Literally translating to “My Summer Vacation”, this is a game I’ve had some greater or lesser interest in for well over a year now, but it took me this long to actually find a copy for sale in Book Off XD. Before playing it, I honestly didn’t have much idea of what it was about at all. I knew it was some kind of life sim taking place over a young boy’s summer vacation, and I knew it was lauded very highly for its writing, but that was really it. Sure, the later releases were easier to find, but I wanted to see where the series started! X3. It ended up taking me around 13 or so hours to play through it on real hardware.
Boku No Natsuyasumi is the story of the titular character, Boku (which can be a first-person pronoun for a boy/man and is sometimes used as a cutesy nickname for a young boy, but in this case it’s just used as the character’s name) and his summer vacation the year he was nine years old. His mother was about to have a baby, so his parents arranged for him to stay with his aunt’s family as to give his parents some breathing room during that period. His aunt’s family, the Sorano family, are composed of his aunt and uncle as well as his older cousin Moe and his cousin of similar age Shirabe. The opening narration says simply that this was a summer whose events he has never forgotten, and that actually brings me to an interesting point in and of itself.
Our opening narration is done by an older man speaking from Boku’s perspective. The narrative is specifically framed as an older man (likely in his 40’s, much like the game’s creator was at the time this was made) reflecting upon his childhood. This framing device makes clear what otherwise might be a little more buried in the subtext: this is first and foremost a nostalgia piece, and a reflective one at that. Though the topics in this game aren’t anything M-rated that a kid couldn’t or shouldn’t see, the audience for this game is absolutely an adult one. Boku No Natsuyasumi is a game about looking back at your adolescence, about a time when you had no responsibilities of the harsh adult world, and not just getting to go through them again, but being able to reflect on what it means to do so. That’s not to say that Boku’s summer break is entirely devoid of interesting or impactful happenings, quite far from it, but I hesitate to say much more about the actual events (or possible events) of the story because this is a game I think it makes much more sense to simply experience yourself.
The actual gameplay of BNNY is relatively simple as such things go. Though this game is most easily described as a life sim, I think it fits the mold of an adventure game much more easily. There are no stats or survival elements to worry about, being that you’re just a grade-schooler staying up in the mountains with your extended family, but you do have various chores you can be responsible for and other activities you can do. You can explore the mountains, talk to your family, fish in the ponds and streams, or catch bugs (to either preserve in your bug catching kit or use to battle other kids in beetle fights), though there honestly isn’t a ton more than that. Granted I had a lot of fun exploring, trying my best to partake in story events, and also catching as many bugs as I could, but this is just a rural Japanese home in the 70’s. There’s not a massive amount to do, but making the best of your month off from school is what this game is all about. You don’t really have to do anything: It’s your summer vacation, so make the best of it the way you see best~.
The presentation is very simple but also homey in a way that fits the game very well. People are relatively simple looking 3D models that almost resemble a child’s drawings of people, but I found that to be both charming as well as come off as very intentional. You have a picture-diary that you write in every day to save the game, and Boku draws people just as they appear in the game. I don’t think it’s much of a stretch to assume that, because we’re going down his memory lane, we see the people in his life as he remembers them through his drawings. Aside from that, the game is basically all those good old 2D pre-rendered backdrops that PS1 rpgs and adventure games love so much, and being a quite late-life PS1 game, they all look very nice. The sound design is also very well done in this game, having overall very little music save to underscore very important scenes/events, and most of the soundscape is just the background sounds of living in the Japanese countryside. The game is also fully voice acted, with all spoken dialogue (and even a fair bit of the narration) being voiced very well. The aesthetics work together with the writing beautifully, and I couldn’t possibly imagine the game not having all the VA to help bring the story to life the way it does.
Verdict: Highly Recommended. This is a truly excellent game and easily one of the best games on the PS1, to my reckoning. This is one of the earliest examples in games history of a game where I can point to and say “this is a game that is making art in a way that only a video game can.” This is sadly also a game that’s unlikely to get a translation anytime soon (largely because of all of the oh-so-common in the PS1 era videos with voiced dialogue but no text over it), and it’d honestly be a very hard game to translate at the best of times, in my opinion. There’s a lot here both culturally and historically that you’d need to be quite familiar with Japan in the first place to really take in in the way you probably should, so any would be localizer would have an extremely daunting task on their hands. Regardless, for those who can understand the language and enjoy story based games, this is an all time great of the generation that is absolutely not one to miss out on.
