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Money Tree is a hypnotic game that canters around Grant, a gardener, and the love of his life, Elizabeth. Naturally Elizabeth doesn't notice Grant and he is in search of her affection. The quickest and most natural way to do this (so Grant thinks) is to restore a garden left to him as inheritance. The story is played out with bright colors in a comic like storyboard that you can read or skip - it doesn't really make a difference either way.

The game is primarily point and click as you try to grow your trees to the point that they will produce fruit. Click on leaves as they fall from the top of the screen, then on the tree to place them. Once all the leaves are placed on a branch it starts to grow fruit which you must then click on to harvest. Power ups and bonuses fall with the leaves, making the game slightly more interesting. Still, the greatest challenge to the game is keeping speed with a growing tree while trying to harvest enough fruit to advance to the next level. Naturally ripe fruit brings in more money than growing fruit and catching it as it falls but before it hit's the ground gets you the most money.

There are almost thirty levels of increasing complexity to see your way through. While this is nice (it isn't a game that you are going to beat in an hour and a half) the repetitive game play makes you wonder if you want to continue through all of them.

The game is focused around keeping your trees healthy and growing so there are extras that can be bought from a catalog such as sprinklers for those especially hot days, and heat lamps for wet weather. Caterpillars occasionally find their way to your investment, eating leaves and limiting the income you are struggling for. Click on the insecticide you have purchased or on the bugs themselves a few times to rid yourself of the pests.

The graphics are good, especially considering the game consists of trees, benches and other gardening necessities. The music is hypnotizing, a comforting background when you start out, but it doesn't keep up with the speed of the game. You will eventually end up moving our mouse at high speed with the same elevator music playing in the background.

All in all the game is fun, despite its repetitive nature. The question is, will it still hold its appeal after the sixty minute trial? I think so, especially if you are just looking for a short getaway from the daytime grind of TPS reports and invoices. If you can't get away and go outside to tend to your own garden Money Tree is the next best thing.

Money Tree rated 3/5 for being an entertaining game, if a bit redundant.

Learn more about this author, Brian Duncan.
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