Harvest Moon DS: Island of Happiness

 DS
  • Publisher: Natsume
  • Release Date: Aug 26, 2008
Metascore
65

Mixed or average reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 15
  3. Negative: 1 out of 15
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  1. Nintendo Power
    70
    The near-exclusive use of the touch screen to control every aspect of farm life is a questionable decision--it doesn't feel very accurate or intutitive. [Aug 2008, p.87]
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  2. Official Nintendo Magazine UK
    70
    It's another decent farming adventure but it's pretty much the same game that Marvelous have been churning out for ten years.
  3. Gameplayer
    70
    Harvest Moon’s open-ended goals and non-violent gameplay were always well ahead of their time, but the problem has always been one of repetitiveness.
  5. Game Informer
    68
    Unfortunately, bad mechanics and ho-hum gameplay progression bring things down.
  6. Cheat Code Central
    66
    Overall, I was pretty happy with all the improvements that Island of Happiness made to the traditional Harvest Moon formula. However, I had serious issues controlling the game, and it was always a battle to get my character to do what I wanted.
  7. Worth Playing
    60
    Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness has a lot of potential to be good, if you are willing to put in the time to have it pay off.
  8. IGN
    58
    They just don't make them like they used to.
  9. GameZone
    55
    Harvest Moon DS: Island of Happiness is not an unplayable game by any means but the horrible controls simply keep it from being a fun game.
  10. InsideGamer.nl
    55
    Island of Happiness is way too slow for a game on the Nintendo DS. Entering the world of Harvest Moon and staying there for hours can be very unrewarding and not useful at all, while handheld-games should be playable in short intervals. Also, the fun of casual farming is spoiled by the clunky controls.
  11. PALGN
    55
    Island of Happiness has some depth, but you'll have to get past the painful controls and lazy design to find it.
  12. GameSpot
    50
    Island of Happiness offers plenty of satisfying farming gameplay, but the controls will leave you decidedly unhappy.

Awards & Rankings

85
#85 Best DS Game of 2008
58
#58 Most Discussed DS Game of 2008
54
#54 Most Shared DS Game of 2008

User Reviews

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User Score
6.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 26 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 26
  3. Negative: 7 out of 26
  1. mouser9169
    Mar 24, 2018
    9
    By building up your farm, you build up an entire island, in a way that organically makes sense. I know I'm in the minority, but one of myBy building up your farm, you build up an entire island, in a way that organically makes sense. I know I'm in the minority, but one of my favorite Harvest Moon titles. The controls do take getting used to. Full (pen) sized stylus helps a lot. After that though, you have a great title to get lost in.

    The island grows based not only upon what upgrades you buy (roads and such) but what you do. If you spend a lot of time in the mines and ship a bunch of valuable rocks, miners start to show up. Ship a lot of fish and fisherman flock to the rivers. Enough people come and a hotel opens for them. And so on and so on until you have a thriving island filled with villager and visitors.

    You have the festivals, and the marriage candidates, and all the things you'd expect in a HM game. You can make money farming, or ranching, or mining, or foraging, or any combination of the above, so the gameplay doesn't get stale. Wonderfuls are nice change to the tool upgrade system, and there are plenty of house and island upgrades for you to spend your money on.

    Overall, I give it an 8.5, rounded up to 9. It's not perfect, but to me, personally, it's a great game that captures the spirit of Harvest Moon.    … Full Review »
  2. BudB.
    Sep 1, 2008
    8
    It's not bad... it's just not unique enough from the other games. The stylus controls take some getting used too.
  3. JeanO.
    Aug 31, 2008
    0
    Using the stylus feels awkward and difficult, especially when farming. In any other game that isn't time sensitive, it may be ok but in Using the stylus feels awkward and difficult, especially when farming. In any other game that isn't time sensitive, it may be ok but in this game, you can't afford to spend hours just watering because the control isn't accurate. I have all previous Harvest Moons for all systems including the last one for the DS. This one isn't worth the money. No option for using the pad instead of the stylus? No way!!… Full Review »
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