(Nurse Fin's) Exciting Animal March: A First Look, Observations about the game Options

[Nurse Fin]

Okay, so I've been playing for about 15 minutes... I haven't met everyone in the town yet (I'm in the middle of doing so) but here are some of the things I've noticed so far.

-Loading times are roughly 2-3 seconds for buildings, 4-5 seconds for large outdoor areas.
-Time flow: 10 seconds = 10 minutes in-game time. That means the days are twice as long as ToT's (which makes sense, because the maps are a lot bigger)
-Time stops indoors. So you can loiter around people's houses and shops as much as you want. :D
-Totally different sound effects and soundtrack from ToT. Which is really nice, because the text scrolling noise in ToT was very loud (it was removed in the US version). Depending who you talk to, the pitch of the text sound is different (kind of like their "voice"). I haven't heard any actual voice acting for this game. Which means no poorly dubbed voiceovers in the US release. \o/
-The graphics have been improved. While the meshes all look the same so far, they have more mobility (like, Cathy's ponytail swishes around a bit when she walks), people have a much wider range of expressions, and the textures are of a much higher resolution.
-There are lots of events. The social interaction that I have seen, so far, feels more "personal" (and/or personable?) than other HM games. Even the regular townspeople get more lines.
-The "cutscene" when talking to people or animals, especially animals-- is much quicker.

So far, it feels substantially different from Tree of Tranquility.

(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/rinfin/waku_mai.jpg)
(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/rinfin/waku_chihaya.jpg)

I'll keep editing/updating this topic with more info and media once I stop getting lost everywhere. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lalaexdee.gif)

This post has been edited by Nurse Fin: Oct 30 2008, 01:47 AM

[epona]

Thank you for the up date NF. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lalasmile.gif)

[Lindstrom]

Sounds like they did a great job with it, pretty good to see, and awesome of you to share this stuff with us.

[FoodAssassin]

aww maya looks cute. (but her dress doesnt look as round. maybe its just the angle.

and chases hair looks quite a bit better, only now it almost looks like a light brown. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lalaeyes.gif)

any pics of the wizard yet?


OR any vids on youtube yet?

[Sessy]

Might I ask who is in town from the get-go? :D

[Nurse Fin]

After playing a bit more, I'm starting to get used to the new system.

Here are some more new features:
-You are given 1000G to start with, and there is already a small variety crops growing on your field.
-You can separate stacks when shipping. When you open up the shipping bin menu and select an item stack, you can specify how many you want to ship.
-Gifts from the townspeople. When you meet townspeople, they might give you gifts. Mai and Yuba gave me cookies, Oz gave me 3 Chars, Thyme gave me some Cabbage Seeds, and best of all, Kapara will give you a calf for free! When you enter the Horn Ranch's barn, you'll activate a short cutscene where he offers to give you a cow, and you can even pick what color you want it to be (I picked the black one...).
-Foraging: at first I didn't notice, but brightly colored things hiding in the bushes are berries. I've only found raspberries and blueberries so far, and a few mushrooms.
-There's an elementary school in the town, though it's empty right now. Speaking of the town, it looks like a port town from Greece. You can even walk on the rooftops, authentic Mediterranean style.

These are the marriage candidates that I've confirmed are in town from the get-go (there may be more, this is just who I've met so far):
Girls: Kotomi, Cathy, Mai, Leena
Guys: Chihaya, Ose*, Tao, Juli*

*you have to have the bridge to the Garmon' Mine District fixed, but considering it can easily be done by the 3rd of Spring, I wouldn't really consider it a great obstacle.



I probably won't have any videos up until tomorrow or this weekend-- to get the introduction events again I'll have to start a new game.

This post has been edited by Nurse Fin: Oct 30 2008, 03:12 AM

[FoodAssassin]

thanks so much Nurse Fin!

and does Candace still live at the Tailor and Kathy at the inn?

and final question: what do you have to do to fix the bridge

[epona]

Have you seen Luke yet, please send all you know to epona@q.com. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lalasmile.gif)

[Ashado]

-You can separate stacks when shipping. When you open up the shipping bin menu and select an item stack, you can specify how many you want to ship.