Boku No Natsuyasumi is the story of the titular character, Boku (which can be a first-person pronoun for a boy/man and is sometimes used as a cutesy nickname for a young boy, but in this case it’s just used as the character’s name) and his summer vacation the year he was nine years old. His mother was about to have a baby, so his parents arranged for him to stay with his aunt’s family as to give his parents some breathing room during that period. His aunt’s family, the Sorano family, are composed of his aunt and uncle as well as his older cousin Moe and his cousin of similar age Shirabe. The opening narration says simply that this was a summer whose events he has never forgotten, and that actually brings me to an interesting point in and of itself.
Our opening narration is done by an older man speaking from Boku’s perspective. The narrative is specifically framed as an older man (likely in his 40’s, much like the game’s creator was at the time this was made) reflecting upon his childhood. This framing device makes clear what otherwise might be a little more buried in the subtext: this is first and foremost a nostalgia piece, and a reflective one at that. Though the topics in this game aren’t anything M-rated that a kid couldn’t or shouldn’t see, the audience for this game is absolutely an adult one. Boku No Natsuyasumi is a game about looking back at your adolescence, about a time when you had no responsibilities of the harsh adult world, and not just getting to go through them again, but being able to reflect on what it means to do so. That’s not to say that Boku’s summer break is entirely devoid of interesting or impactful happenings, quite far from it, but I hesitate to say much more about the actual events (or possible events) of the story because this is a game I think it makes much more sense to simply experience yourself.
The actual gameplay of BNNY is relatively simple as such things go. Though this game is most easily described as a life sim, I think it fits the mold of an adventure game much more easily. There are no stats or survival elements to worry about, being that you’re just a grade-schooler staying up in the mountains with your extended family, but you do have various chores you can be responsible for and other activities you can do. You can explore the mountains, talk to your family, fish in the ponds and streams, or catch bugs (to either preserve in your bug catching kit or use to battle other kids in beetle fights), though there honestly isn’t a ton more than that. Granted I had a lot of fun exploring, trying my best to partake in story events, and also catching as many bugs as I could, but this is just a rural Japanese home in the 70’s. There’s not a massive amount to do, but making the best of your month off from school is what this game is all about. You don’t really have to do anything: It’s your summer vacation, so make the best of it the way you see best~.
The presentation is very simple but also homey in a way that fits the game very well. People are relatively simple looking 3D models that almost resemble a child’s drawings of people, but I found that to be both charming as well as come off as very intentional. You have a picture-diary that you write in every day to save the game, and Boku draws people just as they appear in the game. I don’t think it’s much of a stretch to assume that, because we’re going down his memory lane, we see the people in his life as he remembers them through his drawings. Aside from that, the game is basically all those good old 2D pre-rendered backdrops that PS1 rpgs and adventure games love so much, and being a quite late-life PS1 game, they all look very nice. The sound design is also very well done in this game, having overall very little music save to underscore very important scenes/events, and most of the soundscape is just the background sounds of living in the Japanese countryside. The game is also fully voice acted, with all spoken dialogue (and even a fair bit of the narration) being voiced very well. The aesthetics work together with the writing beautifully, and I couldn’t possibly imagine the game not having all the VA to help bring the story to life the way it does.
Verdict: Highly Recommended. This is a truly excellent game and easily one of the best games on the PS1, to my reckoning. This is one of the earliest examples in games history of a game where I can point to and say “this is a game that is making art in a way that only a video game can.” This is sadly also a game that’s unlikely to get a translation anytime soon (largely because of all of the oh-so-common in the PS1 era videos with voiced dialogue but no text over it), and it’d honestly be a very hard game to translate at the best of times, in my opinion. There’s a lot here both culturally and historically that you’d need to be quite familiar with Japan in the first place to really take in in the way you probably should, so any would be localizer would have an extremely daunting task on their hands. Regardless, for those who can understand the language and enjoy story based games, this is an all time great of the generation that is absolutely not one to miss out on.
SOUL
THIS GAME HAS SOUL
THIS GAME HAS SOUL
I know this is like a pretty revered game by the few eng speakers that have played this so I had some hesitancy going into it. I went into this especially blind aside from knowing it was a go-at-your-own pace game. I really did take my time because my entire playthrough spanned 10 months to the day, with my play time clocking at 12.5 hours lol.
At first, like maybe for the second in-game week, I was missing a couple key items that really opened up the map. During those days I was kinda losing interest so I looked up how to progress in one area. There is so much to do, or rather miss, in this game. And that's the point, the game expects you to make your own memories with what is available. There is a lot to be learned game-wise that can really change up future playthroughs, leading to different experiences person to person.
