Developer: h.a.n.d., Inc.
Platforms: PC (Reviewed), Switch
Genre: Adventure, Casual, Simulation
Publisher: Neos Corporation
Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is a wholesome adventure game that was developed by h.a.n.d. and published by Neos Corporation. Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is similar to other Shin chan games. This review was done for the PC, but the game is also available for the Switch.
Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is a single-player game where you play as Shin chan, who goes on a mysterious adventure alongside his dog, Shiro. Shin chan gets to take on several daily routine tasks and travel between two worlds: the Village in Akita and Coal Town. Shin chan gets to explore the two worlds by meeting unique characters, handling tasks and, most importantly, wrapping up the day by spending it with his family.
It is recommended to play the game with a controller, and I found that it was a much nicer experience to sit back and play the game on a controller. There was no issue with playing the game on a keyboard/mouse either, as it still had a smooth playthrough with no noticeable delays. As you progress through the game, you learn new mechanics and controls through pop-up cards that detail how certain things are done. This makes it effective for players to learn as they go. Additionally, the game has a hints system where you can keep track of everything you may have missed. What I really like about the UI is that it’s made to keep objects, inventory, and other tabs all concise. It slightly reminds me of the UI from Animal Crossing, where you are able to keep track of collectables, items, quests… etc.
The game lets you choose from eight different languages for subtitles and four different voice languages. (These settings could always be changed throughout the game) I had played this game with English subtitles and Japanese voice settings to make it seem like I was watching the Kureyon Shin chan anime series.
The game has a great resemblance to the art style of both manga and anime, and it’s done at quite a good level. It’s a distinctive art style that is extremely detailed and expressive. The animated scenes in this game are fantastic and really make the players feel as if they’re watching a movie/show. The depth in the details that are added to the illustrations, scenery, and landscapes is outstanding! Facial expressions and animations pull through when having conversations with different characters. For instance, Yuri’s introduction wink or Sumi’s annoyed face. The voice acting and animated scenes are done so nicely that it’s almost like the player is watching an anime on its own. For instance, the beginning of the game has a theme song title opening that is a montage of picturesque images. The music in this game is everything, as it’s so mellow and upbeat and has so much variety to it. You can get a feel of marching band instruments to a more soft piano-like tune. At night, you can hear the fireflies, crickets, the water of the river and ballad music playing so gently, which creates a perfect night town vibe. I really like the sound effects that pair with the animations, especially Shinnosuke’s ‘Goooo Goooo’! or his ‘Wooooow!’ when capturing an insect. Dialogue between the characters is filled with humour and charm that makes the game suitable for all players.
The game lets you walk around as Shinnosuke with his dad’s butterfly net to capture several insects around his town. As you wander the area, you get to take in the beautifully painted/drawn landscapes. The walking depth for Shin chan’s animation is so satisfying as you have his character almost pop out and in from the still locations. It gives the game a pop-up book characteristic. Catching insects is so much fun as you’ll notice little sparkles in the location and then have to orientate properly to capture them. Capturing the insects is such a simple task, but it goes such a long way with how stunning the town looks. Besides insects, you can also capture fish, minerals, and wild plants, which can all be documented in Kazuko’s book. As you bring unique items, you get to learn more about them in her script. Besides these, as you go about collecting insects, fish and plants, you will encounter several interesting people who will have quests for you to do. From doing these tasks, you can earn pocket money, which can be used to buy stuff.
One of the funniest encounters I had in the game was when pressing the shift button to sprint, which got Shinnosuke to shake his butt towards the player and move around really fast. What I really liked about this game was that there was a time system. As you move throughout Akita, time will pass, and eventually, the day will soon turn to night. At night, you can roam around certain places in Akita, and then, once you’re ready, you can go to sleep. Most of the quests will require the player to go on the hunt for different items; for instance, this can be things like cooking a meal at the diner to getting minerals/tubes/coal for Yuri’s inventions. At night, you can roam around certain places in Akita, and then, once you’re ready, you can go to sleep. Most of the quests will require the player to go on the hunt for different items; for instance, this can be things like cooking a meal at the diner to getting minerals/tubes/coal for Yuri’s inventions. You can also do farming in the game. You know, after the first few days, I thought nothing new would be introduced, but as you unlock new areas and meet new people, you continue to unlock more and more things to do. There is so much that can be done in the game, and as you continue to progress, there’s never a dull moment!
I love how the game plays out an adventure where a 5-year-old boy and his dog Shiro get to go on together. They meet such quirky characters that embrace a lovely and interesting story that keeps the player playing. You get to choose between two worlds where you can take in the easy-going village life or explore a more hectic world. Getting to choose between the two places makes the game so much fun and does not have a great sense of repetitiveness as you can continue to switch up your daily routine.
If you want to play a game where you take on an exciting adventure as a 5-year-old boy named Shin Chan alongside his curious dog Shiro, then this game is just for you. As Shin chan, you can take on several daily tasks that include farming, insect capturing, fishing, helping locals with tasks, and foraging. Not only can you do this in Shin Chan local village, but choose to explore the mysteries hidden in Coal Town. If you are looking for a game that has amazing cutscenes and tells a compelling story, be sure to check out Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town.
Overall: 9/10
This is S & S. We are world game explorers. We play games. We have played over 10,000+ games! We travel, we write reviews AND we play more games!!!!
