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The story behind this game started with an apparent April Fool's joke, a mock-up of what the popular PC game Farming Simulator would look like on the Commodore 64. However, Giants Software took this seriously and commissioned a real C64 version. Initially it was only available as an emulator image to those who had pre-ordered the new Farming Simulator 2019 for PC (and on CD as part of a more expensive Collector's Edition). The separate C64 version reviewed here, with a CD in a floppy-disk style wallet and a C64 cartridge, was produced later.

It's time to head down to the farm and get planting. You start with four different vehicles (select with function keys), each with a specific function, activated with the Fire button. Prepare the soil with the red Case IH Magnum tractor and plough (F1); sow seed using the green Fendt 700 (F3) tractor; harvest grown crops with the green John Deere T560 combine harvester (F7) and when it's full, transfer crops to the blue New Holland T7 tractor and trailer (F5) to transport them to the farm silo and sell them for cash.

Each vehicle's fuel level is shown on-screen. When it runs low, return to the farm's fuel pump to refuel, which costs money. The seeder must also be topped up with new seeds, again costing money. Run out of money, fuel or seeds and it's game over.

In essence, this is plough, sow, harvest crops and sell. Nothing more than that. I started ploughing excitedly, gathered the (single) crop and began to wonder how I would progress... Maybe there were new crops or different tractors to unlock, maybe a huge map and more than the few fields on offer? Nope, nothing. Once the first crop is harvested and sold, that's it!

I wanted hidden depths, nuances involving tractor selection or having to make difficult choices to do with crop-cost versus reward versus fuel-use but no.

Sadly, there's very little to harvest from this game.

Really, this is more of a marketing gimmick and a collector's item than a fully-fledged game. The presentation screens and the diminutive farm vehicles (with their sprite overlays) are nicely done, but there is limited sound and a relatively small map to explore.

The core gameplay loop of playing, harvesting, transporting and selling crops is OK but soon becomes repetitive. It's too easy to overspend on fuel or seeds (and run out of money) by putting the vehicle slightly in the wrong place. Inside the pretty packaging is a game that was planted in fertile soil, but failed to grow enough.

Presentation 76%
A well-made package with good on-screen presentation.

Graphics 74%
Scrolling isometric map and overlaid sprites are well detailed.

Sound 65%
Limited sound effects and OK tunes.

Hookability 64%
Easy to grasp, due to its novelty.

Lastability 25%
Severely lacking in depth, with a small map and no long-term modes.

Overall 35%
An interesting curiosity for collectors, not so much for game players who like to progress.