As for the actual themes, reasoning, and aim of the game; it was fun, pleasant, and bittersweet at times. It got me pretty emotional on some days, be it empty, at ease, curious, or happy. The characters, their stories, and their interactions make this game special. It's all really delicate. By that I don't mean like "vulnerable," although I wouldn't completely exclude that either. It's like, you can make a friend by bonding over something insignificant. Regardless, that friendship can become something meaningful. This is just as true the other way around. Inversely, the littlest actions from those you cherish can result in a big impact. It doesn't take much to have or give influence, especially at a young age. Especially when surrounded by welcoming people.
At first, like maybe for the second in-game week, I was missing a couple key items that really opened up the map. During those days I was kinda losing interest so I looked up how to progress in one area. There is so much to do, or rather miss, in this game. And that's the point, the game expects you to make your own memories with what is available. There is a lot to be learned game-wise that can really change up future playthroughs, leading to different experiences person to person.
As for the actual themes, reasoning, and aim of the game; it was fun, pleasant, and bittersweet at times. It got me pretty emotional on some days, be it empty, at ease, curious, or happy. The characters, their stories, and their interactions make this game special. It's all really delicate. By that I don't mean like "vulnerable," although I wouldn't completely exclude that either. It's like, you can make a friend by bonding over something insignificant. Regardless, that friendship can become something meaningful. This is just as true the other way around. Inversely, the littlest actions from those you cherish can result in a big impact. It doesn't take much to have or give influence, especially at a young age. Especially when surrounded by welcoming people.
What a wonderful experience. This game makes me feel nostalgic despite never been to a country side of Japan in the 1970s as a child but it did reminds me of my childhood back when I was living in El Salvador. It made me feel like a kid again and this game did a great job. I highly recommend it if you are learning Japanese. I think there is a English patch in the making right now.
i wish i were a japanese kid again
brings me back to a nostalgic time that i never actually experienced.
This review contains spoilers
Like all other Japanese games I play, this was played on the Japanese version
A major appeal of this game is the ability to relieve your childhood in a sense. Unfortunately, I can't remember much of my childhood, and what I can remember is, without being personal, shit. And without the relatability to the main character, the entire game sort of...falls apart. Yeah, there's scenes that touch on deeper issues, such as the war and moving out and the death of a familial figure. But those are only moments, too brief and too hurried, in the azure landscape of a perfect, reflected sky. And in this landscape of perfectly pristine idealism, pastel colors, and snow-white painted clouds, those brief respites of realism and explorations of longing, loss, and struggle feel...lilliputian. While their rarity undoubtedly makes those special moments stand out, I shouldn't have to trudge through the meaningless wonder of a childhood dream to get there. The entire game should stand out to me, and this simply doesn't.
Perhaps it's just my bias as someone who experienced a childhood full of abuse, depression, trauma that I prefer games about childhood abuse, depression, trauma (case in point: the entire Hello Charlotte series, which is arguably miles worse mechanic-wise than this) over games about childhood wonder, innocence, and joy like this game. When the vacation ended, I felt nothing. After all, what was I supposed to feel? This wasn't my childhood; this wasn't even close to my childhood. This was Boku's childhood, Boku's summer, Boku's story, and Boku's joy. I was merely a visitor to the spectacle, able to see but not truly participate, and certainly never truly connect to those pastel colors and sunny skies. When I view characters, I want to view them extensions of my lived-in self, or unique, breathing people. I couldn't connect with the former, and Boku is written nowhere near well enough for the latter.
The game tries to compare the levity of the summer to the bitterness that followed in the pursuit of a notion of nostalgia. And it does so in an extremely self-decadent, saccharine way that makes it easy to gulp down, bite after star-laced bite, assuming you're into the childhood charm this game provides. It's one of those titles where the appeal is immediately evident, which is why I'm so hesitant to give this a low score and criticize it so harshly.
Unfortunately for the game, I'm fructose intolerant. I'm no longer a child, it seems.
Overall Rating: 1/5 (Dumpster Fire)
*this review is a personal opinion of mine and not objective in the slightest
A major appeal of this game is the ability to relieve your childhood in a sense. Unfortunately, I can't remember much of my childhood, and what I can remember is, without being personal, shit. And without the relatability to the main character, the entire game sort of...falls apart. Yeah, there's scenes that touch on deeper issues, such as the war and moving out and the death of a familial figure. But those are only moments, too brief and too hurried, in the azure landscape of a perfect, reflected sky. And in this landscape of perfectly pristine idealism, pastel colors, and snow-white painted clouds, those brief respites of realism and explorations of longing, loss, and struggle feel...lilliputian. While their rarity undoubtedly makes those special moments stand out, I shouldn't have to trudge through the meaningless wonder of a childhood dream to get there. The entire game should stand out to me, and this simply doesn't.
