Numerous followers of the Harvest Moon collection of video games from Marvelous have been round for the reason that SNES or N64 days, however I solely acquired into it on 3DS with Story of Season. Again then, I had no concept in regards to the identify change and that Marvelous’ releases could be referred to as Story of Seasons whereas Harvest Moon could be the identify utilized by Natsume going ahead. I’m making that clear now as a result of I don’t need folks confused about what Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence is and likewise to present you my historical past with the collection earlier than moving into how I really feel about Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence ($17.99).
Should you’re new to farming and life simulation video games, Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence takes you again from the town to a relaxing village the place you fish, farm, work together with many NPCs, partake in festivals (that must be unlocked), and even discover a companion. The village of Alba, your new house, is dense and comfy (sorry however I needed to), and I’m glad it isn’t an enormous open location as a result of these normally end in lots of empty areas in the case of life simulation video games. Should you’ve performed many within the style, consider Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence as one which focuses extra on the characters with a bit much less depth in the case of farming.
After a brief tutorial explaining the fundamentals of motion and a little bit of farming, you unlock the map and principal menu letting you save nearly wherever (this is essential for a cellular recreation), and that is the place you get into the stream of Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence the place you try to end quests for NPCs, improve your instruments, collect, mine (this unlocks a bit later), and naturally farm by the sport’s principal chapters.
The extra I performed Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence, the extra I spotted that the builders understood what makes life and farming simulation video games nice, however fell brief in some methods. These could or could not have an effect on newcomers to the style, however those that have performed many current video games will discover them missing. The potential companions are seemingly the weakest side of Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence. They simply aren’t as attention-grabbing as different video games within the style. Should you don’t care about that side, Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence is sort of a elegant entry within the style.
Approaching Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence from a common life simulation recreation fanatic’s perspective feels totally different although. Whereas different platforms are spoiled for alternative with tons of video games from huge and small builders, we don’t actually see very similar to that on cellular, however that doesn’t make up for a number of the flaws right here, particularly at a a lot increased value level. I believe this can be a very strong base that the builders can construct on to the purpose the place it could even be an ideal match for PC and consoles. The one “cellular” side of Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence proper now could be the contact management choice.
Visually, other than the efficiency and cargo instances that I’ll cowl beneath, Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence appears to be like superb. Some characters look generic, however the interface, farm, constructing structure, and every thing appears to be like good. I additionally admire that Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence helps fullscreen on iPhone 15 Professional and iPad Professional. It actually appears like a recreation correctly tailor-made to cellular with its visuals and controls.
Whereas Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence does look good visually for probably the most half, it’s missing in the case of the character designs. This is applicable to your individual character with customization choices that ought to’ve been extra detailed and likewise the primary NPCs within the city. Numerous them really feel lifeless even throughout cut-scenes. Barring that, I just like the aesthetic loads, and Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence appears to be like wonderful on my iPhone and iPad. The one disappointment is in efficiency. Proper now, Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence is capped at 30fps on my iPhone 15 Professional and iPad Professional. I used to be anticipating above 60fps not to mention 60fps, nevertheless it isn’t doable to play at the next body price now. The load instances are additionally not as quick as they need to be.
On the audio aspect, I used to be happy with the music and sounds in Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence. Nothing stood out to the purpose the place I’d take heed to it outdoors the sport, nevertheless it sounded good and the music adjustments had been acceptable to the gameplay.
When Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence was introduced as a mobile-exclusive recreation, I used to be curious how it could management. The builders have completed a incredible job with the contact controls right here letting you play by tapping to maneuver, dragging to maneuver, and extra. Interacting with objects or characters, farming, and navigating menus all really feel good. Some textual content and contact targets really feel a bit too small on iPhone, however they’re superb on iPad. I’d’ve beloved some haptic suggestions on iPhone although for utilizing instruments and even fishing. Perhaps this may be added in a future replace.
Should you’ve performed the 2 greatest life simulation video games on cellular: Stardew Valley and My Time at Portia, Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence feels nearer to the previous, nevertheless it isn’t as polished. I dislike citing different video games in the identical style to match, however I’m doing it right here particularly for the cellular port. These two video games had been constructed for PC/console and introduced over to cellular whereas Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence was constructed for cellular and but it doesn’t really feel as tailor-made to the platform in its options.
Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence is a mobile-exclusive recreation, and whereas I admire the contact management scheme, it has just a few points proper now in the case of options. The shortage of cloud saves is past disappointing. After I first downloaded Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence on my iPhone, I performed it for about three hours earlier than selecting up my iPad to see the way it feels there. I discovered no strategy to get the save throughout, and nonetheless haven’t been in a position to transfer saves throughout gadgets. The shortage of controller help can be disappointing for a recreation like this. The builders did an ideal job with contact controls, however it could be good to have controller help for once I play on iPad. I’d additionally like some high quality of life options for motion, like we’ve seen in current video games within the style.
As a newcomer to Natsume’s new Harvest Moon video games however a fan of all of the current Story of Seasons and different life simulation video games, Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence ended up being value enjoying, nevertheless it wants just a few updates and options to be actually important at full value. I’ve no points with builders desirous to cost premium costs on cellular, however Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence missing primary options like cloud saves and controller help positively makes it tougher to advocate alongside just a few different design points. If the builders proceed engaged on this, it will likely be probably the greatest within the style on cellular, and I’m glad to see them take an opportunity on a premium cellular life simulation recreation as a result of that may be very uncommon.
