStation Plus

John Lopez, Tech Times 16 February 2023, 03:02 am

PlayStation and Natsume Inc. have announced the return of the popular simulation game series Harvest Moon with the re-release of the title "Harvest Moon: Back to Nature."

Cinelinx reports that the classic farm simulator will be available for free to PlayStation Plus subscribers starting on February 21.

PS Plus Features 'Harvest Moon: Back to Nature'

This classic game was originally released in 1999 for the PlayStation and was the console's first farming sim ever released. The game is rated "E" by the ESRB.

It is important to note that "Harvest Moon: Back to Nature" is not a remake but a re-release of the original game.

In an official statement, Hiro Maekawa, President and CEO of Natsume Inc., expressed his excitement to bring back one of the company's most beloved titles to PlayStation Plus. Maekawa said, "Harvest Moon: Back to Nature left an impact on players over twenty years ago as the first farming sim for PlayStation."

Maekawa also said, "it is a joy to work with PlayStation again to bring one of our most beloved titles to PlayStation Plus so that fans can revisit a game they so fondly remember and new players can play a classic game that created an entirely new genre!"

Harvest Moon, the Classic Farming Sim

Harvest Moon is one of the first and most well-known simulation game series available on the market. Harvest Moon is so iconic that hit-farming RPG developer Eric Barone has acknowledged that "Stardew Valley" was strongly influenced by it.

The Harvest Moon series is basically about a farmer's daily life. In the game, players grow crops, raise livestock, and build relationships with NPCs in the community.

Fandom Wiki tells us that "Harvest Moon: Back to Nature" has a lot of things that the Game Boy versions did not have, like more 3D graphics and characters with their own personalities, families, and occupations.

The characters in the game are primarily based on Harvest Moon 64, although with slightly different personalities, families, and occupations. This caused fan debate because the changes were carried over to Harvest Moon: DS and eventually became the final canon of such characters.

In Other News

Nintendo and Illumination have unveiled the official Super Mario Bros. movie poster, NintendoEverything reports. Included among the prominent characters are Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Bowser, and Donkey Kong.

The marketing for The Super Mario Bros. Movie has intensified in recent months. Fans could hear Seth Rogan play Donkey Kong for the first time in an ad that debuted just a few days ago, featuring a glimpse of Cat Mario.

The remainder of the cast stars Chris Pratt as Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, Fred Armisen as Cranky Kong, Kevin Michael Richardson as Kamek, and Sebastian Maniscalco as Spike. Charles Martinet, the voice of Mario in the games, will also make an appearance.

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