Perhaps it's just my bias as someone who experienced a childhood full of abuse, depression, trauma that I prefer games about childhood abuse, depression, trauma (case in point: the entire Hello Charlotte series, which is arguably miles worse mechanic-wise than this) over games about childhood wonder, innocence, and joy like this game. When the vacation ended, I felt nothing. After all, what was I supposed to feel? This wasn't my childhood; this wasn't even close to my childhood. This was Boku's childhood, Boku's summer, Boku's story, and Boku's joy. I was merely a visitor to the spectacle, able to see but not truly participate, and certainly never truly connect to those pastel colors and sunny skies. When I view characters, I want to view them extensions of my lived-in self, or unique, breathing people. I couldn't connect with the former, and Boku is written nowhere near well enough for the latter.
The game tries to compare the levity of the summer to the bitterness that followed in the pursuit of a notion of nostalgia. And it does so in an extremely self-decadent, saccharine way that makes it easy to gulp down, bite after star-laced bite, assuming you're into the childhood charm this game provides. It's one of those titles where the appeal is immediately evident, which is why I'm so hesitant to give this a low score and criticize it so harshly.
Unfortunately for the game, I'm fructose intolerant. I'm no longer a child, it seems.
Overall Rating: 1/5 (Dumpster Fire)
*this review is a personal opinion of mine and not objective in the slightest
tim rogers
If I wanted to “experience the joy and nostalgia of summer” I would just go the fuck outside you mangy cunts
I’m not good at writing long form reviews, but this game really spoke to me in a way where I feel like I have to write something. So, I guess let me start with a bold statement: Boku no Natsuyasumi is a masterpiece. I’m not exaggerating or sugar coating that, I think this game is perfect. I hope this review will express why I think this.
A major elephant in the room when discussing this game is the fact that it has never been localized in any capacity, whether official or a fan translation (although one is supposedly in the works). Therefore, I had to play this in a sort of archaic way. I wouldn’t really recommend that, I’d say wait for the fan translation. But regardless, I’m so glad I managed to play this.
Boku no Natsuyasumi is about the titular Boku, a boy from Tokyo who is going to stay with his Aunt, Uncle, and cousins in rural Japan while his mother is preparing to give birth during summer vacation. While in this unnamed part of rural Japan, you can explore the area around you, catch bugs, talk to locals, catch fish, fly kites, wrestle beetles. Y’know, the Summer Stuff. In the simplest terms, I’d describe this game as a “summer simulator” of sorts, but just that surface level description doesn’t go into the major depth this game has.
I think mood is a major part of this game's appeal. Of course, Boku no Natsuyasumi is a game about reliving your childhood, so you get some of that major childlike wonder at certain moments of the game. However, as this game is told from the perspective of an adult Boku, I think “bittersweet nostalgia” is the perfect way to describe this game’s mood. While this game is pure vibes and a joy to play, there is a hint of melancholy here. Post-war reconstruction, dealing with the loss of a family member, and teenage angst and depression are some of the topics that are dealt with here, and I think it handles this beautifully.
The characters are also delightful! The main family is lovely, with Moe’s heartbroken arc being the one that resonated with me the most. But I also love the other people you can run into, such as the vice principal, the delinquent boys, and the wolf girl.
By the time I finished this game, I was near tears. I didn’t want to leave, I didn’t want it to end. I truly felt like I stumbled into something magical. I wish I could put into words the depth and beauty of this game, but if you want a great (but long) explanation of why this game is so amazing, I’d highly recommend Tim Roger’s 6 hour review of the game. (although, if you’re interested in this game, I imagine you’ve already seen it)
I can’t wait until Boku no Natsuyasumi gets a fan translation. This game needs to be experienced by more people. I won’t make a sweeping statement and say it’ll appeal to everyone, but if this game sounds like it will appeal to you, I almost guarantee you it will. Absolute timeless, classic masterpiece.
A major elephant in the room when discussing this game is the fact that it has never been localized in any capacity, whether official or a fan translation (although one is supposedly in the works). Therefore, I had to play this in a sort of archaic way. I wouldn’t really recommend that, I’d say wait for the fan translation. But regardless, I’m so glad I managed to play this.
