08/01 - The Beginning
Fortunately, this version of Boku no Natsuyasumi doesn't rely so much on the physical manuals that came with your copy of the game. Coming also from having already played the first day in its sequel, I was able to quickly adapt to the control scheme.
Boku no Natsuyasumi
08/02
Well, today I was able to explore the accessible parts of the mountain a little more thoroughly.
I met an elderly ornithologist who didn't care I was there, but thanks to that I found the secret base of some children and the stolen watermelons... but since we're not snitches, it's time to find out who the thieves are.
But, unlike the second game, here at most I was able to catch a butterfly in the gloom of the night and the vague distant tinkling of the house lights. It truly resonates with how first days usually goes in trips like these.
Something tells me that all summer long I'm going to have to be picked up from wherever I'm caught at night because I don't see myself being able to go to sleep early in this game.
08/04
Exploring with Enanabe, and specifically a moment in the countryside, brought back memories of when I was little. They took me to the farm school at school, where one of the paths leading to the activities had several rows of vinagretas (or vinagrillos) where we picked them to taste the sour stem.
08/03
I'm starting to think that they treat the protagonist more like an intern than a family member, between taking care of the flowers in the garden and picking ALL the corn cobs from the field for them.
Also, caught a teenager who calls himself “boss” acting suspiciously, but he literally disappeared...
08/05
The protagonist's uncle left at night saying that we shouldn't go to see the amazing and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Firefly Waterfall.
Of course, the first thing I did as soon as he turned his back was go see the amazing and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Firefly Waterfall.
That so many miles away, a language and culture so distant from mine, there are experiences similar to mine has briefly filled me with a warmth I did not expect to find.
In addition, I found the little rascal who was stealing watermelons.
Ice! (with no cream)
08/07
A chill day for the cuyons, where the biggest event was picking some flowers for my cousin so she could flirt with her clarinet teacher.
That said, for the next day I managed to get a beetle with which to CRUSH the other kids in combat. Hierarchies must be established, it's kill or be killed (as Flowey the Flower would say)
08/06
Today has been a day full of emotions: I saw THE GANG from the village and, on top of that, I managed to knock down the hornet's nest and reach the top of the mountain, just in time for sunset.
Absolutely beautiful.
08/09
I GOT AN AXE. The best thing a kid could be walking around with. That and starting to chop down a tree just like that to get to the other side of the mountain. The safest thing in the universe.
And for some reason, a huge salmon popped its head out of the water and waved at me.
Just a normal day.
08/08
I'm writing this on the 9th. I was so tired that I played, but all I remember is that the guy is going to leave an axe tomorrow, and that has occupied my entire child's roleplay brain. How am I going to chop down a tree with that?
Oh, and a nice, but short, scene with fireworks!
08/11
Another chill day, I tried to cut down the tree, but it seems that the third time is NOT the charm...
08/10
Second day cutting down the tree and nothing, it won't fall.
Smashing O everywhere to see if it does something in my uncle's workshop... it actually DID something: it destroyed an entire shelf of ceramics.
I tried to confess my crime asap, but didn't get me the chance...
08/13
I thought it was going to be just another day, and suddenly a blue fire wolf appeared in front of me in the forest beyond the log I threw.
Unbelievable.
08/12
The monk came and they talked a little about the person who died three years ago, but... I was hoping to find more information or feelings about it.
So I took refuge in the sweet, sweet effort of cutting down a tree, and he finally did it! A new area to explore at the end of the day!
08/15
Since there was no one else in the house, I could have taken advantage of the opportunity to do something crazier, but I just watched a TV show and found a whale bone.
Oh, and the chrysalis opened at some point without me seeing it... I didn't know it could open in the afternoon or evening :(
08/14
Just a little bit, I saw the clouds in the new valley with my cousin and the main character saw his mother...
08/17
Today I was supposed to meet the wolf girl, but the camp was empty... She got away from me, even though I looked around the surrounding areas to see if I could find her.
08/16
They took a photo of me and the cow mooed as if there were a wolf... I don't know if I'm making the most of these days, tbh.
08/19
I was hoping to read a book in the tent, but the wolf girl just threatened me physically again.
Luckily, it seems that Moe has woken up and is getting over the rejection.
08/18
Okay, today the wolf girl did appear to me, and I found it funny because she's a bit like me, unable to put up with the kid's nonsense, lmao.
On the other hand, it seems that the teacher has rejected my older cousin BY LETTER, and she's feeling down... What a mess is coming.
08/21
I've heard the story of the wolf girl, and it's similar to what's happening to Boku with the wolf...
I hope to see it progress!
08/20
A day of chilling, exploring, teasing the wolf girl, and, of course, eavesdropping on Moe's conversation with her parents about her future.
One is naturally curious.
08/23
The drawing says that nothing exciting has happened, but I found the assistant principal's book that I was talking about like a treasure...
I guess since Moe didn't want to look at it, he didn't tell...
08/22
Today is all about weddings.
Not only because it's my aunt and uncle's wedding anniversary, but also because our protagonist, who is more alert than ever, has proposed to the wolf girl...
This guy never misses an opportunity!
08/25
I've been around and it seems that Moe has already gotten over the sadness of rejection and is now sad about the end of summer. This girl never stops.
The guy lit the oven, but there was no scene... What a shame.
08/24
Okay, it was indeed because he hadn't given Moe the treasure... He has now translated the letter that was inside, and it was both beautiful and sad at the same time.
I wish we knew who wrote it.
08/27
The protagonist got DOUBLE brushoff when saying goodbye to the wolf girl
This guy is aiming high, I see a future for him
08/26
The event of the day was: RAIN.
The rainbow afterwards was beautiful, but I didn't have time to go anywhere high up.
08/29
Today, Boku's brother was born, and for some reason, he had a strange dream in which sunflowers disappeared in a winter wind.
I don't really understand the language of dreams, but it seems more like a nightmare.
08/28
Saori has already left and left a thank-you letter...
Of course, the end of summer is approaching, and with it, a cold for the protagonist.
Final Short Thoughts
I think playing Boku no Natsuyasumi 1 and 2 at the same time has done this particular installment a disservice.
Although the formula is the same and there are quite a few parallels between the two games, it's clear that in the second installment, they learned from the weaknesses I saw in this first installment of the series.
08/30 & 31
Enanabe got lost looking for sunflowers to give me... Textbook tsundere, let me tell you.
Plus, saying goodbye today was emotional... You can't help but feel that way about summer in general too.
It's already coming to an end... How quickly it's gone by...
However, it has that magic in the narration of Boku reminiscing about that summer of '75, with a few CGI scenes that accompany and impact simple things (like getting water from the river or finding a fish in the lake).
A beautiful, peaceful experience that invites reflection on the time we have, how we use it, and accepting that it can (and will) end at some point.