Home Sweet Home’ iOS Review – A Great Start, but Needs More Work – TouchArcade

Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence has been a really fascinating recreation to comply with 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 mates 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 evaluation. Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence is an excellent farming simulation recreation, however one that’s held again by just a few points proper now.

A whole lot 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 thought 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: Residence Candy Residence is and likewise to provide you my historical past with the sequence earlier than moving into how I really feel about Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence ($17.99).

In case you’re new to farming and life simulation video games, Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence takes you again from the 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 house, is dense and comfy (sorry however I needed to), and I’m glad it isn’t a giant open location as a result of these normally lead to plenty of empty areas in terms of life simulation video games. In case you’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 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: 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 most important chapters.

The extra I performed Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence, the extra I spotted 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 doubtless the weakest facet of Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence. They only aren’t as fascinating as different video games within the style. In case you don’t care about that facet, Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence is sort of a refined entry within the style.

Approaching Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence from a normal life simulation recreation fanatic’s perspective feels completely 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 number of the flaws right here, particularly at a a lot greater value 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 incredible match for PC and consoles. The one “cell” facet of Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence proper now’s the contact management possibility.

Visually, apart from the efficiency and cargo instances that I’ll cowl beneath, Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence appears to be like superb. Some characters look generic, however the interface, farm, constructing format, and the whole lot appears to be like good. I additionally admire that Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence 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: Residence Candy Residence does look good visually for essentially 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. A whole lot of them really feel lifeless even throughout cut-scenes. Barring that, I just like the aesthetic so much, and Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence appears to be like 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 doable to play at the next body fee 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 take heed to it exterior the sport, however it sounded good and the music adjustments had been applicable to the gameplay.

When Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence was introduced as a mobile-exclusive recreation, I used to be curious how it might management. The builders have carried out 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 positive 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 greatest life simulation video games on cell: 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 check, 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: Residence Candy Residence was constructed for cell 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 recreation, and whereas I admire the contact management scheme, it has just a few points proper now in terms of options. The shortage of cloud saves is past disappointing. Once 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 method 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 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: Residence Candy Residence ended up being price enjoying, however it wants just a few updates and options to be actually important at full value. I’ve no points with builders eager to cost premium costs on cell, however Harvest Moon: Residence Candy Residence missing primary options like cloud saves and controller assist positively makes it tougher to suggest alongside just a few different design points. If the builders proceed engaged on this, will probably be top-of-the-line 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.