Flower Shop: Summer In Fairbrook
- May 16, 2014
- Winter Wolves
- 8h median play time
Get on SteamIn "Flower Shop: Summer in Fairbrook," players manage a flower shop and navigate romantic relationships while learning about flowers and their care. The game features time management challenges and life simulation elements, allowing players to build relationships with various characters and upgrade their shop. The story unfolds over the course of a summer, with players able to make choices that affect the outcome of their relationships and business ventures.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
Linux
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game has a charming character development arc, particularly for the protagonist Steve, who evolves from a lazy slacker to a more responsible individual.
- It's a good entry point for newcomers to the visual novel and dating simulator genres, offering a simple and easy-to-understand story.
- The art style and music contribute positively to the overall atmosphere of the game, making it a pleasant experience despite its shortcomings.
- The farming mechanic feels tacked on and largely pointless, as it doesn't significantly impact the dating aspects of the game.
- The main character is often seen as unlikable and generic, which detracts from the player's emotional investment in the story and relationships.
- The game is criticized for being too short and repetitive, with limited choices that can lead to frustrating outcomes in romantic pursuits.
- grinding29 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect in this game is largely criticized for being tedious and poorly integrated, with many players feeling that the farming mini-game detracts from the dating experience rather than enhancing it. While some appreciate the farming as a distraction, most agree it lacks meaningful impact on the story or character relationships, making it feel unnecessary and repetitive. Overall, the farming element is seen as a shallow addition that fails to blend well with the core dating sim mechanics.
“Honestly, I don't see why the farming is there since it just hinders the romantic relationships with each character if you get over a certain amount of money.”
“The farming feels tacked on and is largely pointless, as you can only spend money on, gasp, more seeds.”
“The farming component is not well integrated and feels like a distracting mini-game in this dating sim.”
- story27 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally perceived as straightforward and somewhat shallow, with mixed feelings about its depth and character development. While some players found it enjoyable and appreciated certain touching moments, many criticized it for being generic and lacking impact, particularly in relation to the farming mechanics that felt underutilized. Overall, the narrative leaves players wishing for more substance and a more cohesive connection to the gameplay elements.
“The plot revolves around Steve, a guy who’s barely getting by at college with a D average, just got dumped, and has an appalling relationship with his father.”
“Your dad doesn't exactly get along with you, but figures your attitude needs changing, so he drives you up to your older uncle's farm where you're expected to raise vegetables on a small plot of land.”
“Flower shop: Summer in Fairbrook has some pretty touching story arcs.”
“The story was meh and its characters were also meh.”
“The story is generic and forgettable even if it has its moments.”
“Not enough depth to the story.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players noting that it enhances the atmosphere and fits well within the various settings. While some found it decent and not overly memorable, it stands out as one of the more enjoyable aspects of the game for several users. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the overall experience.
“On the bright side, the music is good.”
“The art is decent, the soundtrack is decent, the story, in itself, is decent, the whole game is decent.”
“The music fits a lot of the places, and sadly, the music seems to be the only thing I enjoyed about the game in the end.”
“The art is decent, the soundtrack is decent, the story, in itself, is decent; the whole game is decent.”
“The music really adds to the atmosphere.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a fairly short and repetitive loop, with the gardening mechanics feeling underdeveloped and ultimately disappointing. While it attempts to introduce new elements to the visual novel/dating sim genre, these features do not significantly enhance the experience and may detract from the overall narrative cohesion. Overall, the gameplay is not terrible, but it lacks depth and innovation.
“It's not groundbreaking, it's not revolutionary, it's not bringing anything new to the 'visual novel'/'dating sim' genre (aside from the 'Harvest Moon' mechanics), but the game overall is not bad, per se.”
“Fairly short and somewhat repetitive gameplay loop.”
“This gardening plot mechanic seemed like such wasted potential, and was a big disappointment to see.”
“The farming mechanic is useless and the rearranging of the way you spend your time broke the story into parts where it just doesn’t feel as well made as the one made for the iPhone.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally considered low quality, with an art style that is described as average—neither outstanding nor terrible. However, some users find a certain charm in the artwork, suggesting it improves once players become accustomed to it.
“The artwork has a charm to it.”
“The art style was okay, nothing fantastic and nothing terrible.”
“Tldr: low quality visuals.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the character development in the game, particularly highlighting Steve's journey as a standout element. Many consider this aspect to be the game's strongest feature, enhancing overall engagement and enjoyment.
“I really like the character, especially Steve, since it's fun to see him go through character development.”
“The best aspect of this game is its character development.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While some users felt a lack of emotional investment in certain visual novels, "Flower Shop: Summer in Fairbrook" was noted for its touching story arcs that effectively engage players' emotions.
“Flower Shop: Summer in Fairbrook has some pretty touching story arcs.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its vibrant colors and engaging dialogue, complemented by a fitting musical score that enhances the overall experience. While there are minor spelling errors, they are not overly distracting.
“When it first came to Steam, I thought it looked promising due to the colorful atmosphere, and the dialogue seemed good.”
“The music really adds to the atmosphere.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its ironic inclusion of a voice volume slider despite the absence of any voice acting, showcasing a playful self-awareness.
“Funny enough, there is a voice volume slider, and yet, there's no voice acting in this game.”
