Man, I don’t even know where to begin with this “Cattle Country” thing. It’s supposed to be this “Cozy Cowboy Adventure Life Sim.” Yeah, I know, sounds like they threw a dart at a board of gaming buzzwords. The cowboy bit caught my eye, though. Kinda different, huh?
So, picture this: late 1800s, you’ve got your little piece of land in some mining settlement. Yep, you get to name both the land and your character — howdy, partner! But honestly, you’d expect more Wild West vibes. Sure, there are horses and buzzards doing their thing, but sometimes… it feels like you could be anywhere. Like a time-traveling life sim. Even the close-up art scenes? Not screaming cowboy to me.
And then there are the bandits. You’re strolling along, minding your business, and bam! Bushes start rustling like they’ve got secrets, and out jump the baddies. Quick draw, and you’ve dealt with ’em. Oh, and sidestepping enemies? Yeah, you can totally just disable them — which is nice if you’d rather sip coffee than fight bandits. Not gonna lie, it takes away some of the zing, but hey, to each their own.
The graphics? Giving some retro pixel loveliness. Smooth? Nah, not so much. Original Switch gamers, I feel your pain with that stutter. Aesthetically, though, it’s a cutie. Soundtrack’s kinda Wild Westy, but low-key. I even cranked it to 100%, and it didn’t bang as expected.
Tasks galore! From chopping trees to, wait for it, crafting hard-boiled eggs? True story. Farming’s the usual dance: plant, grow, sell. Animals join the show as you expand. But fishing — oh, man, it’s touchy. Missed a catch? Blame those slim error margins. Or — genius move — set some “water traps.”
Mining might just be the standout act. Treasure hunting deep down, fending off critters, it keeps you on your toes. Turn off the nasties if they’re too much. But telling ya, those torches are your best pal. Cooked meals? Literally lifesavers, ‘cause running out of stamina down there ain’t cute.
Now, where this gets interesting (or not) is making buddy-buddy with townsfolk. You gotta befriend ‘em to grow your settlement. Kind of a rinse-and-repeat of gift-giving (yep, shades of Animal Crossing). Like, banker expands the bank with some friendly nudges, and the saloon lady turns all restaurant-ty. But, ugh, friendships move at a snail’s pace. It’s like, here’s your gift, and… you’re still not pumped about me?
To top it off, the game is mysteriously vague about next steps. I’m talking 25 hours in and still feeling stuck. Not life sim savvy, but my wife is — and she’s baffled too. Pacing? Not its strongest suit. It’s fun but kinda one-and-done once you wrap your head around it.
Interface-wise, meh. Could use some tweaks. The lack of touchscreen is a bummer, and honestly, having to decipher tiny icons all the time? Headache alert. Oh, and you can’t even snap a pic or record a fail? Weak. Then those error messages pop up (y’know the ones that imply “yeah, we messed up”). Thank heavens the glass-crafting bug got a boot.
The whole Wild West thing is a neat angle, but originality? Not really there. I guess if it were smoother, we might forgive that. Bugs and quirks? Plenty to dodge here. So maybe hold out for a discount if you’re itching to try.
Anyway — wait, no — where was I going with this? Right, just another day in Cattle Country!
