Shashingo: Learn Japanese with Photography

93%
Game Brain Score Based on 586 reviews
  • graphics
  • music
  • gameplay
Shashingo: Learn Japanese with Photography Game Cover
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"Shashingo: Learn Japanese with Photography" is a game that takes place in a stylized, 3D environment of Japanese streets. Players can take photographs of objects and learn their Japanese and English names. The game features in-game photography, Japanese audio, a photo album, beginner phrases and grammar lessons, and a lo-fi soundtrack. Players can track their progress in the photo album and use the photographs as flashcards for studying. restant : 0 ]]

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 586 reviews
graphics38 positive mentions
monetization14 negative mentions
  • Charming art style and relaxing music create an immersive atmosphere for learning Japanese.
  • The game effectively gamifies vocabulary learning through a photo-taking mechanic and quizzes.
  • Offers a good variety of vocabulary, including related words, making it a fun supplement to traditional learning methods.
  • The game is quite short, with limited content and only one area to explore, leading to a quick completion.
  • Lacks interactive elements such as NPCs or the ability to enter buildings, which could enhance the learning experience.
  • Movement speed is slow, making navigation tedious in the small game world.
  • graphics62 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and adorable art style, with many reviewers noting the impressive attention to detail that enhances the overall experience. The visuals are described as immersive and beautifully crafted, striking a balance between realism and simplicity, making the game enjoyable and relaxing. Despite some criticisms regarding the game's value, the graphics team is recognized for their significant contribution to the game's aesthetic appeal.

    • “The art style, the layout of the city, the little hidden things and details really make it come to life.”
    • “The game looks amazing; the art style is adorable, and you can tell it's been a passion project from the developer!”
    • “The visuals were immersive and struck a great balance between realism and simplicity.”
    • “Then they dumped (incorrect) audio clips and text on top as a slap in the face to those graphics team members.”
    • “There are zip ties holding a banner to a railing for God's sake, that's an insane detail for such a game some people might never notice and yet the graphic designers were clearly the only ones who took this project seriously.”
    • “- the visuals are ok for this kind of game”
  • music36 mentions

    The music in the game is consistently praised for its calming and chill qualities, enhancing the overall relaxing atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate the soundtrack's ability to complement the beautiful visuals and contribute to a lofi vibe, making it enjoyable for long periods, especially while learning Japanese. Overall, the music is described as a standout feature that adds to the game's charm and immersive experience.

    • “This is a great game with lovely art and comfy music.”
    • “The music is the right amount of chill, and the cute stylized graphics just bring out the environment around you.”
    • “Overall wonderful music!”
    • “The music hasn't gotten old; which is surprising!”
    • “Like I was just taking a casual walk with calming lo-fi music to keep me busy.”
    • “The game runs well for me, the graphics/music/sounds are all charming so you can enjoy your time learning.”
  • gameplay20 mentions

    The gameplay is primarily focused on vocabulary acquisition through a photography mechanic, allowing players to learn at their own pace, including basic greetings and the alphabet. While some users appreciate the fun and unique approach, many feel that the game lacks depth and content, with a small map and limited gameplay elements. Overall, it is seen as a decent effort from a solo developer, but improvements and additional features would enhance the experience.

    • “I've never run into any bugs (though I'm sure some exist), but the game is still being updated to add new features and practice gameplay, which is always great to hear.”
    • “Has a similar feel to the first time I played a fighting game, like I'm learning a whole new kind of gameplay for the first time in a while.”
    • “The gameplay is at your own pace and you can learn not only the alphabet, but also basic greetings and more!”
    • “I don't find there to be enough gameplay to call it a game and not enough learning to call it educational.”
    • “However, I do think the game would require more content as the map was kind of small and gameplay lacks depth.”
    • “In terms of actual gameplay, there isn't much, but I wasn't expecting there to be, so overall I still think it is quite fun for what it is.”
  • monetization14 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is highlighted by its immersive and detailed advertising system, which includes on-demand translations of in-game posters and signs. Players appreciate the effort put into creating a rich vocabulary and the educational value of understanding the various advertisements, though some desire more clarity on the distinctions between different types of signage. Overall, the approach to in-game advertising is seen as innovative and engaging, with potential for further development.

