Review of Crayon Shin chan and Doctor's Summer Vacation: Still the same trend; Summer vacation; taste

Some players may still have an impression of the "My Summer Vacation" series.

The first installment of this series was released in June 2000, showcasing the leisurely tone of rural life and standing out among a group of works at the time. In recent years, the main creator Ayabe has brought a new work to everyone: Crayon Shin chan, My Summer Vacation with Doctor~An Endless Seven Day Journey~.

There are some things that need to be explained for this game. Firstly, it does not belong to the "My Summer Vacation" series, but due to the participation of Ayabe and myself in the creation, the characteristics of this work are very similar to "My Summer Vacation", and can even be regarded as a "spiritual sequel".

Secondly, this work was released in July 2021, but the official updated the Chinese subtitles and voice on May 4th of this year. For domestic players, now is a good time to experience the game.

When Xiaoxin arrived at "Asu Town"

Crayon Shin chan and Doctor's Summer Vacation is a work that combines the style of "My Summer Vacation" with the world view of Crayon Shin chan. Players will take on the role of a newcomer and embark on a new life in a small town called Asu.

Xiao Xin can be said to be a well-known anime character. This 5-year-old boy has thick eyebrows and big eyes, and his speech and actions are very nonsensical. But precisely because of this, the Xiaoxin family appears humorous and warm.

In the game, the production team also restored Xiaoxin's character settings. Xiao Xin often doesn't understand what others are saying; He often has wild ideas when he comes up with them, but his ideas can sometimes have unexpected effects. And when Xiaoxin runs, he also poses in the classic "exposed fart alien" posture, all of which makes people laugh uncontrollably.

Classic "Revealing Aliens"

As mentioned earlier, the story of this work takes place in Asu Town. The Xiaoxin family originally planned to spend their summer vacation here and visit relatives and friends. But a doctor with a strange personality disrupted the original plan. Xiaoxin was caught up in a certain "time cycle" and experienced various interesting events.

Asu Town is a beautiful town with beautiful scenery. Strolling through this world, players can discover bright flowers, verdant grasslands, and lush rice fields. Pickable wild vegetables grow along the roadside, and the figure of fish is clearly visible in the stream. These beautiful scenery can make players feel the indescribable beauty of the countryside, and anyone wants to stay for a while longer.

Fish shadows can be seen in the small river

The people living in the town are equally simple and kind. Two sisters, Daidaizi and Liangliangzi, run the "Volcano Canteen"; The editor in chief goes to work at the newspaper every day; Mr. Galaxy often struggles with the taste of his own curry; Xiaoxin's friends will also appear one by one in the game... All residents live a comfortable life while interpreting their own stories. As the process progresses, players will also recognize more and more characters and establish connections with them.

Roaming and frolicking in the countryside

As far as the game kernel is concerned, Crayon Shin chan and Doctor's Summer Vacation appears quite simple. The main gameplay of this game is nothing more than the word "collect".

While strolling through the fields, players can fully experience the fun of rural life. Digging wild vegetables, picking wild fruits, catching insects, fishing, and so on, these children's favorite activities can all be achieved in games. The game system also provides players with biological guides and collection targets. Interested friends can explore the "Little World" in "Asu Town".

In addition, this game also comes with a "Dinosaur Battle" mini game. This small game is hidden in a "secret base", and Xiaoxin's friends will hold competitions with toys. As long as players are willing, they can naturally participate in the competition. But in terms of content, the so-called "Dinosaur Battle" is a simple guessing game, and after experiencing a few rounds, you will feel bored.

In addition to daily activities, Crayon Shin chan and Doctor's Summer also has a so-called main storyline. Due to someone's prank, several ancient dinosaurs really "traveled through time and space" to Asu Town. One of Xiaoxin's tasks is to help these ancient creatures adapt to a new life.

Don't worry, the dinosaurs in the game won't attack humans. On the contrary, they sometimes take the initiative to help newcomers and friends. These dinosaurs would leisurely take a walk on the main road or find a place to rest peacefully. However, when players encounter them on the road, they should try to avoid them as much as possible, otherwise the system will forcibly adjust the player's position.

Besides helping dinosaurs, the people in the town often need Xiao Xin to run errands. Canteens, shops, and curry shops will all post notices for purchasing supplies, and newspapers also require players to continuously provide new reports. As long as the player satisfies the needs of others, they can receive corresponding pocket money. If multiple goals are achieved consecutively, you can also receive additional bonuses.

