Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town Review

Game: Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town
Genre: Simulation, Adventure
System: Nintendo Switch (Also on Steam (Windows))
Developer | Publisher: h.a.n.d.| Neos Corporation
Age Rating: US Everyone | EU 3+
Price: US $39.99 | UK £33.99 | EU € 39,99
Release Date: October 24th, 2024

A review code was used, with many thanks to J.F. Games PR Comms

After my preview of Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town, it’s time to look at the full game. With Fall here and Winter soon to follow, it’s the perfect time to jump into a cosy and laid-back Summer adventure with just the right dollop of exploration. For me, it couldn’t have come at a better time. Though I was never a big fan of that cheeky little boy before, I’ve definitely warmed up to him. Let’s see what he is up to!

Shin-chan and his dog, Shiro, are in a garden alongside an elderly woman. Shin-chan is preparing to water the newly planted crops, while a watering can icon appears with an eggplant. The cozy setting is filled with greenery and a peaceful rural vibe. Published on: LadiesGamers. — Grandma teaches Shinnosuke to grow vegetables.

Spending the Summer in Akita Prefecture

Shin chan, lovingly called Shinnosuke, and the Nohara family head to Akita, where Shinnosuke’s dad, Hiroshi, is on a business trip. Since Akita is his dad’s hometown, the grandparents are thrilled to spend time with the family in a cosy traditional Japanese farmhouse.

Champ explains different types of mushrooms to a group of kids, including Shin-chan, in front of a rustic house surrounded by lush green scenery. The peaceful countryside environment adds to the game's charm. Published on: LadiesGamers. — The kids in Unbent Village give all kinds of small challenges.

Shinnosuke is free to roam the countryside and Unbent Village in Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town, where he meets quirky characters like a neighbour searching for her lost white pet or an elderly couple celebrating their anniversary. He also takes on fun little challenges from the local kids, like finding special insects or wild greens, all with his trusty dog, Shiro, by his side.

A page from the in-game book displays collected butterflies, including the Indian Red Admiral and Freyer's Purple Emperor, with detailed descriptions of each species. The collection progress is shown at the top, adding a sense of completion to the game. Published on: LadiesGamers. — The books all have beautiful images of insects, fish, greens and gems.

Shinnosuke can work on catching all the insects in the game, as well as every kind of fish. Grandma gives access to some plots for farming and some seeds, so soon Shinnosuke has crops going. Combined with the wild plants and mushrooms he finds, he can fulfil many requests on the bulletin board. He can bring new finds to Kazuko to see them, which she then enthusiastically sketches in his diary.

Discovering Coal Town

Then, one morning, Shinnosuke wakes up to find Shiro covered in soot. When he chases after him, he stumbles upon a mysterious train with Shiro already on board! The train whisks them away to Coal Town, a bustling place filled with miners and all kinds of interesting spots, like a diner and a bathhouse.

Shin-chan and Shiro walk through a scenic town at sunset, passing colorful wooden houses. In the distance, a towering structure and smoke stacks hint at the town's industrial setting. Published on: LadiesGamers. — Shinnosuke explores Coal Town.

There’s a mystery at hand in Coal Town, but for now, Shinnosuke meets the inhabitants and helps them out on various quests, unlocking more and more of the town. He helps Miss Yosoi make a big success of her restaurant, by making the favourite dishes of the patrons and finding the ingredients needed. He helps bring materials to Miss Yuri, the brilliant scientist, so she can make a contraption to heat the bathwater in Gran-gran Tsukari’s bathhouse. Making a Street TV that’s also a lamp or finding a way to fix the lift going to the mines.

Shin-chan receives an important item, a "Street TV that's also a Street Lamp," while standing next to a scientist in a colorful, industrial lab. Shiro the dog looks on with curiosity. Published on: LadiesGamers. — Shinnosuke has a crush on Miss Yuri.

From here, Shinnosuke can choose how to spend his days in Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town. Stay in Unbent Village or explore the mysteries of Coal Town. The activities in each town connect, as he will need ingredients he can get in Unbent Village or gems he finds in Coal Town.

A quest board showcases different tasks, including requests for bugs and ingredients, with rewards like Iron Ore and Jade. Each quest has a unique illustration, giving players objectives to complete. Published on: LadiesGamers. — Trying to fulfil all requests

Adventuring of the Best Kind

Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is never difficult or frustrating. Sure, some days you wonder what else you can do to find that one fish or gem, but often the solution presents itself. New activities are introduced in a pleasant way, some even after many hours of gameplay. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, Trolley Car racing is introduced. All the activities you can do make Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town not just a simulation game, but a true adventure game.

Shin-chan and Yuta race on mining carts along parallel tracks in an industrial setting. The race is close, with both carts speeding ahead, leaving trails of dust behind. The tension is heightened by the timer and score at the top. Published on: LadiesGamers. — Trolley Car racing is added late in the game.

As Shinnosuke is only 5 years old, he has to be home for dinner. If he stays out too long, he just falls asleep then and there, and you find yourself home again. It’s never annoying, though, to live through the adventure bite-sized in this way.

There is no real soundtrack for the game; you are constantly accompanied by background noises. Music floating from the shops in Coal Town, insects when you cross the rice fields in Unbent City and the music that is played at the Curry shop. Some parts are voice-acted in Japanese, and the game can be played in English text, German, Spanish and Japanese. I love the beautiful backgrounds in Shin Chan: Shiro and the Coal Town, which remind me of Studio Ghibli’s art. Even though the anime characters look very different from the detailed backgrounds, it didn’t feel strange to me; it all fits together very well.

The map for Coal Town

Conclusion for the Latest Shin chan Adventure

Truly, I hadn’t expected to like Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town as much as I do. I was never a big fan of the little boy when my daughter wanted to watch the anime many years ago, so I was a bit sceptical. But I have really warmed up to him, even though he is still a strange little boy.

The game is full of details, little adventures and bigger mysteries. Some of the interactions made me smile, and I was never left frustrated or in a rush. I took my time uncovering it all, and it was a grand journey. This is a serious contender for my Game of the Year 2024!

Inside a quaint store, Shin-chan listens to Tsukari, who mentions running around like a "naked whirling dervish." The shop's warm atmosphere is highlighted by wooden shelves and colorful decorations. Published on: LadiesGamers. — The cheeky little boy at the bathhouse

Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is not for gamers who want to be bowled over by fast-paced action or striving for bigger and better goals. Instead, this is a game to curl up with on the couch and see Shin chan’s world with a kind of childlike wonder. If you want to know more about this game, don’t miss our interview with Akira Nagashima, the producer of the game.

Final Verdict: Two Thumbs Up