Cattle Nation is described as a “Cozy Cowboy Journey Life Sim.” Whereas “cozy” has change into fairly a typical gaming time period in recent times, particularly on Nintendo Swap, the cowboy angle is one thing distinctive. Ignore the buzzword, as we take a better take 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 can identify) begins with a plot of land in a mining settlement (that you can also identify). You’ll meet a couple of key NPCs after which get left to your individual units, introducing your self to others and getting conversant in 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 seems 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 while you encounter bandits. Typically, strolling alongside the highway, 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. If you happen to favor to not have enemies within the overworld, you may disable them solely. It would rob the sport of some character, however it’s a considerate contact all the identical.
Regardless of the conservative strategy to embracing the time interval, the retro pixel look works properly. Transitions from day to nighttime, seasons altering, and little animations deliver welcomed range, though there may be some stutter, at the very least on the unique Swap mannequin. It’s a cute-looking sport. The music sounds extra Wild West, however tends to be subdued, if not silent. I assumed 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 affords loads of anticipated duties to maintain you busy, in addition to the preliminary clearing of the land, chopping bushes, and busting rocks. Crafting may have you making sprinklers to water crops, furnishings to brighten your own home… and a hard-boiled egg? Farming may have you digging, planting seasonally acceptable seeds, choosing them, and promoting them. As you develop, you’ll get extra animals, too. Fishing is simply what it appears like, however the pace and a small margin for error (just like the bandit fights) may make you much less into it than anticipated, wherein case, use “water traps”.
Mining may be probably the most distinctive and intriguing half. You accumulate treasure within the depths of the earth, all whereas getting attacked by bats, snakes, and so forth (you too can disable enemies right here in case you favor). It’s a favourite, however one of the best stuff is down low, and your headlamp has restricted vary. So, ensure you have torches to combat among the darkness. Additionally, ensure 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 good to work together with them and change into mates. Get pleasant with the banker, as an illustration, and he’ll develop the financial institution to carry more cash. Make mates with the lady on the saloon, and she or he’ll ultimately construct a restaurant. There’s a board on the town with a calendar of various occasions for residents, however making mates principally means giving them what they need (reminding me of one thing like Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp). It’s not probably the most thrilling strategy.
Worse, it’s additionally not that intuitive. Whereas making mates looks like it will be easy sufficient, we discovered ourselves questioning why hearts had been so gradual to extend. Giving them issues they like, they’ll say one thing reminiscent of “you’ve made my week,” or slightly coronary heart will pop up, however the total 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 also be exhausting to get enthusiastic about. Possibly I’m lacking one thing, however that leads me to a different level…
The sport doesn’t make it apparent what you must do subsequent to actually get going. This strategy isn’t inherently fallacious, however right here the dearth of sure info proves irritating. Even 25 hours in, progress felt minimal. I’m removed from a life sim knowledgeable, however my spouse, who’s a fan, concurred. One large failing right here, in comparison with different life sims, is pacing. Whereas Cattle Nation is likable and has saved us busy, it’ll even be simple to maneuver on as soon as this evaluation 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 may very well 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 plenty 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 while you see it a number of occasions. No less than the glass-crafting bug was patched.
Whereas the Wild West theme is exclusive to one of these sport, Cattle Nation affords little you haven’t seen elsewhere. An absence of originality isn’t stunning for this style, however it’s nonetheless disappointing. The non-innovative strategy could be much less of a difficulty had 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 may be finest ready for a sale.
