So anyone else pick this up? I'm currently 67 hours in and just married James, and I must say this is probably my 2nd or 3rd favorite game of the year (though I haven't played Dark Souls yet which should be somewhere up there as well). Honestly, I had no clue I was gonna get this addicted to the game -- last time I spent this much time on a single playthrough was Dragon Quest VIII way back when. I guess there just haven't been any games that require this much of a time investment since then.
I think the game is pretty much over for me now, though. All that's really left to do is have a child, but I hear that takes like 3 seasons or something so that's gonna involve lot of day-skipping (no way am I playing out those days in full like I did during the main story). Eh, maybe I'll try it anyway as I've never even come close to this point in a Harvest Moon game before, so I really shouldn't pass up the chance.
Oh, it took me 59 hours to beat the main story btw, and another hour or two to get the option to continue the game as Sonja (this is also when the friendship meter turns into a love meter for the opposite sex) -- though you could get the option virtually immediately if you have all bachelors and bachelorettes (yes, both) at 6 friend points, so keep that in mind if you're just starting out and have any intention of playing past the ending.