Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town Review

Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town surprised me for many reasons, as I had no idea this game was coming out, I was shocked to find out that it wasn't even the first one, and then the last — and possibly best — of the surprises was when I began playing the game, as it was nothing like what I expected. But before I get ahead of myself, let me introduce it to everyone who might not know of it. The latest entry to the franchise comes to us by h.a.n.d., Inc. and Neos Corporation, and in it, we follow the five-year-old boy as he goes back and forth between the jaw-droppingly stunning Akita Prefecture and the grime-filled mining town, aptly named Coal Town.

As someone who stumbled upon Shinchan during my TV-binging childhood, I expected the game to be centred around his mischievous personality, something like a platforming adventure about causing headaches to the adults while mouthing off and being a hilarious nuisance. I had visions of showing my butt to people, sneaking into hot springs to look at girls, and watching the boy put his foot in his mouth through comedic dialogue. Instead, as I booted up the game, I was greeted with an unexpectedly stunning depiction of Japan's Akita Prefecture and some of the cosiest gameplay I have had the pleasure of experiencing.

The game starts off with Shinnosuke (our young protagonist) waking up to his grandfather offering to teach him how to catch bugs, and like if it were any episode of an anime, a tune starts off while showing off some of the areas in the game while the two head across the rural village on their adventure. This is all because Hiroshi, the boy's father, gets a job assignment near his hometown in Akita, and his family comes along with him. While he's off working, we get to explore Unbent Village.

As I said earlier, the game is split into two areas: rural Japan and a mining town. They play differently, so I'll talk first about Akita Prefecture. Right off the bat, you get to run around, exploring the vast green area while catching more bugs and fish than any kid can dream of. A few zones start off locked because of a group of kids who challenge us to prove ourselves by collecting stuff for them, which works as a great starting off point about what to do. 

Aside from impressing the children, there are some adults who will also ask for help, like helping them find their pet or collecting ingredients for their latest wacky recipe idea. Kazuko will be collector's favourite, as she'll give you information about any new collectibles as well as offer some monetary rewards when you bring her new ones to fill in or fireflies. Additionally, as you progress and areas unlock, new mechanics will become available: farming, a market, and a trading board. While they mostly help with the completion of quests from Coal Town, they're a great way to give you other reasons to explore and collect items, which I loved! I never felt like I had too much of anything, as I always had something to do with the stuff I got.

Once you unlock Coal Town, you'll get to visit it and uncover a whole new load of NPCs, areas, quests, and collectibles. To be honest, I was a bit sad that I had to go there because I was having so much fun in the cosy countryside; arriving in this natureless new area was almost depressing. Thankfully, the more I visited the place and got to know the NPCs and quests, the more I appreciated it. The characters felt a bit more fleshed out than the ones back at Akita, as they've got their backstories and struggles, and I ended up invested in their well-being, finding joy in going out of my way to farm and fish for the ingredients needed to make them their favourite meals.

Life in Coal Town is different: instead of gathering stuff to show to Kazuko, you'll find yourself scavenging for minerals and parts so that you can help build inventions to make life easier for the townsfolk. There's also a diner that'll need your help to thrive, and in order to do so, you'll need the fish, veggies, and herbs you gather back in Akita. NPCs will ask for different meals, and you'll get a small glimpse of their stories and personalities by fulfilling their requests.

Of course, there's also the trollies, which you'll unlock further down the line. This is where I spent most of my "Pocket Money": buffing my ride so that I could squash any opponent on the track. As someone who enjoys racing games and loves customising cool machines, I thought it was a nice addition that spiced up the otherwise relaxing gameplay with some action and competition! Plus, it gave me a reason to collect loads of money.

Speaking of collecting money and needing a bigger wallet (don't worry — you'll get the reference if you play the game)... the quests in Shin chan are just filled with humour. I found myself chuckling a few times, and it wasn't just because of Shinnosuke's knack for mouthing off, as I found a lot of the adults to be quite charming and funny, too. Although a lot of the missions have repetitive dialogue — especially the ones with the kids — I looked forward to new requests, as it felt like miniature adventures, and, boy, I do love collecting! I'll take any excuse to do just that, especially if it involves the countryside.

I've played a lot of cosy games throughout my gaming life, and although I've not felt bored with them or the gameplay, I was genuinely surprised at how smitten I was while exploring Akita. Time melted away as I amassed my repertoire of bugs, fish, and random herbs, thanks to h.a.n.d., Inc.'s charmingly anime-esque world; the immersive sound effects and gorgeous landscapes made me nostalgic about a home I have never had in Unbent Village. I never would've assumed a game about Shinchan would be bursting with beauty and relaxation, but the truth is that this has been one of the most genuinely calming experiences I've had! None of the activities (such as fishing) were stressful or difficult, the quests were entertaining, and I very much appreciated all the goals and achievements available.

The only quarrel I found with my adventure was the pricing. Whilst I've loved my stay at the Akita prefecture partaking in shenanigans, £25.99 is a steep entry fee to pay for the otherwise short experience. If you're looking for something fun and casual, the price isn't too tall an ask for fans of the series and the genre, but elsewise, its short runtime and casual, cosy gameplay might be a bit too small for the cost.