CheatCC writes: "Ever since the mid-nineties, Harvest Moon has been a staple in the simulation genre with its unique and unorthodox gameplay approach. Who honestly could predict that a game about manual labor would be so popular with the common gamer? As the old saying goes, "repetition is sometimes good," and this quote applies directly to the majesty that is the quirky little farming sim. Aware of the cash cow down on their farm, Natsume is getting another fresh serving ready for everybody's favorite handheld, the Nintendo DS. With the touch screen at their disposal, Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness looks to take a nod from the 2006 release of Harvest Moon DS in terms of how it is used. Aside from this, there are definitely a lot of new items to look forward to as well, from characters and items to where it all usually begins: the story. "
Josh from Controller Crusade writes "Anyone who has followed the Harvest Moon franchise since it burst on the scene in 1997 (1996 in Japan) knows the many ups and downs it has endured. The odd thing about Harvest Moon games is that even when they’re not that great they are still incredibly addicting. Depending on what aspect of the games you like to focus on, you’ll enjoy certain titles more than others. Personally I like to mix it up and do a little bit of everything, not pigeon hole myself into one type of task or chore. Here are my personal highs and lows for the Harvest Moon series."
Russ looks at the RPGs heading to North American retailers in November.
411mania talks about this week's game releases. Highlights include Dissidia: Final Fantasy, Mana Khemia 2: Fall of Alchemy, Metroid Prime Trilogy, Cursed Mountain, and Harvest Moon: Magical Melody.