LGR - Harvester - DOS PC Game Review

[@pushinguproses]

I do like a lot of the adult themes in this game. First couple discs actually intrigued me; I liked the simulated 1950s setting and the super weird characters, and the gameplay wasn't too bad. The second half of the game left me completely cold. :| The combat was downright tedious. For me, getting to the end was worth it, despite horrible sidescrolling.

[@poppapiltch5601]

Ya

[@farcry223]

Agreed

[@kellysmith7357]

**replying to eight year old comment**

[@DirtyRottenTaylor]

@@kellysmith7357 *Same. I love your content Roses!!

[@schlockfather]

The combat isn't even that bad. Just save your gun for any enemy that uses a gun. It's really simple.

[@store_brand]

"I'd say this is a death by natural causes." "...natural causes?!" "You can't live without a spinal cord, son."

[@darisucc7749]

N A T U R A L C A U S E S ?

[@trekaddict]

Well, technically that's true...

[@MaxUltimata]

The better part is the line before that, Mrs. Pottsdam asks if it was suicide.

[@andrewpliakis]

Nothing unnatural about that.

[@solaufein1374]

The most memorable quote

[@Calculon1712]

Harvester is now available on GOG for $5.99 and its the uncensored version

[@toothlesstoe]

Why would there ever be a censored version? That's so fucking stupid!

[@nathanclark2424]

@@toothlesstoe the censored version is just half the game with half the plot. JOKING IM JOKING

[@aaadj2744]

@John Socoloski A digital storefront that selling a classic game digitally

[@Amalekites]

@@aaadj2744 Only 1 game?

[@aaadj2744]

@@Amalekites What do you mean 1 game ?? They sell many

[@pushinguproses]

I like Phantasmagoria, but I don't find it too comparable. Though both FMV games, Phantasmagoria hardly has any satirical undertones and really doesn't make, or even attempt to make, any profound statements. I liked IHNMaIMS, even though it also had a lot of glitchy/design issues. I think Harvester could have been a lot deeper if it were designed/performed better.

[@rustyshackleford6633]

Are you and LGR still friends?

[@elliotj2250]

@@rustyshackleford6633 not now dale

[@LGR]

What would you like me to do about it, exactly? My channel is my channel: I do what interests me and cover things I'm into that week. That's too bad for you I guess, but I don't tailor my videos to your interests. That's the beauty of KZbin: if you don't like something, you can go and watch something else. Or wait until the channel you watch does something you like. If you still wanna complain, the least you can do is say what you WOULD like to see. Otherwise, how am I supposed to know?

[@sophiacristina]

Those people which complain about everything are the worst of the earth, nobody likes them.

[@0neDoomedSpaceMarine]

I think one of the best scenes I've ever seen in an exploitative violent work such as this is when the Sheriff arrests you, takes you home, then puts you to bed, tucks you in and kisses you on the forehead. I was COMPLETELY unprepared for that scene.

[@NeverendingOpera]

"Natural Causes?" "Can't live without a spinal chord, son." Classic!

[@WatanabeNoTsuna.]

I could have lived my entire life without trying to learn the F chord, though...

[@tonygalati2672]

The actor Kurt Kistler who plays Steve was arrested for possession of CP, and in his mugshot, he's wearing the same blue shirt from the game.

[@AzrealTheDemon]

he really was a "kidder"

[@LGR]

Indeed. Sums up the whole game really: just insane. I could hardly believe the madness I was seeing at times, and the utter absurdity of it all just made me want to continue.

[@MegaTNT32]

**Explodes aggresivily* Doctor: "Death of natural causes." Other Person in room: "How the fuck is that natural causes?" Doctor: "Ye can't live without a spine." Other Person in room: "You're a terrible doctor." Doctor: "Yup, natural causes."

[@kittythemouse6988]

+MegaTNT32 you can't survive an operation by a terrible Doctor son

[@kazoo3434]

That's Sheriff Dwayne, not a doctor

[@PerryMason123]

All this time I never noticed the "GEIN MEMORIAL" on the banner at the bake sale. That's downright dark

[@6hypnone]

Creepy af

[@Alevamltd]

O_O

[@spitfireuk11]

It's things like this that keep bringing me back to KZbin

[@philv2529]

an ultraviolent video game criticising violence in media.

