Man, you know those moments when you stumble on something like a game and it’s screaming “cozy”? Yeah, Cattle Country is like that, but toss in some cowboys. Sounds weird, right? Anyway, I got curious about this Wild West vibe.
Picture it: late 1800s, you’re naming your own character and even the plot of land you’re given. First thoughts? Yeah, I know, should’ve sounded more Wild Westy, but honestly, it feels like just any ol’ life sim. Horses, sure, and maybe some buzzards overhead. But the whole cowboy era? Not so much. Conversations with characters don’t pop that Old West look I was hoping for. I mean, why even call it that?
Then come the bandits. You’re walking and boom—bush rustles, and out they come. Quick reflexes needed or, if you’re not feeling the thrill, turn them off. Personally, it takes away some flavor, but hey, each to their own.
Graphics take a retro pixel spin, which is charming, I guess. Day and night, even seasons mix it up. But oh, the Switch stutters at times. Not the prettiest. The music? Meh, even cranked to the max, feels like background noise. I thought I had settings wrong at first. Nope, just quiet.
Tasks, oh so many tasks! From chopping trees (seriously, a classic), making furniture, or crafting sprinklers. Wait, hard-boiled eggs? Random, I know. Farming’s pretty standard, but fishing! Fast-paced with its tiny error margin. Misses my expectations, so I end up setting water traps. More my speed.
Mining, now that’s a bit of a twist. Dive deep and find treasures, but watch out for critters. Bats, snakes… ugh! Thank goodness for torch-lit adventures. Hits differently when stamina depletes. You wouldn’t want to wake up at the doc’s, trust me. Bills aren’t fun.
Now, let’s talk townsfolk. Befriend them, build a town, simple right? Ha, not so much. The banker expanding stuff, the saloon turning into a restaurant. You’re pretty much giving them random gifts hoping for hearts to show up. Felt like I was missing a trick, though. Why so slow, hearts? Maybe it’s just me, but connecting with folks here feels kinda bleh. They wander like, where are you even going?
Honestly, finding direction in this game is like trying to read a map upside down in a dust storm. Even after a marathon stretch of play (25 hours, yikes), progress feels sluggish. And trust me, if my life-sim-loving wife agrees, it’s got issues. Pacing is all over the place.
And bugs? Oh dear. Crashes and seeing “Software closed because of an error” on your screen more than once? Yikes. UI feels cramped with teeny icons. No screenshots? Boo. But at least they patched the glass-crafting glitch. Thanks, I guess?
By the end, Cattle Country wants to be something special with its cowboy flair, but doesn’t push boundaries. Might be one to pick up on sale if you’re curious—after all, those quirks and bugs don’t polish themselves.
