A code was provided, and many thanks to JF Games PR.
On October 24, 2024 Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town will be released on Steam and the Nintendo Switch.
When I told my daughter I was playing a Shin chan game, she was indignant: “You never let me watch that series because you didn’t like Shin chan!” Apparently, it still stings after 20 years. She is right, though; I didn’t let her watch it because of the jokes that really weren’t for her age group. But I must say, spending quite some time with the little boy now made me warm up to his character. Let’s see what he is up to in this wee adventure.
That Special Summer Vacation
In Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town, Shin chan (lovingly called Shinnosuke) and the family Nohara visit the town of Akita as father Hiroshi is sent on a business trip there. It’s his home town, so the grandparents are overjoyed to spend some time with Shinnosuke and his little sister, while the family enjoys the comforts of their rented traditional Japanese farmhouse.
His grandmother helps him sow and harvest vegetables, and Ginnosuke, Shinnosuke’s grandfather, teaches him all the secrets of the countryside like bug catching and fishing.
Shinnosuke is free to roam and meets all kinds of interesting people. The neighbour who has lost her cat, an older couple who want to celebrate their wedding anniversary and make a special dish for each other. He meets other kids who befriend Shinnosuke once he meets their challenges, such as finding wild greens and mushrooms or bringing a specific insect or fish. And all the time, he is accompanied by Shiro, his little white dog.
A Big Discovery
One morning, Shinnosuke wakes up to find Shiro is all covered in soot. And when Shinnosuke tries to catch him, he runs away. A confused Shinnosuke follows and finds a mysterious train he hasn’t seen before. Shiro boards it just like that, so there’s nothing to do but follow! The driverless train goes off immediately, and when it stops, Shinnosuke finds himself in a lively and prosperous town. A little girl welcomes him and tells him this is Coal Town. No wonder the soot!
The town is big and has a lot of people who work in the mine there. Of course, a shop is there for them, a diner, a bathhouse and so on. There’s always something to do in this forgotten place! Shinnosuke can choose how to spend his days from then on: stay in Akita or travel to Coal Town. It’s clear that there is mystery there, can Shinnosuke unravel it?
Looking Forward to the Full Adventure
That is the start of Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town. The game is a good example of a Summer Vacation game: little adventures in which the main character experiences a childlike innocence, making you long for the long and lazy summers in the days of your youth. It’s no coincidence that this reminds me of another Summer Vacation game I reviewed a couple of weeks ago, Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid. What I really like in Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is that I never feel pressed for time, as the map is relatively small and I have ample time to finish the quests.
Even after playing the first few in-game days, the graphics stand out to me. The background is beautifully made, hand-painted vistas that bring Ghibli movies to mind. Shin chan is put in there as we know him from Crayon Shin chan, the TV series, strange warped head and all. It shouldn’t, but somehow it works. And it’s wonderful how, with a few lines, the makers can draw a simple dog and then get all the dog movements just right. There’s never a doubt in your mind that this is a real dog; so sweet how he waits while Shinnosuke fishes, puts his nose to his cheek and then walks off a bit, impatient to go on and see what’s next!
Look forward to my full review on October 24th, when you will find Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town in the Nintendo eShop and on Steam.
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