Harvest Moon: House Candy House has been a really attention-grabbing 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 mates who’re longtime followers of the collection have gone from apathy to curiosity with each little bit of gameplay proven. Harvest Moon: House Candy House launched not too long ago on iOS and Android as a mobile-exclusive entry in Natsume’s Harvest Moon collection, and I’ve been taking part in it for a few week and a half now on iPhone 15 Professional and iPad Professional for overview. Harvest Moon: House Candy House is an excellent farming simulation sport, however one that’s held again by just a few points proper now.
A number of followers of the Harvest Moon collection 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: House Candy House is and likewise to provide you my historical past with the collection earlier than stepping into how I really feel about Harvest Moon: House Candy House ($17.99).
For those who’re new to farming and life simulation video games, Harvest Moon: House Candy House 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 plenty of empty areas in relation to life simulation video games. For those who’ve performed many within the style, consider Harvest Moon: House Candy House 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 major 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: House Candy House the place you attempt to end quests for NPCs, improve your instruments, collect, mine (this unlocks a bit later), and naturally farm via the sport’s major chapters.
The extra I performed Harvest Moon: House Candy House, the extra I spotted that the builders understood what makes life and farming simulation video games nice, however fell quick 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 possible the weakest facet of Harvest Moon: House Candy House. They simply aren’t as attention-grabbing as different video games within the style. For those who don’t care about that facet, Harvest Moon: House Candy House is kind of a cultured entry within the style.
Approaching Harvest Moon: House Candy House from a basic life simulation sport fanatic’s perspective feels completely 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 like that on cellular, however that doesn’t make up for a few of the flaws right here, particularly at a a lot increased value level. I feel this can be a very stable base that the builders can construct on to the purpose the place it could even be a terrific match for PC and consoles. The one “cellular” facet of Harvest Moon: House Candy House proper now could be the contact management choice.
Visually, apart from the efficiency and cargo occasions that I’ll cowl beneath, Harvest Moon: House Candy House appears to be like excellent. Some characters look generic, however the interface, farm, constructing structure, and the whole lot appears to be like good. I additionally respect that Harvest Moon: House Candy House helps fullscreen on iPhone 15 Professional and iPad Professional. It actually appears like a sport correctly tailor-made to cellular with its visuals and controls.
Whereas Harvest Moon: House Candy House does look good visually for probably the most half, it’s missing in relation to the character designs. This is applicable to your individual character with customization choices that ought to’ve been extra detailed and likewise the principle NPCs within the city. A number of them really feel lifeless even throughout cut-scenes. Barring that, I just like the aesthetic rather a lot, and Harvest Moon: House Candy House appears to be like wonderful on my iPhone and iPad. The one disappointment is in efficiency. Proper now, Harvest Moon: House Candy House 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 a better body fee 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: House Candy House. Nothing stood out to the purpose the place I’d take heed to it outdoors the sport, nevertheless it sounded good and the music modifications had been acceptable to the gameplay.
When Harvest Moon: House Candy House was introduced as a mobile-exclusive sport, I used to be curious how it could management. The builders have achieved a implausible 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 wonderful on iPad. I might’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: House Candy House feels nearer to the previous, nevertheless 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 had been constructed for PC/console and introduced over to cellular whereas Harvest Moon: House Candy House was constructed for cellular and but it doesn’t really feel as tailor-made to the platform in its options.
Harvest Moon: House Candy House is a mobile-exclusive sport, and whereas I respect the contact management scheme, it has just a few points proper now in relation to options. The shortage of cloud saves is past disappointing. After I first downloaded Harvest Moon: House Candy House 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 solution to get the save throughout, and nonetheless haven’t been in a position to transfer saves throughout gadgets. The shortage of controller assist can also be disappointing for a sport like this. The builders did a terrific job with contact controls, however it could be good to have controller assist for once I play on iPad. I might 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: House Candy House ended up being value taking part in, nevertheless it wants just a few 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: House Candy House missing primary options like cloud saves and controller assist undoubtedly 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 sport as a result of that may be very uncommon.