[@gallusgallusdomesticus281]

+Phil V You would think it's just satire.

[@davidkyo1985]

Spec Ops: The Line or Hotline Miami also come to mind.

[@malopez3779]

It's less critisicsm and more social commentary

[@bryanadkins6776]

or it could be criticizing the idea that violence in media creates really word violence.

[@lazyrobbie1033]

Ever seen Videodrome? Satires usually do this

[@SantuXD6]

"Neeeturaaal causeeeees?"

[@FLlTTER]

"Partner rating: No mature content" yea ok

[@Jordan4Ibanez]

"You can't live without a spinal chord, son." Words to live by in your daily life.

[@sophiacristina]

That is why i keep it in place!

[@LGR]

Good point. This being a PC-exclusive, and one that failed commercially, it wouldn't get quite as much exposure even if it had come out during that whole debacle.

[@thomasfang7120]

LGR, hello from another North Carolinian! This has become one of my favorite channels. I've gotten a huge appreciation for game manuals thanks to your channel. I see that you have Darkseed II. If you ever feel like it, I would love to see a review of it. Thanks for all the hours of entertainment!

[@BendingInTheWind]

"...if this guy can get an acting gig, then so can you!" Haha!

[@pushinguproses]

Maybe they designed the game's box first? I don't recall seeing that..

[@hawaiianpunch1813]

i simp for u queen

[@yeahgirl11]

@@hawaiianpunch1813 lol

[@naipeadicto]

"You can't live without a spinal cord son" -best line ever. Great review!

[@brbbiobreak]

02:25 They stuck a 6 year old in a crib and refused to give him a blanket and the crib is in the kitchen.

[@LGR]

Indeed I have, beat it recently actually. It is fantastic.

[@wooterz]

Well you always were a kidder, LGR.

[@KoopaKid2000]

Harvester is so weird that I love it. I saw Joel from Vinesauce play the whole thing and it was so interesting. The surprises were just brilliant.

[@bobby3234]

The chat kind of spoiled a lot to him though. Consider watching longplay instead.

[@RobertoFornaro]

MY MEAT!!

[@Infinite_Jester]

I watched Grimith and Lethalfeline play it. Quite enjoyable.

[@sophiacristina]

Omg, if you kill the actor after the TV station is burned. He becomes piles of ashes, that is a brilliant surprise, omg...

[@LRD-p8w]

Wait until you find out what the the actor who played the main character did, truly a monster

[@flyingbearcrap1121]

He always was a kidder

[@ghostflxwer]

@@flyingbearcrap1121 kiddy diddler*

[@snarkasticdouche3863]

@@ghostflxwer You always were a kiddler, Steve.

[@Chinothebad]

you always were a diddler, Steve. Also side note, it makes situation in finding Karin dark in a different way.

[@tonygalati2672]

He was wearing the outfit from the game in his mugshot.

[@edelgardw.4760]

At 3:33 does the sign say "Gein Memorial"? Like Ed Gein?

[@ashwath5733]

Ren Hork Mhm

[@Vandal_Savage]

@Ren Hork Come looking for this comment and wasn't disappointed :)

[@LGR]

A second channel? I see no reason to do that when I could just upload such a thing to this channel and be done with it. However, I don't plan on doing that anytime soon, especially when there are plenty of other awesome videos that do already. There's a great "DOSBox 101" video by PushingUpRoses, for instance.

[@scooter4196]

"You can't live without a spinal cord son." Thanks for the info. I never knew 😂

[@Quimbyrbg]

"You can't live without a spinal cord, son" Now I want that as a motivational poster. Words to live by.

[@nicolashrv]

From the creators of Itchie and Scratchie's "You need a heart to live" comes "You can't live without a spinal cord"

[@theunbearablejuan]

I think this game is a diamond in the rough. The combat is clunky, it's very buggy and some of the acting is just horrendous but somehow the game's atmosphere and characters make it enjoyable. Some of the scenes are genuinely disturbing and the David Lynch + gore theme of the game works great. Now.. GOG, where's my DRM free version of the game?

[@AssaulteedOne]

It's there, today, for $5.99!

