Welcome to EXPlay, (Explain & Play) the review series where we care not for scores but tell it how it is when it comes to every game we get our hands on, whilst also taking the time to include some lengthy gameplay, to give you the reader, the chance to shape your own impressions and views whilst watching and reading.
In this explanatory review, we’re covering Moonglow Bay by developer Bunnyhug:
Moonglow Bay: (The Explanation)
Moonglow Bay starts things off with you selecting your base character from four different selections and naming them. There isn’t much variety in that initial character selection but the game is also not about the customization there but about the story afterwards. I selected the older man character, named him Jayober, and was introduced to Maxime, my wife. From there the two of us were on our boat The Two Cats.
Maxime and I shared a few moments on our boat, she taught me how to fish and I learned about a supposed curse on the land and sea creatures that roam the sea and then wake up three years later. Inside the house I am greeted by our daughter, River, and given a gift of a fishing journal which my character is now set out to fill.Â
Within a few minutes of waking up and doting around the house and village it is apparent that Moonglow Bay has been suffering from the loss of Maxime and the once thriving fishing town. Naturally, in video game story fashion, it is my job to help restore the tourist and food scene by fishing and creating dishes for the locals and visitors to Moonglow Bay.
When it comes to fishing, the game’s main element, the controls, are pretty basic. First, you need to find a place to fish. In the opening days of the game you can only fish on certain areas of the waterfront and piers around the map that are designated by the blue fishing signs. When you approach the water you can either change your rod, lure, and bait type. Each of these will give you access to certain types of fish based on your selection and the location you are fishing in. I presume that later in the game I will be given access to fishing from my boat, The Two Cats, once I have that fixed up and working as during the beginning of the game, I was merely relegated to the docks and shoreline.
The next gameplay element of Moonglow Bay I want to discuss is the cooking element. With each fish you catch, items you find, recipes you unlock, and townspeople you meet, you will eventually unlock and need to make certain types of food. These foods are added to your recipe list and when you have the correct ingredients can be made in your kitchen. The cooking minigame has you washing and chopping items, frying things in a pan, baking meals, and then serving them from your vending machine, and maybe other areas in the later game. While I appreciate the addition of adding cooking to the game, it is mostly done through button presses, timed button releases, and rotating your joystick as you mimic the gesture of sauteing fish. As far as gameplay pieces, the cooking element was my least favorite part of the game that I had played during my EXPlay.
The citizens of Moonglow Bay are interesting at least and walking up and talking to people is a main part of at least the early game. People you meet will oftentimes talk about the curse and creatures that inhabit the waters of Moonglow Bay. Sometimes the people you meet will give you a task of creating a meal for them or ask you to help with something they need. I met the aquarium owner in the early minutes of the game. She was looking to fill out the aquarium and attract tourists to the bay. In typical Animal Crossing fashion, you need to find one of each type of fish to add to the aquarium while also making sure you are producing some meals to sell so you can work towards your list of equipment and boat upgrades.Â
Speaking of upgrades, I can see that there is potential for a lot of fishing and meal-making required to gain shells, the game’s currency, needed to purchase a variety of items from the town’s shop. I don’t know and couldn’t tell from my early hours with the game if gaining shells and purchasing items would come easier as I learned more recipes, found larger breeds of fish, and accomplished more tasks for citizens. I do hope that it becomes easier, as the current speed in which I was able to cook and the money I received seemed to take a bit of time.
Moonglow Bay uses a voxel style art for its characters and world. The presentation is bright and clear though sometimes I noticed clipping of items and animations that got stuck like character movement. The perspective the game’s camera employs is also a bit odd to me as you can swing the camera around but it felt slow and zoomed out in a way that was mildly annoying. There is also this weird thing that has your character move so slow inside buildings. The outdoor run speed is nearly double.
Minor gripes and quibbles aside, Moonglow Bay is a small indie title that has a lot of love in its design, writing, and gameplay. Parts of the game may not have jived with me, but if you are looking for a casual game that centers around fishing it might be a good one to add to your list of games. Since I haven’t yet played past the opening 2 ½ hours of the game it is hard for me to say whether the game will sink or swim. Of the two games I played this weekend, this one wasn’t one that stood out as one I wanted to get back into right away, which might give you a sense of where my head is at in the kind of score I would give a game like this. I am hoping, as always, that my EXPlay thoughts and feelings help you decide on what to spend your money on and where you focus your game time. Cheers.
Moonglow Bay: (The Gameplay)
Game Specifications:
Developer: Bunnyhug
Publisher: Coatsink Software
Platform: Nintendo Switch (eShop)
Category: Adventure, Role-Playing
No. of Players: 1-2 (Single System)
Release Date: April 11, 2024
Price: $24.99
File Size: 1.1 GB
Nintendo.com Listing
