The Harvest Moon series, known for its farming simulation and role-playing elements, has captivated players for years. Harvest Moon: Magical Melody, originally released for the GameCube in 2005, has been reimagined and rereleased for the Nintendo Switch. In Harvest Moon: Magical Melody, players take on the role of a young farmer who inherits a dilapidated farm in a charming village. The goal is to restore the farm to its former glory and turn it into a thriving business. Along the way, players will experience the joys and challenges of farming life, such as planting crops, tending to animals, and building relationships with the villagers. What sets Harvest Moon: Magical Melody apart from other farming simulation games is its magical twist.
What sets Harvest Moon: Magical Melody apart from other farming simulation games is its magical twist. Players have the ability to cast spells and interact with magical creatures. These magical elements add a unique layer of gameplay and exploration to the traditional farming mechanics.
How ‘Broccoli Forest’ Happened
S ome of the details behind the creation in 1990 of the Enchanted Broccoli Forest, a pioneer in Stanford’s brief history of whimsically renamed student residences, are as elusive as mist. Were there house meetings, heated arguments, a vote on a new name? Former residents can’t recall. And the Daily, which has dutifully reported on other houses’ renaming adventures, curiously let EBF’s pass without comment. All of which adds to the mystique of a place residents describe as magical.
The house at 375 Campus Drive had been the home of Alpha Delta Phi from the time it was built in 1963 until 1989, when the fraternity was shuttered due to “a troublesome record of drug abuse, debt and academic deficiency,” according to a Stanford News Service article. The house was added to the housing draw that fall, and many former Alpha Delts, who had joined a co-ed literary society also called Alpha Delta Phi, continued to live in what was temporarily called the AD House.
That October, the Loma Prieta earthquake struck, making several Row houses, including the Synergy and Phi Psi co-ops, uninhabitable. Displaced students scattered, with a few from each of those co-ops landing at AD. Toward the end of the school year, AD residents voted to go co-op and change the house name. A piece of paper was tacked to the bulletin board in the entryway, on which residents could suggest new names. “They were all pretty silly and some of them a bit sketchy,” recalls former resident Elizabeth Smith, ’92.
One contender was the Enchanted Broccoli Forest, the title of a Mollie Katzen cookbook that was a kitchen staple at Phi Psi, whose uprooted community would be relocated to the soon-to-be EBF the following fall. Perhaps not coincidentally, EBF is also the abbreviation for an unprintable slang phrase for a place that’s inconveniently located—the house resides on the fringe of campus between Lake Lag and the Foothills. “Often when students do these kinds of things there’s hidden meaning behind it,” says Nate Boswell, ’99, associate dean of residential education for the Row. “EBF is a perfect example. How do we stick it to the Man a little bit?”
According to protocol at the time, a list of three or four names would have been submitted to ResEd for vetting, with the final selection being made by the dean of student affairs. The Enchanted Broccoli Forest was the dean’s choice, and it seemed to suit the population that would live there, a mix of people who melded the composting, communal spirit of Phi Psi with Alpha Delt traditions such as Wednesday-night live-music happy hours. (The then relatively unknown band Green Day was among the groups that played for beer in EBF’s early years.)
“It was a magical place,” recalls Caroline Miros, who met her husband, Robert, at EBF during the 1991-92 school year. “It was a refuge for the alternative people at Stanford.”
That’s still true today, according to EBF jobs manager Rachel Weissman-Tsukamoto, ’16, who notes that many activists supporting female, gay, trans and black causes live there. “EBF is a really supportive community for women,” she says. “We jokingly call it the Matriarchy.”
The music happy hours and several of the murals that were painted in the halls in the ’70s and ’80s, including characters from Alice in Wonderland and the prism from the cover of The Dark Side of the Moon, survive to this day.
Would the Enchanted Broccoli Forest name get approved today?
Lore has it that after Delta Tau Delta—which took over the house to the west of EBF—was kicked off campus in 1995, new residents suggested changing the name to Beyond the Forest of Enchantment, or BFE, yet another abbreviation for bawdy slang for “the middle of nowhere.” The Man, which may have wised up by then, rejected that name in favor of Narnia.
Kelli Anderson , ’84, is a writer based in Sonoma, Calif.
The Nintendo Switch version of Harvest Moon: Magical Melody boasts enhanced graphics and controls, making it even more enjoyable to play. The game also features new content, including additional events and characters, to keep players engaged and excited. One of the highlights of Harvest Moon: Magical Melody is its emphasis on relationships. Players can befriend and even court the eligible bachelors or bachelorettes in the village, leading to potential marriage and starting a family. Building strong relationships with the villagers is not only rewarding on a personal level but also vital for the growth and success of the farm. The open-ended nature of Harvest Moon: Magical Melody allows players to dictate their own farming experience. They can choose to focus on growing crops, raising animals, or even delve into the mystical elements of the game. The freedom to play at their own pace and pursue their own goals is what makes the game so engaging and addictive. Overall, Harvest Moon: Magical Melody for the Nintendo Switch is a delightful farming simulation game with a touch of magic. It offers hours of engaging gameplay, charming characters, and a sense of accomplishment as players transform a neglected farm into a prosperous business. Whether you're a long-time fan of the series or new to the world of Harvest Moon, this game is sure to captivate and enchant players of all ages..
Reviews for "Harvest Moon: Magical Melody on the Switch – a timeless classic reborn"
1. Emily - 2 stars: I was really excited to play Harvest Moon Magical Melody on the Switch, but I was extremely disappointed with the overall gameplay. The graphics were outdated and didn't live up to the modern standards of the Nintendo Switch. Additionally, the controls felt clunky and hard to navigate, making simple tasks like planting crops and interacting with characters a chore. The game also lacked depth and variety, with repetitive tasks that quickly became boring. Overall, I found the experience underwhelming and it didn't live up to my expectations.
2. Alex - 2.5 stars: As a long-time fan of the Harvest Moon series, I was excited to try out Magical Melody on the Switch. However, I found the game to be lacking in many areas. The character development was shallow, and I struggled to form meaningful relationships in the game. The storyline was also lackluster, with predictable events and a lack of surprises. Furthermore, there were numerous glitches and technical issues that hampered my enjoyment of the game. Although there were some aspects that I appreciated, such as the music and art style, overall, I felt let down by the game and wouldn't recommend it to other Harvest Moon fans.
3. Thomas - 3 stars: While the concept of Harvest Moon Magical Melody on the Switch is promising, the execution fell short for me. The game felt repetitive and lacked a sense of progression. The daily tasks became tedious, and the lack of variety made it feel like I was doing the same activities over and over again. The controls were also a bit frustrating, especially when it came to interacting with objects and characters. Despite these drawbacks, I did enjoy the charming art style and relaxing soundtrack. However, I feel that there are better farming simulation games available on the Switch that offer a more immersive and engaging experience.
4. Jessica - 2.5 stars: I had high hopes for Harvest Moon Magical Melody on the Switch, but unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations. The game lacked depth and failed to provide a compelling narrative. The characters felt one-dimensional, and their interactions felt forced and scripted. The farming aspect of the game was also disappointing, as it didn't offer much variety or challenge. Additionally, I encountered several technical issues, such as frame rate drops and glitches, which further hindered my enjoyment. Overall, I found the game to be a lackluster addition to the Harvest Moon series, and I wouldn't recommend it to fans or newcomers alike.