We set off on another point-and-click adventure with some unforgivable… unforgettable FMV acting. Was our visit to the town of Harvester worth it? Let’s find out.
Developer
Harvester was developed by FutureVision; the company would be rebranded as DigiFX before Harvester’s release in 1996. DigiFX would close its doors in 1997.
Harvester was also officially banned in Germany until April 2022. Just an FYI.
Intro
Our player character is named Steve. Steve awakes in his room in the town of Harvester, claiming to have amnesia.
That’s our backstory. Wake up not knowing anyone and feeling like everything is… weird. It’s not groundbreaking. It is relatable.
That is pretty much where relatability ends. If much more of the story is relatable to you, seek help immediately.
Mechanics
Harvester utilizes point-and-click controls for Steve to navigate the town.
The cursor will change depending on objects moused over, allowing Steve to interact with them.
Movement is simple. It’s point-and-click. I can’t say much more here.
Steve can and will engage in combat as he tries to uncover the mystery of Harvester. A bevy of weapons can be obtained. I chose to use the right mouse click to attack; it felt more fluid than the direction keys.
Full-motion video is where Harvester earns its stripes. It may be the only reason to play the game. Just to experience the best meme quality clips that have ever existed.
Seriously. The FMV here is elite. I’ve got some special clips for you later on.
Inventory is straightforward. Steve can have a shotgun, a chainsaw, and a ladder seemingly in his pockets.
Gameplay…
Immediately both you, the player, and Steve, the player-character, know something is a bit skewed with Harvester.
Jimmy, the paperboy, doesn’t drop off papers; you place them outside for him to pick up. Strange. If you forget to do this, Jimmy James kindly reminds you.
Your little brother is a sociopath. Your mom is the typical suburban dominatrix incestuous cookie baker type. Think Lisa Ann meets June Cleaver. Oh, moms. Your father is not feeling well…
The best early advice is to save often because the citizens of Harvester are unpredictable.
Harvester has a somewhat linear timeline. You don’t remember anything. Figure out why you don’t know anything. And! Congratulations, you’re getting married soon! Better meet your fiancé Stephanie.
Sweet Stephanie. She doesn’t remember anything either.
Speaking with Stephanie, you both agree that Harvester and its inhabitants aren’t right. You need to figure out what is going on here. The Lodge might be the key to uncovering this mystery.
The town does not lack colorful individuals to encounter. Traverse the town. Meet gay firemen. Catch your pedo, meat-obsessed father-in-law burying a “cat.” Chat with the sheriff and his deviant deputy. Don’t forget to stop at the Military Base and say hi to the Colonel.
The Lodge is where the actual mission-based gameplay begins. Completing these missions will lead Steve to uncover what is truly going on.
Again, be sure to save often.
Steve can be arrested and returned to the game. However, some actions could lead to you being executed.
The precipice of the game leaves you with the classic Sophies Choice. Steve’s Sophies Choice. Of Stephanie.
Note on Gameplay
Dear reader, I don’t want you to be tricked into believing that Harvester is as impressive as it seems so far. It is not.
While the characters are memorable, and the FMV is a standout from any other game, Harvester kinda sucks.
If you play this game and don’t find it confusing, you shouldn’t be playing video games. You should be off solving the problems of the world.
I spent 3 hours IRL on the first day in-game and did not progress. I almost quit. Instead, I googled an online guide that allowed me to play through the game. Still, while being utterly confused with how things worked.
The premise is simple. The actions needed to advance are not; they are nonsensical at best.
If you want to experience all the significant points of Harvester, save yourself the hassle and watch a walkthrough or get a guide. Trust me.
Summary
Ehhh. Harvester is like being a drug addict. That has no money for drugs. So you frantically ask to suck strangers’ cocks for 10 bucks in an Arby’s parking lot. Then your dealer doesn’t answer your phone call. So you end up huffing paint behind the Walmart you just stole the paint from. But at least you have 30 bucks now.
That’s Harvester.
It has some great gore. Funny interactions. It is Horror-like, maybe. Never scary. For me, it’s unplayable without a guide. But I would probably play it again since I know what to do now.
Also. Of note. Later in life, the actor who played Steve, Kurt Stephen Kistler, became a convicted pedophile while wearing the same shirt as his character in-game.
Interested in an exciting horror game? Check out our review of Murder House!
[…] compared to Harvester and its non sequitur level advancement system (read our […]