Boku no Natsuyasumi is about the titular Boku, a boy from Tokyo who is going to stay with his Aunt, Uncle, and cousins in rural Japan while his mother is preparing to give birth during summer vacation. While in this unnamed part of rural Japan, you can explore the area around you, catch bugs, talk to locals, catch fish, fly kites, wrestle beetles. Y’know, the Summer Stuff. In the simplest terms, I’d describe this game as a “summer simulator” of sorts, but just that surface level description doesn’t go into the major depth this game has.
I think mood is a major part of this game's appeal. Of course, Boku no Natsuyasumi is a game about reliving your childhood, so you get some of that major childlike wonder at certain moments of the game. However, as this game is told from the perspective of an adult Boku, I think “bittersweet nostalgia” is the perfect way to describe this game’s mood. While this game is pure vibes and a joy to play, there is a hint of melancholy here. Post-war reconstruction, dealing with the loss of a family member, and teenage angst and depression are some of the topics that are dealt with here, and I think it handles this beautifully.
The characters are also delightful! The main family is lovely, with Moe’s heartbroken arc being the one that resonated with me the most. But I also love the other people you can run into, such as the vice principal, the delinquent boys, and the wolf girl.
By the time I finished this game, I was near tears. I didn’t want to leave, I didn’t want it to end. I truly felt like I stumbled into something magical. I wish I could put into words the depth and beauty of this game, but if you want a great (but long) explanation of why this game is so amazing, I’d highly recommend Tim Roger’s 6 hour review of the game. (although, if you’re interested in this game, I imagine you’ve already seen it)
I can’t wait until Boku no Natsuyasumi gets a fan translation. This game needs to be experienced by more people. I won’t make a sweeping statement and say it’ll appeal to everyone, but if this game sounds like it will appeal to you, I almost guarantee you it will. Absolute timeless, classic masterpiece.
boku no natsuyasumi is profoundly beautiful, and it brought me to tears at multiple occasions. i've come to love and care about all of the characters in this game, their lives and dreams and struggles. after my time in the countryside was done, just like boku, all that was left for me to do was to cherish the memories i made, because summer vacation doesn't last forever, but the connections and memories you make during it will.
I'm not going to be able to say anything more insightful than Tim Rogers has...
...not yet.
...not yet.
don't let my 'completed' on this fool you: i'm never wrapping this game up and i'm never seeing the ending. i don't know how this ends, and i don't want to. in my world, boku's going to get that ultimate wish and live out a truly endless summer as long as i have a say in it. he's going to draw pictures and catch bugs and sit on logs and explore the sunflower fields for as long as his little heart can take it, until his smile sticks on his face for good.
ozu's 'good morning' and home movies of the summer of your first kiss, wrapped in a deep embrace in a sleeping bag surrounded by the buzzing of the august cicadas. this is one of the games i started learning japanese with the hopes of playing and now that i'm here, i can say it was worth all that work. this is the grateful dead's 'ripple' of video games - one of the few genuinely perfect, genuinely, overabundantly loving and tender experiences in its medium. truly in the league of katamari damacy and earthbound in that regard. just dear... just precious.
ozu's 'good morning' and home movies of the summer of your first kiss, wrapped in a deep embrace in a sleeping bag surrounded by the buzzing of the august cicadas. this is one of the games i started learning japanese with the hopes of playing and now that i'm here, i can say it was worth all that work. this is the grateful dead's 'ripple' of video games - one of the few genuinely perfect, genuinely, overabundantly loving and tender experiences in its medium. truly in the league of katamari damacy and earthbound in that regard. just dear... just precious.
Managed to play until day 6 thanks to this translated playthrough on YouTube. The hot summer vacation atmosphere is not only really well done, it's also very refreshing to see a game try to tackle such a specific nostalgic feeling. More games should try to itch specific feelings like this I think.
<3
hoo boy where do I even start here? This game stands proud as one of the vibest of vibe games, and with good reason, because the vibes here are truly on another level compared to most games today, let alone on the PS1.
It's a game where in the grand scheme of things not much happens as you spend a month over at your cousins house in summer. What you do with your 31 days at their countryside abode is entirely up to you. It is your summer vacation, after all, so there's no real correct or incorrect way to spend your time, and the game is entirely developed with that in mind.
