Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid Review- Summer Vacay

Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid Review

Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid is for any anime fan that has ever wondered what it would be like to live in a Ghibli like adventure through the lens of childlike wonder. It is an open world, life-sim experience of the Japanese countryside. It’s a fun, anime-like filter and filled with misadventures only a kid can get into.

It’s Adventure Time

You play as young Satoru, a kid following his circus troupe family as they make a stop in a small town. Brought there by his family, Satoru has to spend the entire month in the town of Yomogi, just being a kid. Catching bugs, fishing and meeting the residents of the small town, Satoru has a packed summer waiting for him. Because young Satoru’s family runs a struggling circus troupe, Satoru’s Hime-san and Papa-san run around managing adult things.

You start by meeting the residents, just like many other cozy games. Every day passes with activities to do and stickers to collect for your hard work and achievements. Stickers are collected from completing ‘adventures,’ what amounts to little quests like ‘catch 10 bugs’, ‘meet five residents’. That kind of thing. The game is open world, mostly. Some buildings and areas are inaccessible, but Satoru can pretty much go just anywhere without invisible walls next to bodies of water. And, provided he’s got a ticket, Satoru is able to bus to the next town. Importantly, Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid also has a day-night cycle. Early morning brings Animal Crossing-like morning exercises and taking meals with Satoru’s minders.

Out in The Countryside

The game has an anime like feel, cartoony and whimsical. Characters have goofy designs and there are pretty swirls of wind and fluttering butterflies in the air. I liked the look of the game and it really sold that nostalgia-for-a-place-I’ve-never-even-been vibe. The countryside feel is very warm and cozy, laid back and just ripe for adventure. One of my favorites sites is the shrine where the morning exercises are usually held. It’s a nice touch. Mundane small town things happen at every corner, with everyday things to discuss with the townies. All this recorded in Satoru’s diary. Every new adventure he embarks on in his summer days gets a special entry with scrapbooking flair.

Turning to audio, the soundtrack is filled with lazy days flute and guitar, along with the natural sounds of cicadas and birds. Throughout, Natsu-Mon sells the atmosphere, really immerses me into being a kid with no responsibilities as the adults hustle through their daily routines. Each with their dedicated schedules and activities. It’s an opportunity to observe them in their little mundane elements and even on their days of as they join in on the town events. There are cool events like a summer festival and a fireworks show. Later in the game, you can help out at the circus, adding new acts and music as the small troupe grows into itself.

Cozy and Delightful

The world is warm and bright and the beautiful views provide a great landscape for this game. The game is a dreamy life simulator exploring the joys of being a kid again, with the toughest thing on your mind being the number of new bugs you can catch in a single summer. Also, how much money can your kid self-save to help your family’s struggling trouple. Along with the fun characters like the charismatic Tokotoko and the lodge owner Kyouko, the experience is one you’ll remember.

As noted, the art style is cartoony. Happily, that can sometimes help hide a little of the low poly counts, especially in the 3D sections. It can look a little play-doughy at times and in certain areas as well as on some characters, but it’s a minor issue. The game runs well, and I did not really notice any frame drops except for a few times on the loading screens. However, those are minor issues that will mostly likely be fixed in early patching.

Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid is a cozy delight, a joyful reminiscence of childhood. It’s easy to pick up and can be played day by day. All this with little pressure and many easy-going hours of play.

***Switch code provided by the publisher***