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 in addition as a result of the reactions from my buddies 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 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: Dwelling Candy Dwelling is an excellent farming simulation recreation, however one that’s held again by a couple of points proper now.
Loads of followers of the Harvest Moon sequence of video games from Marvelous have been round because the SNES or N64 days, however I solely bought into it on 3DS with Story of Season. Again then, I had no thought 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: Dwelling Candy Dwelling is and in addition to present you my historical past with the sequence earlier than entering into how I really feel about Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling ($17.99).
If you happen to’re new to farming and life simulation video games, Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling 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 an enormous open location as a result of these normally end in loads of empty areas relating to life simulation video games. If you happen to’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 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 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 quick 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 probably the weakest side of Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling. They simply aren’t as attention-grabbing as different video games within the style. If you happen to don’t care about that side, Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling is sort of a cultured entry within the style.
Approaching Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling from a basic life simulation recreation 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 cell, however that doesn’t make up for a few of the flaws right here, particularly at a a lot increased worth level. I feel it is a very strong base that the builders can construct on to the purpose the place it will even be an incredible match for PC and consoles. The one “cell” side of Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling proper now’s the contact management choice.
Visually, apart from the efficiency and cargo occasions that I’ll cowl under, Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling seems excellent. Some characters look generic, however the interface, farm, constructing structure, and all the things seems good. I additionally recognize 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 probably 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 in addition the primary NPCs within the city. Loads of them really feel lifeless even throughout cut-scenes. Barring that, I just like the aesthetic quite a bit, and Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling seems 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, 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 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, nevertheless it sounded good and the music modifications have 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 will management. The builders have accomplished a incredible 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. Possibly this may be added in a future replace.
If you happen to’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, nevertheless it isn’t as polished. I dislike citing different video games in the identical style to check, however I’m doing it right here particularly for the cell port. These two video games have 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 recognize the contact management scheme, it has a couple of points proper now relating to options. The dearth 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 strategy to get the save throughout, and nonetheless haven’t been capable of transfer saves throughout gadgets. The dearth of controller assist can be disappointing for a recreation like this. The builders did an incredible job with contact controls, however it will 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 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 price enjoying, nevertheless it wants a couple of updates and options to be really important at full worth. I’ve no points with builders desirous to cost premium costs on cell, however Harvest Moon: Dwelling Candy Dwelling missing primary options like cloud saves and controller assist positively makes it more durable to suggest alongside a couple of different design points. If the builders proceed engaged on this, will probably 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 could be very uncommon.