Is there something similar for when you just want to separate items in your rucksack? That's one of the things that really bothers me about ToT.

[Nurse Fin]

thanks so much Nurse Fin!

and does Candace still live at the Tailor and Kathy at the inn?

and final question: what do you have to do to fix the bridge

Kotomi still lives at the Tailor Shop, but the buildings are divided with doors now, so she and Roomi share a bedroom (or will, once she comes back)
Cathy lives at the Armonica Bar now; the Inn and Bar have become totally separate businesses.


For fixing the bridge, you have to travel a bit northwest of your farm to the Garmon' Mine District, where you will meet Boan (he was actually the first character I talked to). He says that the bridge leading to the mines suffered some damage during a storm and now he can't go home. He says that Herbal should have a tool set somewhere, which he needs to repair the bridge. So after going to town and introducing yourself to all the townies, talk to Herbal and he'll give you Boan's tools. Give them to Boan, and he'll thank you but say that now he's hungry and hasn't eaten anything, so he can't work. He'll ask you to bring him some milk and a strawberry (both of which can be purchased at the farm and ranch shops), and once you give those to him, he repairs the bridge.

Is there something similar for when you just want to separate items in your rucksack? That's one of the things that really bothers me about ToT.

If you go to the rucksack page in the main menu, you can organize and separate the items you are holding. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lalasmile.gif)

Have you seen Luke yet

No, but I think you find him in the forest. But to get to the forest, you have to first fix the bridge, then see maybe 2-3 events before being able to enter. I don't think he will be too hard to unlock, I'll probably find him by Spring 6 or so (depending how quickly I work..).

[Celia]

Thanks much, Fin. :)

-Time stops indoors. So you can loiter around people's houses and shops as much as you want. :D

Wonderful. I love loitering. Now I won't spend 5 game hours staring at the picture in Hamilton's/Gill's house to see what it is.

"Is that Gill?! No, no, that's a pig! No way, That's a girl!"

-Depending who you talk to, the pitch of the text sound is different (kind of like their "voice").

Okay, then, Sorta like Animal Crossing. Just not animal-oriented. Just pitch-y-like.


Free cow, awesome.

[HMFarmergirl19]

Oh wow! This game isn't even out in the US yet and it sounds wicked awesome!
EDIT: I just saw the video! I want it even more!! Those children are adorable! Especially the girl with the bandana(I think that's luke's daughter) She's adorable! :) I especially loved the wedding scene. So beautiful!

[Mimiako]

Wow, I'm impressed a lot more with Chihaya. His hair is a little too choppy for me in TOT, but in this game its just amazingly more smooth. All the graphics in this game look so much more lovely!

[KittyCatx16]

Nurse-Fin, I have stalked you from Ushi no Tane to here! Thanks so much for the info! Please keep'em comin' :3

[Cresenttwilight]

Wow! This game just keeps sounding better and better ^^ Thanks for the info Nurse Fin :D

[Charmy]

WHOO!!! LOOK AT HIS HAIR!!! YAY!!! IT ISN'T TOT MAI-INISED!!! WHOO!!!
Over that now.
Glad I'm getting this :)

[Nurse Fin]

Okay, so I lied. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lalaexdee.gif)

Animal March Opening Video

I think it's worth watching. It has some pretty interesting clips... besides, it's just plain CUTE, gosh darnit. I look forward to progressing further in this game...

Particularly, this little scene is of interest...
(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v226/rinfin/rivalkids.jpg)

Hmm...

[Charmy]

CHILDREN! *Goes to watch* Be back soon!

EDIT: ....Dude, that is total sickness.... *Mouth stays wide opened*

[KittyCatx16]

Nurse Fin, your video killed me! I WANT THIS GAME NOWWW!!! DX

EVERYTHING IS JUST THE WAY I WANTED! The wedding scene... 2 kids... the bday scene T.T And is that Luke's daughter with the bandana? SO CUTE >.<

[Cresenttwilight]

The video was awesome!!! I can't wait to get this game!!! ^^ Thanks again for posting this Nurse Fin ^^