Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling has been a really attention-grabbing recreation to observe pre-release. I say this not solely as a result of it’s a premium mobile-first Harvest Moon recreation, but additionally 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: Dwelling Candy Dwelling launched just lately on iOS and Android as a mobile-exclusive entry in Natsume’s Harvest Moon sequence, and I’ve been taking part in it for a couple of week and a half now on iPhone 15 Professional and iPad Professional for assessment. Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling is an excellent farming simulation recreation, however one that’s held again by a couple of points proper now.
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 obtained into it on 3DS with Story of Season. Again then, I had no concept in regards to the identify change and that Marvelous’ releases can be referred to 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: Dwelling Candy Dwelling is and likewise to provide you my historical past with the sequence earlier than stepping into how I really feel about Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling ($17.99).
For those who’re new to farming and life simulation video games, Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling takes you again from 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 dwelling, 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 normally lead to a variety of empty areas relating to life simulation video games. For those who’ve performed many within the style, consider Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling 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 most important menu letting you save nearly anyplace (this is essential for a cell recreation), and that is the place you get into the circulation of Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling the place you try to end quests for NPCs, improve your instruments, collect, mine (this unlocks a bit later), and naturally farm by way of the sport’s most important chapters.
The extra I performed Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling, the extra I noticed 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 latest video games will discover them missing. The potential companions are possible the weakest facet of Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling. 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: Dwelling Candy Dwelling is kind of a sophisticated entry within the style.
Approaching Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling 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 large and small builders, we don’t actually see very similar to that on cell, however that doesn’t make up for among the flaws right here, particularly at a a lot greater worth level. I believe it is a very stable base that the builders can construct on to the purpose the place it might even be an incredible match for PC and consoles. The one “cell” facet of Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling proper now could be the contact management choice.
Visually, except for the efficiency and cargo occasions that I’ll cowl under, Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling appears excellent. Some characters look generic, however the interface, farm, constructing structure, and the whole lot appears good. I additionally respect that Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling helps fullscreen on iPhone 15 Professional and iPad Professional. It actually appears like a recreation correctly tailor-made to cell with its visuals and controls.
Whereas Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling does look good visually for essentially 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 likewise the primary 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: Dwelling Candy Dwelling appears glorious on my iPhone and iPad. The one disappointment is in efficiency. Proper now, Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling 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 doable to play at a better body price 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: Dwelling Candy Dwelling. Nothing stood out to the purpose the place I’d hearken to it outdoors the sport, but it surely sounded good and the music modifications had been acceptable to the gameplay.
When Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling was introduced as a mobile-exclusive recreation, I used to be curious how it might management. The builders have performed 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 high-quality 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.
For those who’ve performed the 2 finest life simulation video games on cell: Stardew Valley and My Time at Portia, Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling feels nearer to the previous, but it surely 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 cell port. These two video games had been constructed for PC/console and introduced over to cell whereas Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling was constructed for cell and but it doesn’t really feel as tailor-made to the platform in its options.
Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling is a mobile-exclusive recreation, and whereas I respect the contact management scheme, it has a couple of points proper now relating to options. The shortage of cloud saves is past disappointing. Once I first downloaded Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling 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 approach to get the save throughout, and nonetheless haven’t been capable of transfer saves throughout gadgets. The shortage of controller assist can be disappointing for a recreation like this. The builders did an incredible job with contact controls, however it might be good to have controller assist for once I play on iPad. I’d additionally like some high quality of life options for motion, like we’ve seen in latest video games within the style.
As a newcomer to Natsume’s new Harvest Moon video games however a fan of all of the latest Story of Seasons and different life simulation video games, Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling ended up being value taking part in, but it surely wants a couple of updates and options to be really important at full worth. I’ve no points with builders eager to cost premium costs on cell, however Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling missing fundamental options like cloud saves and controller assist positively makes it tougher to advocate alongside a couple of different design points. If the builders proceed engaged on this, it will likely be among the finest within the style on cell, and I’m glad to see them take an opportunity on a premium cell life simulation recreation as a result of that may be very uncommon.