Boku no Natsuyasumi 3 Review - Part 4

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The game itself took me around 12hrs to beat and I thoroughly enjoyed my first play-through. Be warned that like many sandbox games that give you freedom to do as you choose, you run the risk of becoming bored if you do not set goals for yourself. The game compensates by being a bit more structured that the typical sandbox game. The few chores you are assigned and the events that are not avoidable help to move the game along but unless you find some enjoyment in bug collecting, fishing, bottle cap collecting, bug sumo, or playing the other mini-games such as haiku etc.., you may find yourself frustrated.

That said, I find so many aspects of the game tremendously refreshing. There are no guns in this game. There is no war or shooting. Don't get me wrong, I fully enjoy Halo. Heck, Resident Evil is my favorite game franchise ever. But it's really nice to take a break from shooting zombies and aliens once in awhile. While I highly recommend this game for the glimpse it affords into Japanese culture via a fictional family in the 1970s, it's also an enjoyable game in it's own right. Many kinds of people will enjoy this PS3 game on it's own merits.

I'd like to tell you about a wonderful experience I had with this game when a friend of mine brought his 5 year old son to my house. I handed him a controller and Boku no Natsuyasumi 3 and watched to see what would happen. It was fascinating to observe the wonder in his eyes as he played this game created entirely to recapture that same wonder for people who have long since lost the ability to gain joy from a colorful bottle cap or a simple piece of cardboard.

I only assisted his efforts in whatever he was trying, I did not guide him as to what to do. One of the first things he did was pull out the net and begin capturing insects. He proceeded to release the chickens and was disappointed that he could not capture them as well. The neatest part was how I could sit there and explain to him what the people were saying and there was no culture gap because he is still learning to read. To him it was no less like he was playing an American game than if he was playing Lego Star Wars. This Japanese PS3 game is truly all-ages will appeal to both children and adults.

If you'd like to learn more please continue to the next part of my review of Boku no Natsuyasumi 3 - Part 5. Or you may go back to my Boku no Natsuyasumi 3 Review for PS3.