House Candy House’ iOS Assessment – A Nice Begin, however Wants Extra Work – TouchArcade

Harvest Moon: House Candy House has been a really fascinating sport to observe pre-release. I say this not solely as a result of it’s a premium mobile-first Harvest Moon sport, 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: House Candy House launched not too long ago 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 evaluation. Harvest Moon: House Candy House is an excellent farming simulation sport, however one that’s held again by a number of points proper now.

Lots of 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 thought concerning the title change and that Marvelous’ releases can be known 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 individuals confused about what Harvest Moon: House Candy House is and likewise to offer you my historical past with the sequence earlier than moving into how I really feel about Harvest Moon: House Candy House ($17.99).

In case you’re new to farming and life simulation video games, Harvest Moon: House Candy House takes you again from the town to a relaxing village the place you fish, farm, work together with many NPCs, partake in festivals (that should 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 often lead to numerous empty areas on the subject of life simulation video games. In case you’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 on the subject of 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 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 by way of the sport’s foremost chapters.

The extra I performed Harvest Moon: House Candy House, the extra I noticed 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 latest video games will discover them missing. The potential companions are possible the weakest side of Harvest Moon: House Candy House. They simply aren’t as fascinating as different video games within the style. In case you don’t care about that side, Harvest Moon: House Candy House is kind of a refined entry within the style.

Approaching Harvest Moon: House Candy House from a basic life simulation sport fanatic’s perspective feels totally 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 similar to that on cellular, however that doesn’t make up for a few of the flaws right here, particularly at a a lot larger worth level. I believe this can be a very strong base that the builders can construct on to the purpose the place it might even be an excellent match for PC and consoles. The one “cellular” side of Harvest Moon: House Candy House proper now could be the contact management possibility.

Visually, other than the efficiency and cargo instances that I’ll cowl under, Harvest Moon: House Candy House seems superb. Some characters look generic, however the interface, farm, constructing structure, and every little thing seems good. I additionally respect that Harvest Moon: House Candy House helps fullscreen on iPhone 15 Professional and iPad Professional. It actually looks 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 on the subject of 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. Lots of them really feel lifeless even throughout cut-scenes. Barring that, I just like the aesthetic so much, and Harvest Moon: House Candy House seems 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, however it isn’t doable to play at a better body charge now. The load instances 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, however it sounded good and the music modifications had been applicable to the gameplay.

When Harvest Moon: House Candy House was introduced as a mobile-exclusive sport, I used to be curious how it might management. The builders have finished 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 tremendous 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.

In case you’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, 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 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 a number of points proper now on the subject of 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 choosing 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 units. The shortage of controller help can be disappointing for a sport like this. The builders did an excellent job with contact controls, however it might 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 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: House Candy House ended up being price taking part in, however it wants a number of updates and options to be actually important at full worth. I’ve no points with builders eager to cost premium costs on cellular, however Harvest Moon: House Candy House missing primary options like cloud saves and controller help positively makes it tougher to suggest alongside a number of different design points. If the builders proceed engaged on this, it will likely be among the finest 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.