[@kendallmoore3936]

Blue Velvet meets Twin Peaks methinks.

[@JPlatinum333]

I first found out about this game through Retsupurae's commentary on it (which I definitely recommend watching if you have a few hours worth of spare time). As much as I loved seeing those guys tear this game apart, I still think the concept of this game was quite interesting and it certainly seems worth checking out in spite of its flaws.

[@julielloyd8120]

To me it seemed like Slowbeef was actually legitimately interested in it.

[@bobby3234]

I just watched longplay of it, it went like a breeze.

[@LGR]

Honestly, if you're that desperate to see the ending, you can watch any number of the dozens of other videos showing such things :)

[@predcon1]

I like how you have Darkseed II front-and-center during the box shot.

[@LGR]

They remind me a lot of each other :)

[@predcon1]

+Lazy Game Reviews Sure, in that "Mom says 'Hi' to you in the kitchen right before her head explodes" sort of way.

[@floopsfooglyfunhouse8797]

+Lazy Game Reviews You should do a video on the darkseed games!

[@sm4sh3d]

One of my favorite games from when I was young (I was 14 when this got released), fantastic quirky dark humor (the sheriff is just awesome), interesting social commentary on violence and a very sick David Lynch like atmosphere for most of the game. I don't even mind the things ramping up to pure gore in the last act, but I understand why some people don't like that. A must buy, and it's crazy that nobody ever tried to bring up a similar atmosphere in a game since then.

[@spinlathes9288]

You're doing great, you show me all kinds of cool games and hardware I'd never know about otherwise. This Harvester piece is a perfect example! I actually went and watched a full 5 hours lets play thanks to you. I've watched at least 80% of your videos and have almost nothing but praise.

[@TVindustries5000]

"you always were a kidder Steve!"

[@ravick007]

The sergeant-at-arms is clearly a relative to the demon narrating the stuff in Doom 2016.

[@BClocals]

Bought harvester for $1 on steam. Worth every penny. I do miss the days of live action scenes in older games like this.

[@LGR]

Yes, I'm a part of them. I'm listed on their channel, go check if you'd like!

[@sbcinema]

I love this full Motion Video Games

[@ScreenHardy]

your page is now easily one of my favorite accounts on here, thank you.

[@LGR]

It'll happen, just not sure when. Hopefully soon!

[@korynnininm]

I'm a fat high school clarinet player. And yes I did leave it there.

[@Glassandcandy]

In this game you can get Steve arrested for showing pornography to a child In real life the guy who played Steve was arrested for child pornography Life imitates art

[@laurab6146]

10:57 LGR's mortal enemy "41% off packing peanuts" The town is out to get you XD

[@RandomAcronyms]

I read "Postal 2" as "Portal 2" and did a double take.

[@crzybrit8150]

"You can't live without a spinal cord son" Duane Dwyane - 1996

[@koolaidman10574]

Found out about this game around a decade or two ago and you gotta love it from a distance

[@Llirik13]

Wtf? Why this game looks SO MUCH BETTER than any modern "interactive movies"?

[@jbfarley]

It isn't

[@MaximumRD]

Ha awesome review as always man! Not surprising I was looking for videos since it just became available on GOG for $5.99! Seeing it was one of your reviews was a bonus.

[@jettblack2977]

I knew this game seemed oddly familiar and now I know why, I use to have it. I don't think I had all 3 discs and I never played it, but I remember looking into it and seeing some of the intro. These kinds of games should REALLY be brought back especially if people want to give it a more movie/realistic feel. Plus I never got to play one and I think I'd enjoy it.

[@bigalsretroroom]

Me commenting on a 10 year old video after discovering this game on another channel who played through the entire thing. I loved how weird and disturbing this game was, and the twist at the end was so campy and great.

[@MFHOOD56]

I'm so glad you did a review on this. Such a cult hit.

[@BloomnBruin]

The guy who was the actor for Steve actually has his own website called "Kistler Creative". He has a section of his site documenting what he remembers about being involved in it.

[@BigDaddyZakk420]

Dude, did you leave a review on GOG ? Because I swear to god I just read your review, verbatim, on there like ten minutes ago. Complete with West World and Stepford Wives references. Anyway, great review, regardless.

