Harvest Moon DS: Sunshine Islands

 DS
  • Publisher: Natsume
  • Release Date: Nov 12, 2009
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. 1UP
    91
    But be patient, put in the dedicated time, research, and strategic planning, and Sunshine Islands will reward you satisfactorily.
  2. Vandal
    Jan 3, 2011
    85
    Sunshine Island is one of the most enjoyable Harvest Moon, maybe the most, and at the same time has a very high difficulty, which can chop newcomers' aspirations. We could even say it is game made for veterans of the series.
  3. Official Nintendo Magazine UK
    Mar 6, 2011
    82
    With a few tweaks it could've been a classic. [Jan 2011, p.82]
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  5. GamingXP
    Dec 20, 2010
    79
    The variety, the daily schedule, the economic factor and especially the discovery engine will capture you again and again until the last island is lifted and you can retire happily.
  6. Nintendo Gamer
    Mar 8, 2011
    75
    New players should jump right in, but veterans might want to think twice. [Jan 2011, p.64]
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  7. SpazioGames
    Jan 24, 2011
    75
    It may be an interesting starting title for newcomers, but the fans of the saga won't find much innovation in it.
  8. RPG Fan
    75
    Sunshine Islands is a passable installment in the Harvest Moon series. It's a great pick up and play game, but it doesn't do much new.
  9. Nintendo Power
    70
    Fortunately, Sunshine Islands has a better understanding than previous handheld Harvest Moons of how to efficiently use the DS platform. [Dec 2009, p.85]
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  10. RPGamer
    60
    Harvest Moon: Sunshine Islands can take anywhere between forty to one hundred hours to complete, and the difficulty of the game depends on the pace players take. In this particular title, with the right requirements and criteria while performing tasks, Sunshine Islands can be a very rewarding game to fans of the series.

Awards & Rankings

28
#28 Best DS Game of 2009
50
#50 Most Discussed DS Game of 2009
17
#17 Most Shared DS Game of 2009

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 18 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 18
  3. Negative: 1 out of 18
  1. iipotato
    Jul 23, 2015
    8
    I was rather surprised by how much I enjoyed this game. As much as I recalled from the past, I had assumed that I barely spent a year ingame.I was rather surprised by how much I enjoyed this game. As much as I recalled from the past, I had assumed that I barely spent a year ingame. But I loaded up my game recently and found that I was almost at the end of Year 2, with many accomplishments.

    This Harvest Moon game has a relatively comfortable feel to it. The world is not so big that you will take a whole day to go around (like AP), but it is not so small that it will take you little time to go around (like FoMT). The characters are not the most original out there of a HM game, but they do appear lively enough to talk to.

    A negative aspect well known about the series is the Sun/Water planting system, but I found little issues with it. Really, it only matters if you raise crops more than take care of your animals; I was more of the animal farmer anyways.

    Moneymaking is fairly easy as well. You can expect having little money in your first season, but it'll take off summer and soforth.

    This game is promising, but I understand why this can be seen as one of the boring games of the franchise. Personally, it will keep you occupied for a month or two.    … Full Review »
  2. CynicalCyberCat
    Feb 28, 2014
    10
    A standard in any hardcore Harvest Moon player's repertoire, the game invites the player into a new world on a washed up island with an arrayA standard in any hardcore Harvest Moon player's repertoire, the game invites the player into a new world on a washed up island with an array of characters. Very rewarding as you plough through, clear events and trigger romantic sequences.

    A great play for fans of the Harvest Moon series or anybody who enjoys a good little gem requiring some patience but very fruitful and fulfilling rewards.    … Full Review »
  3. No3Mole
    Nov 20, 2012
    5
    The game is by no means 'bad.' It is fun to watch your farm grow, the slow pace makes progress feel all the more rewarding, and it isThe game is by no means 'bad.' It is fun to watch your farm grow, the slow pace makes progress feel all the more rewarding, and it is certainly nothing if not addicting. The downsides, however, are many. The events feel few and far between, as well as their actual impact seeming generally trivial. Taking care of everything between events falls into a sense of tedium instead of fun. Just because you're raising crops, and the pace is intentionally slow doesn't mean you should feel like you're doing a menial task instead of playing a game.

    There are other flaws. The game feels sort of like it's kind of cobbled together. There are visual glitches and hiccups here and there that make this evident, especially regarding item screens and cooking in particular. In terms of mining, you have to learn that you can turn without moving while charging, because you will find yourself falling to your doom if so much as your little toe touches a pitfall. Aesthetically, I personally find the graphics inexplicably bothersome. In generally, the whole production, while fun to an extent and a good way to pass some time, feels vacant and lacking.    … Full Review »
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