Evaluate: Moonglow Bay (Nintendo Change)

Marketed as a “cozy” recreation, on that finish, Moonglow Bay delivers (in that cozy equals miserable form of manner). But it surely’s additionally marketed as a “fishing RPG.” That recreation units expectations that it in the end doesn’t ship. Certainly, I query what sort of recreation Moonglow Bay in the end desires to be. Do the builders even know? It’s a mishmash, and as such, it’s the sort that’ll most likely lead to a like it or go away it response.

The sport begins compellingly, with you taking management of a middle-aged to older character (from a minuscule choice). That’s not one thing I recall too many video games doing (although the grief angle actually rings a bell), and it makes Moonglow Bay stand out considerably. So does the Japanese Canadian shoreline setting, introduced in voxel kind, no much less. With a novel character and setting, Moonglow Bay appears set to ship a comfy fishing journey RPG.

Sadly, as soon as the opening narrative and tutorials conclude, you’re left with a component of aimlessness. Do you wish to speak to the residents of the city? You’re inspired to, although many (maybe most) have little to say, no less than initially, and aren’t very fascinating past dropping tidbits about fish. Do you wish to go to the varied buildings? I’m shocked that such a giant city has so little to enter; an actual kick within the pants after slowly making your approach to a spot on the map. Severely, I get we’re taking part in an older character, however this sluggish strolling velocity quickly grows weary. Nonetheless, this may be a random glitch as a result of it doesn’t at all times occur. In any case, the whole recreation begins a little bit too sluggish for my liking. On the level the place it needs to be hooking you, you might end up turned off earlier than attending to the higher parts, like getting a ship and battling bosses.

In fact, you’re not simply catching fish, but in addition cooking them, as a result of what would a “slice-of-life” recreation be with out that? We discovered the timing tough, though each the burnt and undercooked meals nonetheless regarded nice. Maybe this aspect was, could I counsel, undercooked? If real-life bankrupt cities trusted my cooking for survival, we’d be in hassle.

The voxel graphics are an acquired style. At the same time as somebody who enjoys these, they appear barely misplaced right here. In the meantime, my spouse very a lot disliked them, which killed the potential for co-op play within the Gould family. The presentation can result in getting caught (once more, the lead character isn’t agile), bugs or not. Fortunately, an in-game choice enables you to spawn at a secure level.

One thing that shouldn’t be an acquired style is the soundtrack. Lena Raine (Celeste) got here via with compositions that stored me taking part in longer than I’d in any other case. My tip is to decrease the sound results and dialogue within the choices whereas cranking the music.

For all its authentic parts, Moonglow Bay surprisingly finally ends up taking well-liked parts from different video games and never bettering them. Now, should you’re on the lookout for one other recreation with a plot formed by grief and haven’t had your fill of fishing, cooking, promoting/donating, taking photos, and so on., that is for you. For me, it wasn’t what I anticipated. It would’ve labored three years in the past when initially launched on PC. However as a 2024 launch on Change, it’s too cliched and stagnant for me to present a broad advice.

Moonglow Bay did not hook me, however because the debut recreation from a small studio, it’s a strong sufficient begin total for the subset of players who haven’t but had their fill of titles like this. I hope the workforce can tighten their focus and gameplay mechanics for his or her subsequent launch.