The game very obviously isn't designed much like a traditional video game, as rewards for exploration are more scenes that try to evoke a particular emotion rather than being any sort of progress-making videogamey reward. I guess a good example is a random well that exists in a corner of the countryside. It's a dead end, there aren't many bugs to collect near the well, nothing inside the well, you can't go in the well to a new area, all that you can do is examine the well. Doing so plays a cutscene showing Boku looking down the well in intimidation before taking a few steps back in fear. That one particular area really has very little significance in the entire map as a side route, and it's really not like that area has any real threat to it. But like, I'm sure there has been a time in all of our youths where we ended up wandering somewhere we probably weren't supposed to be unsupervised and getting psyched out from something completely harmless. Bokunatsu is absolutely chock full of moments like that from start to finish. Regardless of whether or not you actually have experience of being a child living in rural 1970's Japan, this game covers so many aspects of being a kid in general that there's bound to be tons of things to relate to in spite of its setting.
Another impressive aspect to me was just the design of the whole world and it's characters. It's probably one of the most peaceful games to ever exist, with breathtaking hand-drawn 2D backgrounds of natural countryside landscapes and characters that feel like actual people just living another month in their lives. The wide age disparity between the different characters also provides insight in how summer is spent at different points of life. Kids like Boku and his little sister spend their time completely free and at their own discretion, being curious about the many things in the world, generally playing around every day with all their free time. There's Moe, the older cousin in her teens, where she struggles with growing up, spending most of her days studying inside or sitting outside at night thinking more philosophically about her future as she is about to enter high school. And then there's your Aunt and Uncle, where to their adult lives August is just another month of the grind doing work stuff and housekeeping. This game just excels at being a window into this precise household in this precise one month in time, allowing you as the player to observe the countryside and the family living in it just the same way as Boku does.
I could honestly keep going on about all the various moments in the game and the many different memories they made me feel, but I think yall get the point. Would definitely highly rec to anyone even remotely interested in these kinds of peaceful vibes, as this game definitely hits in a unique way to everyone who would play it. Much like actual summer vacation to a kid, this game is entirely what you make of it. or something like that.
It's a game where in the grand scheme of things not much happens as you spend a month over at your cousins house in summer. What you do with your 31 days at their countryside abode is entirely up to you. It is your summer vacation, after all, so there's no real correct or incorrect way to spend your time, and the game is entirely developed with that in mind.
The game very obviously isn't designed much like a traditional video game, as rewards for exploration are more scenes that try to evoke a particular emotion rather than being any sort of progress-making videogamey reward. I guess a good example is a random well that exists in a corner of the countryside. It's a dead end, there aren't many bugs to collect near the well, nothing inside the well, you can't go in the well to a new area, all that you can do is examine the well. Doing so plays a cutscene showing Boku looking down the well in intimidation before taking a few steps back in fear. That one particular area really has very little significance in the entire map as a side route, and it's really not like that area has any real threat to it. But like, I'm sure there has been a time in all of our youths where we ended up wandering somewhere we probably weren't supposed to be unsupervised and getting psyched out from something completely harmless. Bokunatsu is absolutely chock full of moments like that from start to finish. Regardless of whether or not you actually have experience of being a child living in rural 1970's Japan, this game covers so many aspects of being a kid in general that there's bound to be tons of things to relate to in spite of its setting.
Another impressive aspect to me was just the design of the whole world and it's characters. It's probably one of the most peaceful games to ever exist, with breathtaking hand-drawn 2D backgrounds of natural countryside landscapes and characters that feel like actual people just living another month in their lives. The wide age disparity between the different characters also provides insight in how summer is spent at different points of life. Kids like Boku and his little sister spend their time completely free and at their own discretion, being curious about the many things in the world, generally playing around every day with all their free time. There's Moe, the older cousin in her teens, where she struggles with growing up, spending most of her days studying inside or sitting outside at night thinking more philosophically about her future as she is about to enter high school. And then there's your Aunt and Uncle, where to their adult lives August is just another month of the grind doing work stuff and housekeeping. This game just excels at being a window into this precise household in this precise one month in time, allowing you as the player to observe the countryside and the family living in it just the same way as Boku does.
I could honestly keep going on about all the various moments in the game and the many different memories they made me feel, but I think yall get the point. Would definitely highly rec to anyone even remotely interested in these kinds of peaceful vibes, as this game definitely hits in a unique way to everyone who would play it. Much like actual summer vacation to a kid, this game is entirely what you make of it. or something like that.
relaxing
Aside from the obvious language barrier, Bokunatsu really is a must play for any fan of life simulators. There's some jank to be found, particularly in its bug catching and fishing minigames, and the game isn't flooding with content like others in the genre, but its relative simplicity works so well to its advantage. You're never going to find a million different things to do everyday like in an Animal Crossing game, but there's always at least something new to find, and its those moments, witnessing Boku's discoveries and reporting on them in his nightly journal that make everything here feel so special.