    • “But the advertisements at the bus stop?”
    • “I would like to see more here, like what the symbols on advertisements mean instead of just advertisement for every single one, but it is interesting and fairly new. I'd like to see where they go with this.”
    • “There's also some pedantic feeling distinctions, like the difference between a signboard and an advertisement, when they could be used interchangeably.”
  • story12 mentions

    Users express a desire for a more interactive and narrative-driven experience, suggesting the inclusion of NPC quests that gradually reveal objectives through gameplay, such as taking pictures of specific objects. They envision a scenario mode where players can engage in conversations with NPCs to receive quests, enhancing the learning experience of Japanese through fluent dialogue and structured tasks. Overall, the feedback highlights a longing for a deeper story element that integrates language learning with engaging gameplay.

    • “I would love to see NPC quests where they go '???' when you start, but as you take pictures of objects, it slowly reveals what they want.”
    • “With multiple maps and maybe quests (someone asks you to go take a picture of a certain thing but you have to take his directions), I think this game would be amazing for learning Japanese.”
    • “I was hoping to have conversations with NPCs to give you quests or something like that.”
    • “Though it's basic for learning, it would be great to have NPCs speak fluently in Japanese to you and have them give you quests too.”
    • “This is a far-off idea and perhaps a bit beyond the scope of this project, but I'd love to have some sort of quest mode that involved me having to do certain objectives from an increasing list and responding to certain common prompts in Japanese.”
  • atmosphere12 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charming and calming qualities, effectively immersing players in a detailed and relaxing representation of Japan. The combination of cute visuals, soothing music, and meticulous sound design creates a unique edutainment experience that enhances the overall enjoyment and learning process. Despite a smaller map, the rich atmosphere contributes significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “Also, the atmosphere in the city is relaxing and the music is just calming.”
    • “Although the map is fairly small, it's jam-packed with detail in both its environment and sound design, capturing the atmosphere of Japan very well.”
    • “I know this is a rather generic request, but I just love the atmosphere created within this game as it really puts me in the headspace of walking around Japan.”
    • “Fantastic little game for learning some Japanese vocabulary in a chill atmosphere.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Users find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, primarily due to slow movement speed, which makes exploration feel laborious. Additionally, the repetitive nature of tasks, such as studying or leveling up, can become a chore, leading to a lack of motivation and engagement.

    • “Because moving around gets tedious pretty quickly due to the slow movement speed.”
    • “Studying can be a tedious task or a chore that you just don’t want to do, which is why most people probably know more Pokémon than elements in the periodic table.”
    • “If you are tired of grinding on Duolingo, some other app, or some book, then you probably need ways to stimulate your brain and motivate it to keep learning.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    Users express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting its wholesome and supportive environment. The finding mode test fosters a sense of competence and accomplishment, while the ability to address challenges enhances the overall positive experience.

    • “Thank you for this wholesome chill space!”
    • “The finding mode test made me feel super competent when I understood it, and when I struggled with the odd word (especially when I went on sound-only mode), I could quickly address my trouble words when they were marked for me.”
    • “This is so wholesome.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game has demanding PC requirements, indicating that it is on the heavier side in terms of optimization.

    • “For optimization, this game is on the heavier side for PC requirements.”
  • humor2 mentions

    Users find the humor in the game particularly engaging and entertaining, especially in the context of a vocabulary-building activity where players search for objects. This aspect not only adds fun but also enhances the learning experience.

    • “The little game we have to learn new words, where we need to find the object back, is really funny, entertaining, and engaging. It's something that really helps me learn my vocabulary!”
    • “The humor in the game keeps me laughing while I play, making the experience enjoyable and memorable.”
    • “I love how the game incorporates witty dialogue and funny scenarios that lighten the mood and make learning fun.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game offers notable replayability, allowing players to revisit content, though it does not guarantee significant language proficiency in Japanese.

    • “There is definite replay value, but you aren't going to suddenly become fluent in Japanese by playing it.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Shashingo: Learn Japanese with Photography

Play time

10hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
10-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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