Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence has been a really fascinating sport to comply with pre-release. I say this not solely as a result of it’s a premium mobile-first Harvest Moon sport, but in addition as a result of the reactions from my pals 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 lately on iOS and Android as a mobile-exclusive entry in Natsume’s Harvest Moon sequence, and I’ve been enjoying it for a few week and a half now on iPhone 15 Professional and iPad Professional for overview. Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence is an excellent farming simulation sport, however one that’s held again by a number of points proper now.
Numerous followers of the Harvest Moon sequence of video games from Marvelous have been round because the SNES or N64 days, however I solely received into it on 3DS with Story of Season. Again then, I had no concept in regards to the title change and that Marvelous’ releases can be referred to as Story of Seasons whereas Harvest Moon can be the title 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 offer you my historical past with the sequence earlier than entering into how I really feel about Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence ($17.99).
If you happen to’re new to farming and life simulation video games, Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence takes you again from the town to a chilled 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 dwelling, 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 a variety of empty areas in terms of life simulation video games. If you happen to’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 terms of 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 sport), and that is the place you get into the circulate of Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence the place you attempt to end quests for NPCs, improve your instruments, collect, mine (this unlocks a bit later), and naturally farm by way of the sport’s important chapters.
The extra I performed Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence, the extra I noticed that the builders understood what makes life and farming simulation video games nice, however fell quick 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 probably the weakest facet of Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence. They only aren’t as fascinating as different video games within the style. If you happen to don’t care about that facet, Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence is kind of a sophisticated entry within the style.
Approaching Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence from a normal life simulation sport fanatic’s perspective feels completely different although. Whereas different platforms are spoiled for selection with tons of video games from massive 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 increased value level. I believe this can be a very stable base that the builders can construct on to the purpose the place it could even be an incredible match for PC and consoles. The one “cellular” facet of Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence proper now could be the contact management possibility.
Visually, except for the efficiency and cargo instances that I’ll cowl beneath, Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence seems excellent. Some characters look generic, however the interface, farm, constructing format, and every little thing seems good. I additionally respect that Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence helps fullscreen on iPhone 15 Professional and iPad Professional. It actually seems like a sport 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 terms 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 rather a lot, and Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence seems 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, however it isn’t potential 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 hearken to it outdoors the sport, however it sounded good and the music adjustments have been applicable to the gameplay.
When Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence was introduced as a mobile-exclusive sport, I used to be curious how it could management. The builders have executed a improbable 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 fantastic on iPad. I’d’ve liked some haptic suggestions on iPhone although for utilizing instruments and even fishing. Possibly this may be added in a future replace.
If you happen to’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, however it isn’t as polished. I dislike mentioning 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 sport, and whereas I respect the contact management scheme, it has a number of points proper now in terms 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 option to get the save throughout, and nonetheless haven’t been in a position to transfer saves throughout units. The shortage of controller assist can also be disappointing for a sport like this. The builders did an incredible job with contact controls, however it could be good to have controller assist 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, however it wants a number of updates and options to be really important at full value. I’ve no points with builders desirous to cost premium costs on cellular, however Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence missing fundamental options like cloud saves and controller assist positively makes it more durable to advocate alongside a number of different design points. If the builders proceed engaged on this, it is going to be among the best within the style on cellular, and I’m glad to see them take an opportunity on a premium cellular life simulation sport as a result of that may be very uncommon.
