Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town Preview

Many people my age — and maybe even younger — will recognise Shin chan: an anime and manga based around a five-year-old boy who is a bit of a nuisance and a huge pervert. While it's been decades since I watched an episode, I got very excited when I recently got contacted about an upcoming title that had gone under my radar — Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town! Surprisingly, this isn't the first time the titular character goes on an adventure on Steam, as there are three other titles (one of them free) that are currently available! But, of course, for this preview, we'll be focusing on Coal Town.

The story centres around the Nohara family's temporary move to the Akita Prefecture as Hiroshi gets a job there. This stunning rural area also happens to be his hometown, so they settle down near his parents' home, giving Shin chan an opportunity to bond with his grandad.

The game is separated throughout different days, and time will pass when you go from one area to another. Once nighttime falls, you're allowed to explore nearby the house, but a lot of areas will be disabled, and Shin chan will eventually get too tired and force you to sleep. It's nice that nothing bad happens when he decides it's bedtime — the day just passes! During the preview, I got to play for three in-game days, and the first two were spent at the village, with the grandad giving lessons about collecting stuff around the world, from bugs to fishes, so we can complete quests.  

You can't explore the entirety of the areas right off the bat, as you have to finish some quests for certain NPCs for them to let you pass. This allowed some time to get accustomed to the overall mapping and space to explore every nook and cranny available. As for the missions, they're very much like what you'd expect from a lighthearted adventure: get me X fish, Y plant, and Z bug, and I'll give you a reward. I have no complaints — I loved running around the beautiful scenery! I took any opportunity to do just that. In fact, if I'm being honest, what I remembered about the anime didn't prepare me for Coal Town: images of the boy showing off his butt and being a pervert were the first things that flooded my mind when I read the email. Never in a million years did I expect to boot the game and get lost in the magnificent landscape in the Akira Prefecture! Believe me when I say that the screenshots really don't do it justice: I felt like I got lost in a childhood dream as I sprinted all around the captivating environments. I hadn't been so charmed about a game's environment and world in a while because, despite Shin chan's comedic edginess, it felt like I might as well have stepped into a peaceful Studio Ghibli film.

But the rural village isn't the only thing to see and experience in-game, as on day three, I got to go to Coal Town for the very first time. It is the complete opposite of the wonder I had been lost in, as it's dirty, crooked, and metal-filled. A young girl greets Shin chan and begs him to help her save the town from a mysterious guy who is trying to take over.

During the preview, you don't get to do a whole lot in Coal Town; mostly, you just meet a self-proclaimed genius who tells you that she can make you cool gadgets and inventions if you bring her certain items. And unlike in the rural area, here, you won't see any open spaces or beautiful scenery: everywhere you go, it's just streets and more streets.

That's where the preview ended. To tell you the truth, I'm sad that we ever have to visit Coal Town; maybe it's just my mind flooding with depressing reminders of the state of our planet, but it would've been nice to just be a mischievous, free-spirited child in those gorgeous Akira Prefecture landscapes! Regardless, I look forward to playing more. The game honours what I remember Shin chan was, running around showing his butt, screaming at the top of his lungs, and being a general pain in the neck.

Whether you enjoyed the show or not, I think Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town has a lot to offer; it feels like an odd mix of Animal Crossing and the anime sprinkled with a shot of adventure. Keep an eye out for the upcoming review, and make sure to wishlist on Steam if you're interested!

Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town will release on the 23rd of October for the Nintendo Switch and PC.