Besides, what defined Bokunatsu for me, more than anything, was its characters. It's why I can't really recommend this game at all to anyone without at least beginner-level Japanese reading; you'd miss out on so much of the best content by not understanding the dialogue. Every character is really easy to like, but the Sorano family in particular really resonated with me. Maybe its just because the family feels far more human than most video game characters, but I found it really easy to get emotional during certain moments (the scene between Boku and his aunt when the former gets sick was particularly excellent). Despite its fun and cartoony art style, Boku is more bittersweet than anything, and it honestly did hurt a little seeing the credits roll.
Nostalgia is Boku no Natsuyasumi's most prevalent theme, and a major point of discussion regarding the game. The scenario presented in Boku isn't something I related to at all initially, but I honestly think there's at least something that anyone who has experienced summer vacation can relate to, whether it's catching the biggest fish in the lake, screwing around with the neighborhood delinquents, or even just witnessing a rainbow after a summer shower. For me, it was those increasingly common moments of Boku and his older cousin sitting and talking under the night sky. Even if I forget everything else about this game, that's an image that's going to stay with me, because it hit so close to home.
Fantastic game. The love for it is well deserved, and it's an easy recommend for anyone with a decent understanding of Japanese. Playthroughs are rather short at around 12 hours long, and the game is really easy to pick up for a bit, then set down for a few months without forgetting anything (my own playthrough took roughly six months). It was also refreshing to play something where 100% completion didn't even feel like an option; a game where it was actively okay to miss out on major points of content. It makes Boku no Natsuyasumi not only a fantastic playthrough, but something worth coming back to.
Besides, what defined Bokunatsu for me, more than anything, was its characters. It's why I can't really recommend this game at all to anyone without at least beginner-level Japanese reading; you'd miss out on so much of the best content by not understanding the dialogue. Every character is really easy to like, but the Sorano family in particular really resonated with me. Maybe its just because the family feels far more human than most video game characters, but I found it really easy to get emotional during certain moments (the scene between Boku and his aunt when the former gets sick was particularly excellent). Despite its fun and cartoony art style, Boku is more bittersweet than anything, and it honestly did hurt a little seeing the credits roll.
Nostalgia is Boku no Natsuyasumi's most prevalent theme, and a major point of discussion regarding the game. The scenario presented in Boku isn't something I related to at all initially, but I honestly think there's at least something that anyone who has experienced summer vacation can relate to, whether it's catching the biggest fish in the lake, screwing around with the neighborhood delinquents, or even just witnessing a rainbow after a summer shower. For me, it was those increasingly common moments of Boku and his older cousin sitting and talking under the night sky. Even if I forget everything else about this game, that's an image that's going to stay with me, because it hit so close to home.
Fantastic game. The love for it is well deserved, and it's an easy recommend for anyone with a decent understanding of Japanese. Playthroughs are rather short at around 12 hours long, and the game is really easy to pick up for a bit, then set down for a few months without forgetting anything (my own playthrough took roughly six months). It was also refreshing to play something where 100% completion didn't even feel like an option; a game where it was actively okay to miss out on major points of content. It makes Boku no Natsuyasumi not only a fantastic playthrough, but something worth coming back to.
Im trying to learn japanese to play this game
Utterly charmed. One of my new favorites to pull out for the month of August.
Pico de la humanidad
THE GOAT
i watched tim roger's review on this and now its my favorite game
This review contains spoilers
Late in 2022 I decided that for January 2023, I wanted to play Boku no Natsuyasumi one day at a time. January and August are the same length--31 days each--and escaping into the Japanese summer countryside while in the grip of the Swedish winter (a cold, dark experience where the sun is more a suggestion than a guarantee) seemed enticing.
So every day this month, usually after a long day at work and a short dinner, I sat down with my partner as spectator and I booted up a new summer day, taking on the role of Boku. Neither of us are fluent in Japanese, so we made liberal use of translation options, but much of the time I was more keen to just let the speech wash over me and try to catch what I could in meaning. I've been privileged to always have games playable in my native language, so this experience felt a lot like my partner's childhood gaming reality--playing games in a language you don't understand, doing your best to beat it anyway--and also never detracted from the overall experience.