[@LGR]

Yup, did you check the username of that review? :) It's the same as here!

[@BigDaddyZakk420]

Lazy Game Reviews Ahhh ! Haha, didn't even notice, man. Shows how oblivious I am : )

[@Manofculturee]

+Lazy Game Reviews when yo will do an review...of messiah!! come on man this one is a classic i thought u were the school of past video gaming hahaha :P

[@peppefrasca5179]

si porco dio!

[@SlavaisFilth]

Your humour gets better with every new video, keep amazing stuff going, Clint!

[@TyphoidBryan]

Harvester 2: Still a Kidder. Not a bad sequel, but I much prefer Harvester 3: Revenge of Margot Kidder.

[@ghostflxwer]

rip

[@dorpth]

I heard someone perfectly sum up this game: Roger Corman's Twin Peaks

[@LGR]

Ha! I'll have to remember that one.

[@MDSoldierGEIST]

Excellent review, one of my favourite classic adventure games. Army Base General is such a memorable character.

[@CaptainSouthbird]

"You can't live without a spinal cord, son." The disc #3 failure of gameplay seems unfortunate, and I know from old Lucas Arts titles that "battles" can be implemented in a way that fits the original P&C Adventure style without resorting to a huge deviation. (Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis did push this a little bit with the Nazi fights, but at least there was usually a clever way to do it.) Seems like with a little more thought this could have been a truly perfect/unique piece of P&C Adventure.

[@leoz96]

Hey LGR, why not review Darkseed and its sequel?

[@mattm7220]

So wait... This mid-90's "horror" game plays out over 6 days? Doesn't that mean it happens over 5 nights? Dear Lord, the 5-night-horror-game idea has always been around, hasn't it?

[@KidpandaAG]

Great review again brotha. Love the deep insight into your reviews and the nostalgia when there!

[@what_now_]

Thank you so much for introducing this game to me. Has a huge David Lynch/Twin Peaks sort of surrealism hanging over it. Skipped this game when I was younger, happy to be on board the crazy train now!

[@typhusthetravler]

"you should probably grow a spine" I think this is the edgiest comment I've ever heard in one of your videos. lol

[@PandaWeight]

Great review! I really was obsessed with this game in the mid 90s

[@NonNewtonianAnything]

"He then puts on his shirt, so as not to completely blind you." Classic, hilarious LGR! :)

[@ScoopexUs]

Put a smile on my face even though I'll never play adventure games due to time consumption etc. And this is not a lazy game review at all :)

[@LGR]

I most certainly would. Not anytime super soon, but someday!

[@captaincrit8654]

It’s on Steam now!

[@bobsaggat]

SPOIL THE ENDINGS! I WILL NEVER PLAY THIS BUT I AM CURIOUS

[@Tybron]

Well alright then. ****ENDINGS SPOILER AHEAD!!***** After climbing to the very top floor of the Lodge, Steve is presented with the truth about the town of Harvest: That it's a virtual reality simulation created by a cult called the Harvesters to create serial killers through nurturing their sociopathic, sadistic tendencies. It's why everything in Harvest is so weird and gory, why the people are so strange (They're just AI programs) and why you were required to do more and more horrible things to innocent people to advance to the Lodge. You're given the choice to either kill the other only real person in the simulation (your fiancee Stephanie) or to marry Stephanie and live out your life in the town of Harvest, in which case they'll also pull your life support. If you choose the first option, Steve gets to murder his helpless fiancee, rip out her spine almost precisely like Sub-Zero's fatality in Mortal Kombat 1, say "Wow. That was neat!" and wakes up in the Harvester facility, now a fully indoctrinated serial killer. He hitches a ride home from the facility, kills the woman that picks him up with a hidden knife, and is then seen at home playing Harvester. His mom says "Violence in media can make you violent" to which he replies "That's bullshit, mom!", she replies "No it's not, why do you think they edited the violence out of those Road Runner cartoons?" Steve find the comparison hilarious, and laughs evilly. The camera pans down his throat to show the unwitting murder victim's finger in his stomach still wearing her ring, revealing that after slaughtering her in her car, he actually ate that finger. Credits roll. If you choose NOT to kill Stephanie, Steve marries her (with the monk as their pastor), buys a house, has a kid in the simulation and lives the rest of his life out happily with Stephanie in Harvest (even if it was only a few minutes in the real world). We then see the engineers cutting Steve's life support, and as he twitches in his death throes, expressing their disappointment at having failed to turn a young innocent man into a serial killer by using violent video games. One says "What a waste, this kid could've been something." "Never look back. We've got two more coming in." "There's gotta be a better way to develop these serial killers." "This is scientific. You want we should go back to the old way?" "What old way?" "Good breeding." They then laugh evilly as we see Steve and Stephanie flatline. Credits roll.

