This is a fantastic title.  In fact I was so thrilled witht he reviews of it I ran out and bought a Gamecube just so I could play it while I was laid up after my knee surgery.  I love it.  In the spirit of the Sims it is so much fun and open ended just set in a more fatasy type world.  The real time date system is new and innovative in that everyday things change and there are holidays and other special things going on just like real life.  I haven't seen a festival yet but the visiting people are unique.  The only problem I have with the game is that it also moves in real time.  Meaning if you pop the game on after 10 pm the general store is closed and will not open until 9 am.  THis means you have to basically go to sleep and play in the morning if you were planning on selling (the only way to really make money) or buy anything.  I found it frustrating when I first paid off my loan to TOm Nook and he promised me a new house yet I had to wait a whole day just to see it or when you send mail away you have to wait days for responses.  This is almost too realistic for a video game.  What it transpires to is a game you pick up and play for maybe 1/2 to and hour each day then you can turn it off as things to do for that day run dry.  I think Nintendo should look at that issue and perhaps make things happen faster with actions rather than time.  I think the Sims should learn from this as well as the time frame for a day in the Sims was terribly fast! (It used to take me 30 minutes just to go to the bathroom.  I mean were talking number 1 here and that was ridiculous!)  So maybe a game such as either of these with a time scale in the middle would be great.  Anyway back to the game.  If you want a game that is fresh fun and entertaining well get this.  You won't beat it or exhaust it in a day or so trust me.  I also hear it is even more fun when connected to the GBA.  Now I don't own one and am not really planning on it I am curtious.  I don't like how it is very geared to those who own the system as a lot of the games features can only be accessed through the GBA.  Kind of a gimmick in my eyes but oh well maybe I'll try it out.
This is a fantastic title. In fact I was so thrilled witht he reviews of it I ran out and bought a Gamecube just so I could play it while I was laid up after my knee surgery. I love it. In the spirit of the Sims it is so much fun and open ended just set in a more fatasy type world. The real time date system is new and innovative in that everyday things change and there are holidays and other special things going on just like real life. I haven't seen a festival yet but the visiting people are unique. The only problem I have with the game is that it also moves in real time. Meaning if you pop the game on after 10 pm the general store is closed and will not open until 9 am. THis means you have to basically go to sleep and play in the morning if you were planning on selling (the only way to really make money) or buy anything. I found it frustrating when I first paid off my loan to TOm Nook and he promised me a new house yet I had to wait a whole day just to see it or when you send mail away you have to wait days for responses. This is almost too realistic for a video game. What it transpires to is a game you pick up and play for maybe 1/2 to and hour each day then you can turn it off as things to do for that day run dry. I think Nintendo should look at that issue and perhaps make things happen faster with actions rather than time. I think the Sims should learn from this as well as the time frame for a day in the Sims was terribly fast! (It used to take me 30 minutes just to go to the bathroom. I mean were talking number 1 here and that was ridiculous! )  So maybe a game such as either of these with a time scale in the middle would be great. Anyway back to the game. If you want a game that is fresh fun and entertaining well get this. You won't beat it or exhaust it in a day or so trust me. I also hear it is even more fun when connected to the GBA. Now I don't own one and am not really planning on it I am curtious. I don't like how it is very geared to those who own the system as a lot of the games features can only be accessed through the GBA. Kind of a gimmick in my eyes but oh well maybe I'll try it out.