I tried to play this game less as a game and more as a simulator. I did not reset (excluding that one time when the game froze) and I avoided looking things up as much as possible. This was, maybe, a chance for me to get back one summer of my childhood that I thought was lost forever.
I didn't actually get an ending. I still don't really understand why. But getting a specific ending wasn't really the point. The ending I really earned was a month of memories with my partner, a month of evenings (and a couple mornings) running through forests and fields, shouting "BIG!" whenever we caught a big bug, cheering when the kite cleared 120m, and dreaming about the many meals Boku tasted during his summer break.
I can never go back to my childhood, can never replace those memories, even as more of those memories slip from my grasp. But I can make new ones, and I made fantastic ones with this game. Play it if you can.
So every day this month, usually after a long day at work and a short dinner, I sat down with my partner as spectator and I booted up a new summer day, taking on the role of Boku. Neither of us are fluent in Japanese, so we made liberal use of translation options, but much of the time I was more keen to just let the speech wash over me and try to catch what I could in meaning. I've been privileged to always have games playable in my native language, so this experience felt a lot like my partner's childhood gaming reality--playing games in a language you don't understand, doing your best to beat it anyway--and also never detracted from the overall experience.
I tried to play this game less as a game and more as a simulator. I did not reset (excluding that one time when the game froze) and I avoided looking things up as much as possible. This was, maybe, a chance for me to get back one summer of my childhood that I thought was lost forever.
I didn't actually get an ending. I still don't really understand why. But getting a specific ending wasn't really the point. The ending I really earned was a month of memories with my partner, a month of evenings (and a couple mornings) running through forests and fields, shouting "BIG!" whenever we caught a big bug, cheering when the kite cleared 120m, and dreaming about the many meals Boku tasted during his summer break.
I can never go back to my childhood, can never replace those memories, even as more of those memories slip from my grasp. But I can make new ones, and I made fantastic ones with this game. Play it if you can.
Ahh, summer sure is over.
One of the most interesting and unique games I've ever played. Wish my Japanese was good enough to understand the story, but this game has all the charm to make up for it.
For me, it’s almost impossible to remember the final plot twist in my favorite anime, the main character's name on the films I’ve recently watched, the 5th track of my most played album, the solution of that tricky puzzle or what I had for dinner two days ago. But 2 years after playing this game I remember fondly the moment I was finally able to get past the bees, the discovery of a cave, the homage to that family member, the transitions between some screens with the character jumping, the first encounter with another kid, how I was never home for dinner and someone always had to pick me up and so many more things. Boku no Natsuyasumi brings some of the purest, happiest memories I’ve had in recent years.
The spirit of Miyazaki meets the thematic styling of Ozu in this gem I can comfortably call a masterpiece. I’m hard-pressed to come up with another game that delighted me to the extent and with the frequency this one did. Its relentless charm and exquisitely drawn characters transform an unremarkable summer into a stirring and wistful affirmation of life
Things I've Learned:
- I have anxiety about not utilizing every second of my existence for something productive.
- It’s okay for nothing to happen. Moments occur, and it’s just as important to enjoy those as it is to appreciate the natural nothingness that life has as its base.
- Task-hunting can give purpose, but experiencing each instant as it is gives fulfillment.
- Discovery and the pursuit of newness shouldn’t take you away from treasuring what you can already explore.
- My experience was both heightened and weakened by not knowing Japanese. I felt even more engrossed with the childlike discovery this game roots itself in, but there were moments I felt lost that might have been solved by knowing what the dialogue was saying. (this is really the only negative I have to say about this game, and it's not the game's fault at all! if the proposed English translation releases, this game will be an easy 10/10 for me.)
- I had a pretty good summer. Even though it's not even spring yet.
- I have anxiety about not utilizing every second of my existence for something productive.
- It’s okay for nothing to happen. Moments occur, and it’s just as important to enjoy those as it is to appreciate the natural nothingness that life has as its base.
- Task-hunting can give purpose, but experiencing each instant as it is gives fulfillment.
- Discovery and the pursuit of newness shouldn’t take you away from treasuring what you can already explore.
- My experience was both heightened and weakened by not knowing Japanese. I felt even more engrossed with the childlike discovery this game roots itself in, but there were moments I felt lost that might have been solved by knowing what the dialogue was saying. (this is really the only negative I have to say about this game, and it's not the game's fault at all! if the proposed English translation releases, this game will be an easy 10/10 for me.)
- I had a pretty good summer. Even though it's not even spring yet.