Cattle Nation is described as a “Cozy Cowboy Journey Life Sim.” Whereas “cozy” has turn into fairly a typical gaming time period lately, particularly on Nintendo Change, the cowboy angle is one thing distinctive. Ignore the buzzword, as we take a better have a look at this Wild West title.
The life sim (to not be confused with simulation) takes place within the late 1800s. Your character (which you could title) begins with a plot of land in a mining settlement (that you can also title). You’ll meet a couple of key NPCs after which get left to your personal units, introducing your self to others and getting acquainted with the lay of the land. Regardless of seeing horses hitched to posts, and buzzards flying and attacking from overhead, the interval isn’t overly evident. It typically appears like a life sim of an vague time. Even close-up character artwork, when partaking in conversations, typically lacks a definite Wild West look.
It’s thematically extra obvious whenever you encounter bandits. Typically, strolling alongside the street, a bush or tree will rattle and a baddie or two will pop up. You’ll wish to be fast and correct to take them out. In case you favor to not have enemies within the overworld, you may disable them fully. It would rob the sport of some persona, however it’s a considerate contact all the identical.
Regardless of the conservative method to embracing the time interval, the retro pixel look works properly. Transitions from day to nighttime, seasons altering, and little animations convey welcomed variety, though there may be some stutter, at the very least on the unique Change mannequin. It’s a cute-looking sport. The music sounds extra Wild West, however tends to be subdued, if not silent. I believed it was simply because it defaults decrease, giving extra emphasis to sound results of birds or whatnot. However even cranking it to 100%, it nonetheless was a letdown.
The sport presents loads of anticipated duties to maintain you busy, apart from the preliminary clearing of the land, slicing bushes, and busting rocks. Crafting could have you making sprinklers to water crops, furnishings to brighten your own home… and a hard-boiled egg? Farming could have you digging, planting seasonally acceptable seeds, selecting them, and promoting them. As you develop, you’ll get extra animals, too. Fishing is simply what it feels like, however the pace and a small margin for error (much like the bandit fights) may make you much less into it than anticipated, during which case, use “water traps”.
Mining is likely to be probably the most distinctive and intriguing half. You acquire treasure within the depths of the earth, all whereas getting attacked by bats, snakes, and so forth (it’s also possible to disable enemies right here in the event you favor). It’s a favourite, however one of the best stuff is down low, and your headlamp has restricted vary. So, be sure you have torches to battle a few of the darkness. Additionally, be sure you’ve cooked some meals, as that is the place your inexperienced stamina bar can actually deplete. You don’t wish to end up waking up within the physician’s workplace, because it’s not free.
For all these issues, it’s constructing relationships with the townsfolk that can allow you to develop your settlement right into a full city. It’s essential to work together with them and turn into buddies. Get pleasant with the banker, as an example, and he’ll develop the financial institution to carry extra money. Make buddies with the lady on the saloon, and he or she’ll ultimately construct a restaurant. There’s a board on the town with a calendar of various occasions for residents, however making buddies principally means giving them what they need (reminding me of one thing like Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp). It’s not probably the most thrilling method.
Worse, it’s additionally not that intuitive. Whereas making buddies looks as if it might be easy sufficient, we discovered ourselves questioning why hearts have been so gradual to extend. Giving them issues they like, they’ll say one thing similar to “you’ve made my week,” or a bit of coronary heart will pop up, however the general friendship ranges keep low. That’s presuming you may even discover them. They wander, typically saying the identical factor relying on the place they’re, which can be laborious to get enthusiastic about. Perhaps I’m lacking one thing, however that leads me to a different level…
The sport doesn’t make it apparent what it’s essential do subsequent to essentially get going. This method isn’t inherently fallacious, however right here the shortage of sure info proves irritating. Even 25 hours in, progress felt minimal. I’m removed from a life sim skilled, however my spouse, who’s a fan, concurred. One massive failing right here, in comparison with different life sims, is pacing. Whereas Cattle Nation is likable and has stored us busy, it’ll even be simple to maneuver on as soon as this evaluate is revealed and the following factor comes alongside.
It’ll even be simple to maneuver alongside since this sport has points. Some are subjective. I really feel the consumer interface might be higher optimized, and I miss touchscreen help. Not that the top-down management (or side-scrolling in mines) is unhealthy. Even with a studying curve, it’s pretty forgiving, however there are a number of tiny icons. Additionally, not having the ability to seize a screenshot or video is weak. Bigger are the glitches. Seeing a “Software program closed due to an error” message is rarely enjoyable, particularly whenever you see it a number of occasions. Not less than the glass-crafting bug was patched.
Whereas the Wild West theme is exclusive to this sort of sport, Cattle Nation presents little you haven’t seen elsewhere. An absence of originality isn’t stunning for this style, however it’s nonetheless disappointing. The non-innovative method could be much less of a problem have been this sport refined, however a number of quirks and outright bugs present that’s not the case. The sport may use extra polish, so style followers is likely to be greatest ready for a sale.
