Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid

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.

87%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

story, grinding

100% User Score Based on 108 reviews

Critic Score 78%Based on 9 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $39.99

Buy NowGet on Steam$39.99

About

In "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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid screenshot

100%

Audience ScoreBased on 117 reviews

gameplay5 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

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 activities.
The game features a delightful art style and a cozy soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere, making it a perfect escape for players seeking a laid-back adventure.
With its emphasis on exploration and freedom, players can engage in various activities like bug catching and fishing, creating a sense of childhood wonder and joy.

The graphics and performance can be underwhelming, with some players noting issues like muddy textures and frame rate drops, particularly on the Nintendo Switch.
The transition from fixed camera angles to a fully 3D environment has been criticized as a downgrade, affecting the visual charm of the game.
Some players may find the pacing slow and the missions less engaging, which could test the patience of those looking for a more action-oriented experience.

gameplay
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
76%
9%
The gameplay of Natsumon is characterized by a joyful exploration experience, blending modern movement mechanics inspired by titles like "Breath of the Wild" and "A Short Hike" with the charming, laid-back gameplay loop reminiscent of "Animal Crossing." Players can traverse a beautifully designed coastal valley, engage in various activities such as fishing and bug catching, and develop relationships with local characters, all while enjoying a dynamic in-game calendar that enhances replayability. The mechanics are fluid and tight, making for an engaging and immersive experience, despite some criticism regarding the art style compared to previous titles in the series.
- “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.”
- “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.”
graphics
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
53%
9%
The game's graphics feature a charming crayon-like art style and vibrant colors that create a visually appealing world, though they are simpler compared to previous titles in the series. While the 3D graphics may lack detail and the PC port offers limited settings, the overall aesthetic and interactivity compensate for these shortcomings, contributing to a cozy and immersive experience. Despite some performance issues, the art style is praised for its personality and ability to enhance the game's narrative and sound design.
- “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 excellent and perfectly melds with the writing and sound.”
- “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.'”
- “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.”
emotional
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
"Natsu-mon: 20th Century Summer Kid" is celebrated for its emotional depth, offering players a heartwarming and nostalgic experience set in a charming Japanese countryside. The game emphasizes the innocence of childhood and the joy of building relationships, creating a cozy atmosphere filled with memorable adventures and heartfelt interactions. Overall, it is described as a delightful and wholesome escape that captures the essence of cherished summer memories.
- “Natsu-mon: 20th Century Summer Kid is a heartwarming and magical ode to the long-lost summers of our childhood.”
- “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.”
- “Each day brings new opportunities to build relationships with the townsfolk through adventures and heartfelt conversations.”
story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
65%
18%
The story of "Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid" is praised for its fun and well-written narrative, capturing the nostalgic essence of a summer vacation in 90s Japan. Players enjoy a variety of quests and mini-tasks that enhance the experience, allowing for exploration and discovery without feeling rushed. While the main story is engaging, some reviewers noted a desire for more compelling missions to further enrich the gameplay.
- “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 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.”
- “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.”
music
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
33%
20%
The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic charm and fitting tracks that enhance the overall experience, contributing to a cozy and immersive atmosphere. Composed by Hideki Sakamoto and Ryo Shirasawa, the soundtrack features chill and enjoyable tunes that complement various scenes, making it a standout aspect of the gameplay. Overall, the sound design and music significantly elevate the enjoyment of this small open world adventure.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game reminiscent of a blend between Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon, but without certain core elements like furniture and farming, which some feel makes the experience less tedious. However, there is a desire for improvements to reduce the grind, especially for those aiming for 100% completion. Overall, the grinding is seen as manageable but could benefit from enhancements to streamline the experience.
- “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)?”
- “It's like Animal Crossing without the furniture and Harvest Moon without the farming, but in the best way possible.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The optimization of "natsu-mon: 20th century summer kid" has been criticized for subpar performance and graphics, particularly on the Nintendo Switch, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these technical drawbacks, players still find the game enjoyable and immersive.
- “Whether you’re solving mysteries with friends, enjoying a quiet moment by the sea, or orchestrating a dazzling circus performance, natsu-mon transports you to a world where the wonders of the Japanese countryside are yours to discover.”
- “The technical performance, especially on the Nintendo Switch, is also a drawback that impacts the overall experience.”
- “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.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by snappy and sometimes silly interactions, particularly through the bratty behavior of the main character and the villagers. While the humor can be amusing, it avoids crossing into unsettling territory, making it generally light-hearted and entertaining.
- “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 that slightly disturbing Shin-chan way.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”