i actually figured it out after i posted that but thanks hehe, i finally managed to meet certain people you see.

you'd prolly want to lvl magic at some point since it makes some boss fights a lot easier, more range attacks = win

i have a question, does this game have a time limit (like the 2 and a half year or so time limit in the original snes harvest moon?)

nope

^^^ So the game never ends? D:
I like knowing I completed a game. Didn't think RFF was endless. Oh, well ;/

Mmm, yes and no. "No" in that you can keep playing it forever. "Yes" in that it has an actual storyline with an actual ending ("hero defeats villain, saves everyone" type of stuff).

Think of it as a WRPG like Fallout: you can beat the main quest, but still keep dicking around afterwards for eternity, if you want.

went to my local gamestop to get it. but it was opened so i didnt buy. they have a lot of opened games selling for new.

I actually found mine at a Game Stop, they just got it out of the box so it was still in it's seal.

Anyway, the game ends when I hit level 99 and am married to all the girls, at once. =P

Not to mention level 99 in all my abilities.

I really can't get enough on of this game though, it feels like a Nintendo quality game or better, but not Nintendo, it's not even an overly cliche game, it's just a game, no super omfg 'epic' narrative or anything, it's basically just so grass roots. (No pun intended.)

The game seems to have over 80 hours of game play to it if it's anything like the last harvest moon, meaning it should take 3 in game years to complete everything, which should take 10 hours every season at a minimum.

I'm in early fall and about 25 hours in so far. I must say though I'm impressed with how well balanced all the different gameplay elements are in this version, particularly when compared with the original DS game.

My current money making strategy is growing a whole bunch of cabbage plots in Whale Island since they seem to have a better gold/day ratio than anything I've come across so far, even though you have to replant them each time. I do a little bit of fishing to cook myself some healing items.

"Tomorrow" my minions will start watering and mowing the grass for me. I suppose I should leave half my field un-tilled so that the rest of the monsters can do some work too, especially since I only use about a third of my regular field, but I can't stand leaving it untidy like that.