Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence has been a really fascinating recreation to observe pre-release. I say this not solely as a result of it’s a premium mobile-first Harvest Moon recreation, but in addition as a result of the reactions from my associates who’re longtime followers of the sequence have gone from apathy to curiosity with each little bit of gameplay proven. Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence launched just lately on iOS and Android as a mobile-exclusive entry in Natsume’s Harvest Moon sequence, and I’ve been enjoying it for a couple of week and a half now on iPhone 15 Professional and iPad Professional for evaluate. Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence is an excellent farming simulation recreation, however one that’s held again by just a few points proper now.
Plenty of followers of the Harvest Moon sequence of video games from Marvelous have been round because the SNES or N64 days, however I solely acquired into it on 3DS with Story of Season. Again then, I had no concept concerning 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 individuals confused about what Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence is and in addition to offer you my historical past with the sequence earlier than entering into how I really feel about Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence ($17.99).
For those who’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 residence, is dense and comfortable (sorry however I needed to), and I’m glad it isn’t an enormous open location as a result of these often end in a variety of empty areas in relation to life simulation video games. For those who’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 relation to farming.
After a brief tutorial explaining the fundamentals of motion and a little bit of farming, you unlock the map and foremost menu letting you save nearly wherever (this is essential for a cellular recreation), and that is the place you get into the circulate 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 via the sport’s foremost chapters.
The extra I performed Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residencethe extra I spotted that the builders understood what makes life and farming simulation video games nice, however fell brief in some methods. These might or might 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 doubtless the weakest side of Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence. They only aren’t as fascinating as different video games within the style. For those who 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 normal life simulation recreation fanatic’s perspective feels totally different although. Whereas different platforms are spoiled for selection with tons of video games from huge and small builders, we don’t actually see very like that on cellular, however that doesn’t make up for among the flaws right here, particularly at a a lot greater value level. I feel this can be a very stable base that the builders can construct on to the purpose the place it might even be an awesome match for PC and consoles. The one “cellular” side of Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence proper now could be the contact management possibility.
Visually, apart from the efficiency and cargo occasions that I’ll cowl beneath, Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence seems to be excellent. Some characters look generic, however the interface, farm, constructing format, and every part seems to be good. I additionally admire 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 essentially the most half, it’s missing in relation 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. Plenty of them really feel lifeless even throughout cut-scenes. Barring that, I just like the aesthetic loads, and Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence seems to be 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, nevertheless it isn’t potential to play at the next body price now. The load occasions are additionally not as quick as they need to be.
On the audio facet, 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 exterior the sport, nevertheless it sounded good and the music adjustments have 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 might management. The builders have carried out 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 effective on iPad. I’d’ve cherished some haptic suggestions on iPhone although for utilizing instruments and even fishing. Perhaps this may be added in a future replace.
For those who’ve performed the 2 finest 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 have 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 relation to options. The dearth 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 selecting up my iPad to see the way it feels there. I discovered no technique to get the save throughout, and nonetheless haven’t been capable of transfer saves throughout gadgets. The dearth of controller help can also be disappointing for a recreation like this. The builders did an awesome job with contact controls, however it might be good to have controller help for after 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 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 suggest alongside just a few different design points. If the builders proceed engaged on this, will probably be top-of-the-line 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.
