Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid
- June 26, 2024
- Spike ChunSoft
- 40h median play time
Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid provides a gaming adventure as cozy as its name. Its stakes may be low, but it packs in plenty to accomplish and will have players feeling nostalgic for a time they may have never even experienced.
Get on SteamIn "Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid" , experience a nostalgic, open-world summer in a rural Japanese town during the 1900s. Join a circus troupe, enjoy various activities, and explore the picturesque environment. As the protagonist, you have unique abilities, like surviving high falls and catching bugs with an Acorn Shooter, ensuring a one-of-a-kind adventure.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid offers a relaxing and nostalgic experience, allowing players to explore a beautifully crafted open world filled with charming characters and engaging quests.
- The game's art style and sound design are exceptional, creating a cozy atmosphere that enhances the overall enjoyment of the gameplay.
- Players appreciate the freedom to explore at their own pace, with a variety of activities such as bug catching, fishing, and building relationships with townsfolk, reminiscent of childhood summer adventures.
- Some players find the controls to be unintuitive at times, which can detract from the overall experience.
- The game has a time limit mechanic that may not appeal to everyone, as it restricts the amount of exploration and activities players can engage in each day.
- While the game is visually charming, some fans of the previous titles in the series miss the detailed hand-drawn backgrounds, feeling that the 3D graphics are a downgrade.
- graphics15 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by a charming crayon-like art style and vibrant colors that create a visually stunning and cozy world, despite being less detailed than previous titles in the series. While the 3D graphics may appear simple, they effectively support the game's freedom of movement and interactivity, contributing to an engaging experience. Overall, the art style is praised for its personality and ability to enhance the storytelling, even if some fans miss the more intricate backgrounds of earlier games.
“The game's beautiful crayon-like art style and vibrant colors create a visually stunning world that perfectly captures the essence of summer.”
“The art style is amazing, the characters are interesting and well designed, the mechanics are tight and fluid, and it's got lots of things you can miss meaning it's a great game to replay.”
“The characters and areas feel alive and real, the controls feel great, the dialogue is fun and interesting, the environment and stylized graphics make for such a cozy and adventurous experience.”
“The visuals are not as detailed as previous Natsuyasumi games, which had hand-drawn 2D backgrounds, but all the interactivity of the world and freedom of exploration easily makes up for it.”
“But the PC port is bare bones; you have one graphic mode setting with three options that range from 'looks like the Switch version' to 'it still looks like the Switch version but the draw distance is a bit better'.”
“This in turn makes the art style downgrade in comparison with BNN's real detailed backgrounds (which fans of BNN have criticized), though it could be argued this compromise was made to incorporate the fully 3D gameplay.”
- gameplay15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Natsumon is characterized by a joyful movement and exploration experience, drawing inspiration from titles like "Breath of the Wild" and "A Short Hike" while maintaining the charm of its series. Players can enjoy a blend of mechanics that allow for fluid traversal, including wall climbing, alongside a life simulation aspect reminiscent of "Animal Crossing," where they can engage in activities like fishing and building relationships with locals. The game features a dynamic in-game calendar that enhances the sense of time and progression, making it a rewarding experience for players.
“Gameplay-wise, there’s a real joy to the movement and the exploration.”
“The game marries the gameplay mechanics of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild with the gameplay loop of Animal Crossing, giving you a coastal valley within the Japanese countryside to explore while catching fish, bugs, and developing friendships with the locals as their lives unfold.”
“Natsumon takes the idea of the chill Boku no Natsuyasumi summer holiday fun and makes it its own thing with fully 3D environments that differ from the more fixed camera-angled gameplay of Boku no Natsuyasumi.”
“The shooting mechanic in the game automatically uses the deck gyro controls.”
“This in turn makes the art style downgrade in comparison with BNN's real detailed backgrounds, which fans of BNN have criticized, though it could be argued this compromise was made to incorporate the fully 3D gameplay.”
“One of the main gameplay features that separates Natsu-mon from the crowd is that this is one of those games where every day you spend in this world is tied to the in-game calendar.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
"Natsu-mon: 20th Century Summer Kid" is celebrated for its heartwarming and nostalgic portrayal of childhood in the Japanese countryside, allowing players to build meaningful relationships and create lasting memories. The game evokes feelings of innocence and wonder through its cozy atmosphere, charming interactions, and relaxing gameplay, making it a delightful escape for those seeking a wholesome experience. Overall, it is praised for its emotional depth and the warmth it brings to the player’s journey.
