Yasuhiro Wada, the life simulation superstar who brought us the Harvest Moon series, has fallen short of our high expectations in the delivery of LITTLE DRAGONS CAFE. Everything you have come to love and expect from this creator—the decision-contingent plot twists, the tool upgrades, the variance in tasks—are nonexistent in this unfortunate letdown that is LITTLE DRAGONS CAFE.
Take your pick between two twins, Rin and Ran, to assume responsibility of this sleepy town’s restaurant, Little Dragons Cafe, when your mother suddenly falls ill. The tasks you expect to execute in such an environment are pretty cut and dry, with the exception of an adorable fire-breathing companion. While not a terribly original plot, your little dragon friend steals the show, making for the only memorable component of this game. Treat this little guy with caution—everything he does burns up stamina points, which can easily be replenished, but make sure you always have a sufficient amount of meals for him while traversing the landscape or he’ll be pretty useless. Wish to change your dragon’s color? Transform him into a new shade of the rainbow with a delicious dish of the desired color.
The pencil drawn graphics, while cute, feel like a cheap imitation of Yasuhrio Wada’s better-known work. Pastel colors and storybook architecture are a delight, reminiscent of higher-caliber games within the genre, but the scenery lacks a certain dimension that we have come to except and love.
The biggest merit that LITTLE DRAGONS CAFE offers is the charming characters. One of Wada’s greatest talents is gifting us with eccentric characters with grandiose, albeit cliche, personalities, and vibrant, wacky hairstyles—and he delivers, once again, in this game. For this I am given a sense of comfort that he has not completely surrendered to a seemingly low-budget version of his real masterpieces.
Let us address what is particularly irksome. A life/farming simulation without money? If I’m not stockpiling the dough, then what am I doing here? The dough in this game comes in a more literal form of cooking ingredients. I can appreciate the variance in currently, but even Diner Dash has money, and that is unfortunately what this game feels like—an open-world Diner Dash.
The idea of LITTLE DRAGONS CAFE is not inherently awful, it’s just far too shallow to justify the $60 price tag on what could theoretically be an iPad game. What this life simulation is lacking is a clear differentiation between entertaining digital tasks and the tedious chores you have to do in real life for free. Managing the daily responsibilities of keeping your bustling cafe afloat quickly transform from relaxing entertainment to boring obligations. While this game is designed to move at a slower pace, it is taken to a bit of an extreme that surpasses casual and slides into agonizing.
If a simple, feel good simulation is the kind of entertainment you’re after, those needs will be met in this game, but if you are looking for a more rewarding way to spend your money, I would stick to Harvest Moon.
Rating: 5/10
Check Out the LITTLE DRAGONS CAFE Trailer:
For more information, visit littledragonscafe.com.
PlayStation 4 Review
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Overall Score - 5/105/10
Kendra grew up in the era where playing Donkey Kong in the dentist's office was a thing. Her creative mind enjoys the imaginative genius that goes into the intricate worlds and enticing narratives that have become the new wave of gaming. Forever a devotee of Crash Bandicoot and Spyro, Kendra has stepped into the next generation of gaming with favorites like God of War, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Spider-Man. She is always looking for the next gaming challenge and utilizes her fancy English degree to articulate her detailed reviews for hungry gamers like you.
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