How Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town Takes Anime Icon on a New Adventure

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As a seasoned gamer with over two decades under my belt, I’ve seen and played it all – from the classics to the obscure indie titles. So when I stumbled upon Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town, I was intrigued by its unique premise and the promise of a fresh take on the life-sim genre. The blend of two worlds, Akita and Coal Town, along with the trolley races and inventions, caught my attention.

In an exclusive chat, ComingSoon interviewed Akira Nagashima, producer of Shin chan: Me and the Professor in Coal Town’s Sequel, following the success of its 2022 release. The game, praised for its immersive life simulation gameplay, is set to launch on October 23, available on Steam and Nintendo Switch. Nagashima shared insights into the new gameplay features, scenic changes, and other updates.

As a fervent admirer, I can’t help but share my excitement about Shin Chan’s enigmatic daily ritual, which involves traversing between two distinct realms: the serene Village in Akita and the gritty Coal Town, as detailed by the game’s official account.

As a gamer reflecting on my journey, I can’t help but draw parallels between “Me and the Professor on Summer Vacation” and this current challenge. Lessons like teamwork, strategic thinking, and perseverance in the face of adversity were crucial then, and they are equally important now. The professor taught me to think outside the box, and I’ve found that same mentality has been key in overcoming obstacles here. Just like in the game, every level requires a unique approach, and every victory is sweeter when shared with a team.

Akira Nagashima noted that one of the main difficulties lay in determining what aspects to retain from the popular predecessor and what fresh elements to incorporate. From the outset of our planning stage, we aimed to preserve the core gameplay style initiated by Kaz Ayabe in the previous title, while improving visuals, narrative, and game mechanics. Our key learning was always prioritizing the player’s enjoyment. We ensured that decisions weren’t made solely for convenience during development, a challenging approach at times, which we largely adopted due to Ayabe-san’s influence.

For those encountering Akita Prefecture for the first time, what notable elements of the area will be featured within the game?

In the region of Tohoku, Japan, lies the city of Akita, famed for its expansive rice fields which make it the third-highest rice producer in Japan. On multiple occasions, we’ve journeyed to this area for location research, and the breathtaking view of endless rice paddies mirroring the sky and trees was simply awe-inspiring, reminiscent of an ocean. This experience left a profound impact on us, and one of our primary objectives was finding a way to visually capture that enchantment within the game. If our players find themselves inspired to explore Akita following gameplay, then we deem our endeavor a triumph.

In addition, there’s a Trolley Town for players to explore and participate in trolley races. What made incorporating this new gameplay feature particularly satisfying?

From the onset of this project, we’ve been brainstorming an engaging replacement for the “Dinosaur Card Battle” from our previous game. The idea of setting the narrative in a “Coal Town” sparked the concept of a “Trolley Race,” which quickly gained traction among the team. Initially, we had apprehensions about an action-packed feature potentially disrupting the game’s flow. However, we asked our developers to design it so that even young players could easily participate, much like operating a “slot car” with minimal controls. Although it became slightly more intricate, the team successfully maintained its simplicity while adding layers of depth to the gameplay, showcasing their dedication and skill. We encourage you to give it a spin and brace yourself for some controller-gripping fun!

In Coal Town, there’s a woman innovator who enables the creation of novel devices. What sort of items might we anticipate being developed?

In the story, referred to as “The Coal Town,” this significant location holds a secretive allure that’s best experienced firsthand. While I won’t give away much about its enigmatic nature, I highly recommend playing the game and exploring “Coal Town” for yourself. One intriguing tidbit I can share is that within this town lies the chance encounter with an inventive woman who may just capture Shinosuke’s affections.

Since Akita Prefecture is close to Hiroshi’s family, we have the opportunity to meet Shin-chan’s grandfather on his father’s side. What aspect of having them appear more did you enjoy the most?

To prevent any disputes, we changed the location of the current game from Misae’s hometown, Kumamoto, to Hiroshi’s hometown in Akita instead. Besides Hiroshi’s parents, his TV series-familiar brother also joins the cast. These family members, much like Shinosuke, add a unique charm to the game’s lively community. With Shinosuke having been away from his familiar town of Kasukabe for quite some time, I’m guessing their presence gave him a sense of comfort.

Is it likely that we’ll encounter some old acquaintances like Shin’s friends in this game since it’s not being played at his home, or will it primarily feature a fresh set of characters?

In this game, Crayon Shin-chan’s world will be a fresh discovery for numerous gamers. We’ve made sure that both seasoned fans and newbies can immerse themselves fully in it, regardless of any prior experience. The narrative stands independently from other works, which means some familiar characters might not feature as prominently. Nevertheless, I trust you’ll relish encountering the game-exclusive characters.

Appreciation goes out to Akira Nagashima for spending time discussing Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town. It can now be added to your Steam wishlist.

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2024-10-22 17:11