Although shop owners have a lot of things to purchase, completing these tasks is basically not difficult. During the day, players can wander in the wilderness more often, and with a little attention, they can harvest a pile of vegetables and fish. When they return to the town, they can naturally make a trade. As for crops such as carrots and chili peppers, players can first purchase them in bulk at the Fog Island store, and then resell them at other stores. Repeat a few times, and Xiaoxin's wallet will become more and more bulging.

Fog Island Store can buy many good things

Of course, there is one thing worth noting when exploring outside, which is Xiaoxin's stamina. When his physical strength is exhausted, no matter where he is, Xiaoxin will be forced to return home. However, in actual gameplay, I feel that the punishment on this mechanism is negligible. Because Xiaoxin can continue to go out after waking up, and his stamina will return to full again. I can still go to the place I want to go, just take a few more steps.

If you don't want Xiaoxin to collapse, players can also go to the supermarket to buy some Rice and vegetable roll and snacks first. When Xiaoxin's stamina decreases, he can easily choose a portion of food for him to take a few bites, which can keep him energetic. In addition, the "Chocobi" snacks sold in the store will also come with a "Dinosaur Battle" enhancement card. After opening the snacks, you can draw a rare card and have a little fun.

Success is also "mild", failure is also "mild"

After experiencing the game for a week, I should express some opinions on the work "Crayon Shin chan and Doctor's Summer Vacation". But when writing related content, I always feel a bit conflicted in my heart.

Like the "My Summer Vacation" series, "Crayon Shin chan and Doctor's Summer Vacation" is also a stress free game. Although the system has set goals of all sizes, it doesn't matter if it can't be achieved. Each player can play at their own pace.

You can communicate more with the people in the small town; You can also search for some interesting news materials; Alternatively, it's up to the player to decide what they want to do during the day, such as catching insects and fishing in the wild. Although time may have a cycle, it still flows slowly in the end. Doing something you enjoy in the process, and then quietly experiencing the local customs and traditions of the town, I believe this is the core pleasure of this game.

But at the same time, this casual game inevitably has its weakness, which is the repetition of content. Crayon Shin chan and Doctor's Summer Vacation did not have any complex mechanisms throughout, and the game's later stages have become monotonous. Although the plot has sci-fi elements, it is essentially a daily story. This flat rhythm will definitely make some people feel bored.

Therefore, regarding the evaluation of this game, I believe that different players will have different opinions. For fans of the "My Summer Vacation" series, "Crayon Shin chan and Doctor's Summer Vacation" is definitely a "match", and many people like this comfortable and peaceful atmosphere. But others may feel that the new game lacks sufficient capacity and proper guidance, making it easy to get tired while playing.

I don't want to discuss which of the above two viewpoints is right and which is wrong, because each viewpoint has its own reasoning. But one thing is certain, Crayon Shin chan and Doctor's Summer Vacation is indeed a simple casual game. This simplicity symbolizes both simplicity and monotony. As for the specific understanding, it depends on your own preferences.

In addition, there are some minor flaws in the details of this work. Firstly, like the "My Summer" series, the game adopts a fixed scene perspective. Although this design is classic, it can cause players to lose their sense of direction during scene changes. This issue is more prominent in the early stages of the process, and can be gradually adapted later.

Secondly, although there is no note reading during game scene changes, there may be noticeable lag to the naked eye. Although I later became accustomed to this, I still felt that the transitions were not smooth enough when playing.

The third minor issue is related to composition, which is that the visual range of some scenes is too long, making it difficult for players to notice the details. In some scenes, the player's perspective is fixed at a high place, and the wild vegetables and flying insects on the roadside appear very small, making it easy to miss them if not carefully examined. In the host mode of the Switch, this issue should be alleviated. But in handheld mode, I have to keep my eyes fixed on the screen looking for insects. It's not a big deal to do it once or twice, but it can be a bit exhausting if done frequently.

This kind of high-altitude perspective often appears in the game

epilogue

In summary, it is difficult for me to provide an accurate evaluation of the work "Crayon Shin chan and Doctor's Summer Vacation". Its content not only reproduces the joy of rural life, but also exposes the regret of lacking mechanisms.

However, in terms of market response, the results of this work are still commendable. Since its release, the shipment volume of the Asian version of the game has exceeded 100000 copies, and the official is still producing more physical versions. If you are a fan of Crayon Shin chan or a loyal player of My Summer Vacation, then this game is naturally recommended for purchase. As for ordinary players, considering the price and capacity of the game, it may be more cost-effective to purchase it at a discount.