Hokko Life
{{Short description|2022 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Hokko Life
| developer = Wonderscope
| publisher = Team17
| engine = Unity
| platforms = {{ubl|Microsoft Windows|Nintendo Switch|PlayStation 4|Xbox One|Amazon Luna}}
| released = September 27, 2022
| genre = Social simulation
| modes = Single-player
| image = File:Hokko_Life_cover_art.jpg
}}
Hokko Life is a 2022 video game developed by Wonderscope Games and published by Team17.
Gameplay
Gameplay is generally compared to that of Animal Crossing.{{cite news |last1=Zheng |first1=Jenny |title=New Animal Crossing-Like Game Hokko Life Is Coming To PC |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-animal-crossing-like-game-hokko-life-is-coming/1100-6473582/ |access-date=14 November 2022 |work=GameSpot |date=Feb 11, 2020}} The player is given the ability to customize the look of in game items.{{cite news |last1=Kent |first1=Emma |title=Hokko Life is basically Animal Crossing for PC |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/hokko-life-is-basically-animal-crossing-for-pc |access-date=14 November 2022 |work=Eurogamer.net |date=10 February 2020 |language=en-gb}}
Development
Work on the game began in 2017 by developer Robert Tatnell / Wonderscope Games.{{cite news |last1=Watts |first1=Rachel |title=Hokko Life is an Animal Crossing-like that offers everything I love about cosy community sims |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/hokko-life-is-an-animal-crossing-like-that-offers-everything-i-love-about-cosy-community-sims/ |access-date=14 November 2022 |work=PC Gamer |date=23 April 2020 |language=en}} Early versions of the game were compared to Transport Tycoon by the developer, with the game later shifting to resemble a social simulation game like the Animal Crossing series as development progressed.{{cite news |last1=Beckhelling |first1=Imogen |title=Animal Crossing 'em up Hokko Life started out more like Transport Tycoon |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/animal-crossing-like-hokko-life-started-out-more-like-transport-tycoon |access-date=14 November 2022 |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |date=2 June 2021 |language=en}} Unity was used as a game engine.{{cite news |last1=Patil |first1=Siddharth |title=Hokko Life review - Animal Crossing's rookie pupil |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/hokko-life-review-animal-crossing-s-rookie-pupil |access-date=14 November 2022 |work=www.sportskeeda.com |date=October 12, 2022 |language=en-us}}
In 2020 it was announced that Team17 would publish the game.{{cite news |last1=Romano |first1=Sal |title=Hokko Life to be published by Team17 |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2020/04/hokko-life-to-be-published-by-team17 |access-date=14 November 2022 |work=Gematsu |date=8 April 2020}}
On June 2, 2021, Hokko Life was published as an early access title on Steam.{{cite news |last1=Romano |first1=Sal |title=Hokko Life launches September 27 for PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2022/08/hokko-life-launches-september-27-for-ps4-xbox-one-switch-and-pc |access-date=14 November 2022 |work=Gematsu |date=2 August 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Egan |first1=Toussaint |title=Cozy Animal Crossing-like Hokko Life comes to PS4, Switch, and Xbox One in September |url=https://www.polygon.com/23288743/hokko-life-release-date-xbox-one-ps4-nintendo-switch-pc |access-date=14 November 2022 |work=Polygon |date=2 August 2022}} At the start of the early access period Kotaku Australia claimed that the game was too buggy to be playable{{cite news |last1=Says |first1=Louie |title=Hokko Life Isn't Ready For Early Access |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2021/05/hokko-life-early-access-glitches/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614204847/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2021/05/hokko-life-early-access-glitches/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 14, 2021 |access-date=14 November 2022 |work=Kotaku Australia |date=28 May 2021 |language=en-AU}} though by launch PC Gamer only noted graphical issues with the UI. While in early access, a version of the game for Amazon Luna was released on January 6, 2022.{{Citation |title=New on Luna+: Hokko Life |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhNndzY4GB4 |language=en |access-date=2022-12-18}}
The full version released for Windows, alongside versions for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Amazon Luna occurred on September 27, 2022.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = PC: 54/100
NS: 62/100
PS4: 73/100
| rev1 = Sportskeeda
}}
Hokko Life received "mixed or average" reviews according to Metacritic.{{cite web |title=Hokko Life |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/hokko-life/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |access-date=14 November 2022 |work=Metacritic |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Hokko Life |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/hokko-life/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |access-date=14 November 2022 |work=Metacritic |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Hokko Life |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/hokko-life/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |website=Metacritic |access-date=16 November 2022 |language=en}}
PC Gamer noted that the game could run on lower end hardware, while critiquing graphical quality on lower settings, as well as UI issues in the game.{{cite news |last1=Brunskill |first1=Kerry |title=Hokko Life review |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/hokko-life-review/ |access-date=14 November 2022 |work=pcgamer |date=26 September 2022 |language=en}}
TouchArcade praised the creativity options, while noting poor performance on Switch hardware.{{cite news |last1=Madnani |first1=Mikhail |title=SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring 'Hokko Life', Plus 'Skyrim Anniversary Edition' and Today's Other Releases – TouchArcade |url=https://toucharcade.com/2022/09/29/hokko-life-switch-review-skyrim-anniversary-upgrade-release-date-price-eshop-discount-bundle-sales/ |access-date=14 November 2022 |work=Touch Arcade |date=September 29, 2022}}
References
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