[@SumGameNerd326]

God this game just keeps on reminding me of Darkseed.

[@PenguinDT]

Now there's a game that needs a GOG re-release. Or even better, a HD remake or a sequel; Seriously; Put it on Kickstarter and I'll sell half of my property just to back it!

[@NihilQuest]

Consider me interested. What a shame I didn't get to play this one back in the day. Surprisingly I remember lots of advertisement for Harvester in game magazines in Poland

[@kayeplaguedoc9054]

Call me sick, weird, whatever - but I find this game fucking hilarious. There are a couple scenes that are genuinely disturbing in some way, but for the most part I think its a wonderous homage to crappy horror films, set in its own weird little world. The combat and bugs are a bitch though, and on modern computers the bug evolve from just "Eh, deal with it" to "Flat out deal breaker" in some cases, but I fuckin' love this game and love to laugh at it. If I had a mic and a hard drive with enough space to record, my girlfriend & I would bust out some beers and love to do a Let's Play/MST3k style riff thing with it :D

[@1300l]

Well you must remember violent games wasnt commoum, at least so explicit. So it had the capacity of as liz told, to be amuzing to some but very disturbing to others back then. I bet you are younger then i, so it is hard to see how it realy was genuine hardcore stuff back then.

[@1300l]

***** I mean for videogame standards

[@troyroebuck36]

So.. Just curious, how does it end? I was thinking the place is some type of weird afterlife but now I guess not?... I can't/won't play it so It's not spoiling anything for me

[@Joe_Panes]

+Troy Roebuck There are plenty of people who have done their own playthrough of Harvester, such as theRPGminx and CinnamonToastKen. If you want a simple summary... *Spoilers* You have been warned *Spoilers* Harvester is a simulation set up by a secret organisation called 'The Harvesters', the intention is that those in the simulation are desensitised to violence to the point that they are willing to kill without remorse. If this is the case those put in the simulation are then a part of The Harvesters as promised from the start, otherwise, your life support is turned off and you die as a result of the simulation. In the game, at the end, you are given the choice 'Kill Stephenie' or 'Live in the simulation with Stephenie' both options result in the death of Stephenie, but living in the simulation causes you to live a full life with Stephenie, even though it has only been a few minutes in the real world. There is a lot more to the endings, I would recommend you watching a playthrough anyway since it is a very interesting game to see unfold before you.

[@troyroebuck36]

Oh! Cool! Interesting ending there. Thank you for taking the time to explain it, I'll absolutely check out a video. I'd just assumed that there wasn't a play through out there, so thank you

[@warrenbeattysnose]

Gree up playing point and click adventure games in the 90s, but missed this one. I played it about a year ago and had a blast!

[@ScottGreig]

I have SO been waiting for you to review this game!!! :)

[@tidusx665]

Hey LGR! Have you ever played the point and click X-Files game? Would love to see a review on that game. It's on pc and ps1!

[@JamSparing]

I've been looking for a game similar to this, in the same style, but it features a man watering his lawn incessantly which Clint made fun of? i cannot find it and it is driving me MAD. There was something about hell at the end and also using alcohol as fuel or something weird like that. If anyone knows, please tell me!

[@LGR]

Dude, I have no clue what you're thinking of, haha.

[@JamSparing]

Gosh dangit, I've been looking for ages and it's BUGGING me. If it turns out it wasn't even on this channel, I'd be lost. Is there a term this kind of game is called so I could narrow my search down? (I mean like... with real-people looking player characters.)

