As Summer in Mara was first tutorializing me, Yaya Haku was instructing me to chop down a tree. Haku is the adoptive grandmother of the player protagonist in Summer in Mara, Koa. As I dutifully stripped the tree of its crafting pieces, the thoughtful Haku interrupted Koa to explain that she now has to give back exactly what she has taken away from the island. With the next task requiring the young girl to plant another tree from a sapling.
Summer in Mara
Developer: Chibig
Price: $24.99
Platform: Nintendo Switch (Reviewed)
MonsterVine was provided with a Switch code for review
This concept of giving back what’s taken from nature is a solid message for a game that features farming. Fitting the game’s serene aesthetic which is inspired by the likes of classic Japanese animated films. However, after investing almost 25 hours into the fetch quest heavy campaign— Summer in Mara didn’t make sure its journey seemed worth my time. As this ethos of giving back what’s invested didn’t remain consistent throughout the game’s narrative or design.
Summer in Mara is a farming-simulator which has elements of an adventure game. Farming is simple—till a predesignated plot, pour water/ place mulch the soil, and wait a few days after planting seeds. Days are quick, and the later it gets the more exhausted Koa can become. That’s why it’s important to cook food from both the plants and fish that are available to collect, as eating prevents Koa from collapsing with exhaustion. There’s also a crafting system, which allows the construction of structures and tools. Gaining materials is easy, chopping down a tree nets wood and minerals can be found in mining deposits. While not entirely deep, the implementation is simple and easy to follow.
As Koa toils away with farming, cooking, and crafting—a grander adventure unfolds. This takes her onto the high seas (after crafting the necessary materials to fix the boat) to a myriad of islands. On these islands, there are a variety of denizens which give Koa tasks. These tasks can include anything from crafting specific items, growing crops, or catching certain fish. After receiving a quest, Koa has to usually go out of her way to gather what’s needed on a separate part of the map.
While even the simplest quests can take a grueling amount of effort to complete, they’re also hampered by the poor UI and system performance. Playing the game on the Nintendo Switch means weathering a lackluster resolution and fluctuating framerate. There were even a few game-breaking bugs I experienced which required me to restart the game. An added frustration to the poor quest system is that the music (one of the best parts of Summer in Mara) becomes grating due to the repetition.
The Final Word
While Summer in Mara has a wholesome atmosphere that’s rarely broken thanks to an overwhelming effort placed towards style and presentation, there isn’t anything wholesome regarding the content consumed. It may be a fun distraction for a few hours, but it’s grueling to push through the later hours of the game and frustrating to end up with only a small sense of satisfaction once the various questlines wrap up. Before it gets updated in a more playable and enjoyable state, I would only suggest Summer in Mara to devout enthusiasts of the farming game genre.
– MonsterVine Rating: 3.5 out of 5 – Fair
