Lots of followers of the Harvest Moon sequence 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 thought in regards to the identify change and that Marvelous’ releases can be known as Story of Seasons whereas Harvest Moon can be the identify utilized by Natsume going ahead. I’m making that clear now as a result of I don’t need individuals confused about what Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence is and in addition to present you my historical past with the sequence earlier than moving into how I really feel about Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence ($17.99).
In the event you’re new to farming and life simulation video games, Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence takes you again from town to a relaxing village the place you fish, farm, work together with many NPCs, partake in festivals (that have to be unlocked), and even discover a companion. The village of Alba, your new house, is dense and comfortable (sorry however I needed to), and I’m glad it isn’t a giant open location as a result of these normally end in numerous empty areas relating to life simulation video games. In the event 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 relating to farming.
After a brief tutorial explaining the fundamentals of motion and a little bit of farming, you unlock the map and important menu letting you save nearly wherever (this is essential for a cellular recreation), and that is the place you get into the circulation 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 important 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 only aren’t as attention-grabbing as different video games within the style. In the event you don’t care about that side, Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence is kind of a cultured entry within the style.
Approaching Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence from a common life simulation recreation fanatic’s perspective feels completely different although. Whereas different platforms are spoiled for alternative with tons of video games from large and small builders, we don’t actually see very like 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 stable base that the builders can construct on to the purpose the place it will even be a fantastic match for PC and consoles. The one “cellular” side of Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence proper now’s the contact management choice.
Visually, other than the efficiency and cargo occasions that I’ll cowl beneath, Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence seems excellent. Some characters look generic, however the interface, farm, constructing structure, and all the things seems good. I additionally recognize that Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence helps fullscreen on iPhone 15 Professional and iPad Professional. It actually seems 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 relating to the character designs. This is applicable to your personal character with customization choices that ought to’ve been extra detailed and in addition the principle NPCs within the city. Lots of them really feel lifeless even throughout cut-scenes. Barring that, I just like the aesthetic rather a lot, and Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence seems glorious 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, but it surely isn’t attainable to play at the next body charge now. The load occasions 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, but it surely 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 will management. The builders have completed a unbelievable 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 nice 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.
In the event 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, but it surely isn’t as polished. I dislike citing different video games in the identical style to check, 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 recognize the contact management scheme, it has a number of points proper now relating to options. The shortage of cloud saves is past disappointing. Once I first downloaded Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence on my iPhone, I performed it for about three hours earlier than choosing up my iPad to see the way it feels there. I discovered no option to get the save throughout, and nonetheless haven’t been capable of transfer saves throughout units. The shortage of controller help can be disappointing for a recreation like this. The builders did a fantastic job with contact controls, however it will 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 price taking part in, but it surely wants a number of updates and options to be really important at full value. I’ve no points with builders eager to cost premium costs on cellular, however Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence missing primary options like cloud saves and controller help undoubtedly makes it tougher to suggest alongside a number of different design points. If the builders proceed engaged on this, it is going to 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 could be very uncommon.