[@SootyW0lf]

Jam Sparing Dark seed is name of the game you are looking for.

[@JamSparing]

Ahh bless you - now I know!

[@SootyW0lf]

Jam Sparing Oh no problem. Happy to help.

[@DivineBloodline]

LGR, not sure if that was a Caboose (RVB) you pulled, but sounded like it to me... Made me quite happy so thank you sir.

[@savornsok]

I have been searching for this game for so long!!! I remember playing this years ago. Thank Lazy Game Review.

[@LodgeLevel4]

+TheReal Sok Welcome to watch "The Harvester Show" :)

[@MrEk0o]

great review sir! is Sanitatium also on your list to review in the future?

[@Keppis100]

Played this 2 weeks ago and loved it! Highly recommended!

[@A_Dopamine_Molecule]

Retsupurae did an amazing LP of this.

[@simplyjustjoni]

Does anyone know how to fix the cutscenes skipping bug? Certain FMVs such as the endings WILL NOT play at all. I've messed around with all sorts of config settings for both dosbox and the game itself and I still have yet to come across a solution. If anyone could please help me out, I would be very, very grateful.

[@Thimj00]

Does the banner at 9:54 really say "Gein Memorial Bake Sale" ? Gein, as in Ed Gein?

[@timinou9915]

I really , really dont like point and click adventure games , but this one got me hooked. I had to use a guide to get at the lodge part and gave up on the action part. Even with infinite ammo , its was a bit much. The ambiance and voice acting in this game is just incredible. Thanks for your review, might give me the courage to finish it someday.

[@LGR]

Well, as I mentioned in the vid, this came out a while after that whole debate was going on.

[@BartelsBookshelf]

I noticed the copy of Dark Seed II in the background. Could we get a review of Dark Seed I and II, Clint? :)

[@maxderp5997]

Is the main character of this game, Steve Mason, Harry Mason's relative?? You know from the first silent hill game o-o

[@lydiabyron1801]

I feel like it might be put on these gore lists because even though it's a little anti-climatic with the actual blood and guts, you've got the townsfolk behaving so horrible throughout (Especially with the horror of Steve's father and the cruel headmistress) that even though it doesn't reach the usual standards of body horror its so eerie that its still a really harrowing experience

[@Mailman692]

If David Lynch decided to make a game

[@element1111]

Nah. Silent Hill 2 would be closer to his ideal imho.

[@lucy4666]

why? are you trying to insult sh2 by saying that'd be something lynch would do? personally sh2 is the best survival horror game ever, not only by its story, but the execution is just flawless. on the other hand we have lynch who can do pretty crap stuff (twin peak's third season) and great ones (the elephant man) but i doubt this would be something he'd do. that game is simply beautiful but i'm biased, and you probably are too, you sound like you had a bad experience with the game. i think deadly premonition is something he'd do -- terrible acting, soap operas disguised as deep psychological films, awful dialogue, etc. harvester is also something very close to that, but it's ironical and it's satire, something i doubt lynch would do.

[@element1111]

No, Silent Hill 2 is in my top 3 games of all time. And the team silent creative director talked about Lynch being a massive influence - so much so that team silent binged on Twin Peaks during development of the first game

[@alalalala57]

lucía lucía lol david lynch is fucking master.

[@MrLordpistoia]

David Lynch did a game for ps1 not sure the name just Google it

[@limprlu]

Hi! Can you review Phantasmagoria 1 & 2? Thanks for all the videos, I love your channel!

[@IHJello]

My man was early on the harvester review. Kudos

[@looker999997]

I think Richard Cobbett said it best: 'Harvester is Twin Peaks... as directed by Uwe Boll.'

[@DoctorZombo]

You can't live without a spinal cord, son.

[@jimbox114]

I missed this one as a PC gamer of the 90's. It looks dated now and I agree with all of the issues mentioned in this video. Thing is the idea of seeing real people in a video game was absolutely amazing back during this era though. Other games did a much better job of it though.

[@FrankLoon]

The wine bottle wife murder in Phantasmagoria is not something you forget just like that... Glad you mentioned it too, I was getting Phantasmagoria/Sanitarium vibes from this game.

[@SpaztallicA]

thumbs up for the inspector gadget reference.