On the surface, Natsume's excellent farm sim/RPG Harvest Moon: Save the Homeland is a simple game. When I first heard of Harvest Moon 64, I said to myself, "How can they make a game about farming? What's there to do?" But soon I found out. There were chickens to be fed, fields to be plowed, seeds to be planted, and ladies to be wooed. Harvest Moon 64 was one of the most deep, engaging games I have played. That same spirit continues in Save the Homeland, except this time, in addition to raising a farm, you have to find a way to save your land from impending doom. Developers want to come in and turn your community into a resort; you have to make sure that doesn't happen.

But before you do that you'll have to learn how to run your farm. The following guide is intended to help you get a fast start so you can get your farm on track immediately, begin making money, and focus on the other task at hand...saving the homeland! We've also included all recipes and information on how to get each of the nine endings. Enjoy!

Get the guide here.

Once you get a dog to stay on your farm, you'll have to train him with the Flute, once you get it. To do so select the Flute, press X, then use the following button presses in order to get him to do what you wish:

Sit: UP, LEFT, DOWN
Down: UP, DOWN, DOWN
Heel: LEFT, RIGHT, RIGHT
Drive animals: RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT
Jump: LEFT, UP, RIGHT
Sit up: DOWN, UP, UP

To get the Power Berries scattered around the land, look in these places:

1. In your pasture.
2. Visit the Harvest Goddess.
3. Visit the Harvest Sprites.
4. Go fishing.
5. Trigger the "Sacred Land" event.

When you begin the game, you'll notice several stray dogs wandering around. If you approach them, they'll run away. To woo a dog to your yard, keep putting food in his bowl. Anything will do: grass, eggs, berries. When you place these foods in the bowl, they immediately turn into doggie mush. After a while, you will notice the dog appearing at your farm more and more. Keep trying to pick up the dog (X). At some point, he will let you pick him up, and he will be yours!

To get the horse, you'll have to visit Bob's farm quite a bit. Do part-time work taking care of his horses and cows and give him lots of presents. Eventually, after a solid chunk of work (a season or more), he'll bring a horse to you.

It's important to give townspeople greetings and gifts on their birthday, to get in their good graces. Here's a list of all of the birthdays in town:

Ronald the Supermarket Owner: Spring 11
Wallace the Cafe Owner: Summer 1
Katie the Cafe Waitress: Fall 29
Louis the Tool Shop Owner: Fall 2
Lyla the Flower Shop Owner (and cutest girl in town): Spring 27
Parsley the Plant Hunter: Spring 16
Bob, owner of Brownie Farm: Summer 1
Tim, Bob's little brother (the treasure hunter): Fall 12
Gwen, the Carpenter's daughter: Summer 8
Martha the Clove Villa Maid: Winter 25
Gina, the Maid's daughter: Fall 20
Dia, Clove Villa daughter: Winter 9
Woody the Carpentry Shop Owner: Winter 2
Joe the Carpenter: Summer 10
Kurt the Carpenter: Winter 10

Here's a list of what the various townpeople really enjoy. Give them these presents in order to get on their good side:

Ronald the Supermarket Owner: Cake
Parsley the Plant Hunter: Herb Tea
Lyla the Flower Shop Owner: Pink Cat Flowers/Blueberries
Wallace the Cafe Owner: Tea/Fish
Bob, owner of Brownie Farm: Sweets
Joe the Carpenter: Fish
Katie the Cafe Waitress: Cookies/Cheese
Louis the Tool Shop Owner: Eggs
Tim, Bob's little brother: Eggs/Cake/Tea
Gina, the Maid's daughter: Fish/Eggs
Dia, Clove Villa daughter: Blueberries
Kurt the Carpenter: Tomatoes
Martha the Clove Villa Maid: Cheese

To get chickens at the very beginning of the game for almost no money at all, go to the supermarket that you can see when you leave the farm. Go in there and buy an egg for $50. Put that egg in the incubator in your chicken coop and in a few days you will have a little chick! Then it will turn into a chicken and you can get eggs for free.

To trigger an event you must befriend these people:
Treasure Hunt 1: You must befriend Tim.
Treasure Hunt 2: Same as number one.
Cake Contest: Befriend Katie.
A fishy Story: Befriend Joe.
The Bluebird: Befriend Louis.
The Azure Swallowtail: Befriend Lyla and Kurt.
The Goddess Dress: Befriend Gina and Dia.
The endangered Weasel: Befriend Gwen.
The Horse Race: Befriend Bob and Gwen.