“Natsu-mon: 20th Century Summer Kid is a heartwarming slice-of-life gem that transports players back to a simpler time in the Japanese countryside.”
“As Satoru, you'll experience the nostalgic charm of a bygone era in the town of Yomogi, filled with friendly faces, heartwarming scenarios, and a cozy soundtrack.”
“Whether you're looking for a relaxing escape filled with nostalgic vibes or a heartwarming story about cherishing the last days of summer, Natsu-mon: 20th Century Summer Kid is a delightful experience you won't want to miss.”
- story8 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The story of "Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid" is praised for its engaging and well-written narrative, capturing the nostalgic essence of a summer vacation in 90s Japan. Players enjoy a blend of main story tasks and relaxed mini-quests, allowing for exploration and discovery in a charming open world, all while cherishing the fleeting moments of summer. The game effectively balances fun quests with a heartwarming theme, making it a delightful experience.
“Whether you're looking for a relaxing escape filled with nostalgic vibes or a heartwarming story about cherishing the last days of summer, Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid is a delightful experience you won't want to miss.”
“You can spend the whole in-game day doing these smaller things and no one would stop and handhold you to a next story-related goal.”
“But that's part of the game's design and the story, as you're spending a last month of summer in these places.”
“You have main story tasks, most of these are relaxed but some ask you to achieve criteria before a date, and smaller mini-tasks, such as solving puzzles left by a creepy ghost girl.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its nostalgic charm and fitting tracks that enhance the overall experience. Composed by Hideki Sakamoto and Ryo Shirasawa, the soundtrack features a mix of chill and fun tunes that complement the game's cozy atmosphere and engaging story. Players appreciate how the music contributes to the enjoyment of the gameplay and the vibrant art style.
“As Satoru, you'll experience the nostalgic charm of a bygone era in the town of Yomogi, filled with friendly faces, heartwarming scenarios, and a cozy soundtrack.”
“Real chill and fun music along with fitting tracks for certain scenes, the music also makes you enjoy the game more as well.”
“I love the ease of play, the setting, the characters, the graphics, the soundtrack, and sense of exploration.”
“Although both main composers for the OST, Hideki Sakamoto and Ryo Shirasawa, did the music for this game, those who have played the other Millennium Kitchen title featuring Shin-chan will be glad to know that the two had also done music on the first game there as well.”
“Although both main composers for the OST, Hideki Sakamoto and Ryo Shirasawa, did the music for this game, those who have played the other Millennium Kitchen title featuring Shin-chan will be glad to know that the two had also done music on the first game there as well.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Reviews suggest that the grinding aspect of the game feels reminiscent of popular titles like Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon, but lacks certain core elements such as furniture collection and farming, which some players find tedious. The absence of combat and dialogue further emphasizes the grinding nature, leading to a desire for a more streamlined experience to achieve 100% completion.
“Would make things a lot less tedious for 100% if it did.”
“What if you mixed Breath of the Wild (with no combat) and Harvest Moon (with no farming) and Animal Crossing (with no talking animals)?”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by the bratty nature of the protagonist and the snappy interactions with villagers, which can be funny and silly without crossing into disturbing territory. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted charm to the gameplay experience.
“The boy you play is a bit of a brat, and all the villager interactions follow suit. They're very snappy and sometimes even funny, though occasionally just silly, but not in a disturbing way.”
“The humor in this game is delightful, with witty dialogue and amusing situations that keep you chuckling throughout your adventure.”
“I love how the game balances humor with its storyline; the quirky characters and their interactions always bring a smile to my face.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its cozy atmosphere, making it an enjoyable summer adventure experience.
“This is an amazing summer adventure game with a cozy atmosphere.”
Critic Reviews
Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid (Nintendo Switch)
Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid provides a gaming adventure as cozy as its name. Its stakes may be low, but it packs in plenty to accomplish and will have players feeling nostalgic for a time they may have never even experienced.
85%Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid Review
We’re delighted that this game has made it to the West. And although performance and graphics aren't up to scratch, and the translation is a bit wonky in places, Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid still is very much a playable and enjoyable experience. The game teaches some genuinely valuable lessons and makes you think about life and how we must live it to its fullest. It’s a game that shouldn’t be rushed through, and the 25-45 minutes it takes to get through each day lends itself perfectly to the Switch. This game isn’t for everyone — it's slow in many places and may test your patience — but if what you’re looking for is a relaxing experience with lots of freedom and activities at your disposal, then we’re sure you’ll have a great summer with this one.
70%Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid (Switch) Review
Relive your childhood summer, but now in smalltown Japan.
75%
