🌻 ぼくのなつやすみ / Boku no Natsuyasumi (Game Club) - Week 4

[Daisoujou]

Welcome to Week 4 of ぼくのなつやすみ Club!

Home Thread | Game Club

Week 4	Mar 9th
Start Point	Day 12
End Point	Finish Day 15
Previous Week	Week 3
Next Week	Week 5

Walkthrough: English | Japanese

Participation

Will you be joining us this week?

• Yes, I’m playing along
• I’m still playing but haven’t reached this point yet
• I’m just here for the discussion
• I’m playing after the club has ended

Game Systems / Tips

• Saving happens at the end of each day when you write in your diary.
• Remember that starting on day 2 you can pull out your bug net at any time (right trigger on PSP)!
• Registering the bugs (creating a 標本) can be unintuitive at first – First, this must be done in Boku’s room at the desk (it’s a good thing to do before bed!). Select the bug in your box, select 出す, pull it down and place it on the screen below. Then you use the needle, into the pink liquid, and finally into the bug. This removes it from the box, registers this specimen permanently, and gives you a little description.
• Try to interact with anything that looks interesting. There is a lot of flavor text and even many paths where Boku can hop to places that require pressing interact on them.
• I have heard time passes when you transition between screens, so you don’t need to feel rushed within a location. When the day ends, Boku’s uncle will find you and take you home.

Game Manual

In this post TheNerdyNova helpfully provided us with images of the game’s manual which include a map, tips for bugs and fishing, advice for progressing certain quests, cute art, and more!

Boku no Spoilers (Please read)

It’s customary in these clubs to collapse or otherwise hide your in-depth explanations of what happened for the week. I would just like to also request that because this game features so much optional and non-linear content, that you use your best judgment for what might be worth hiding, and do your best to make it generally clear outside the tags what you’re discussing. For example, in my week 1 post I referenced locations (the hideout and the shed) where I think interesting things happened but I further spoiler tagged discussion of what happened within them in case anyone who hadn’t visited one yet wanted to save the surprise.

Set this thread to “Watching” to get updates!

[Daisoujou]

Day 12 and 13 (tree cutting spoilers!)

Day 12 - The visit from the monk was interesting. I love how he looks in this art style; everyone is so silly. I thought it was an inspired choice to just sit on a scenic view of sunflowers while everyone mourned. As soon as I went out on my own I stumbled across that guy (アニキ) who sits on the bridge and I really wasn’t prepared for him to mention that a boy drowned in the river, really heavy. I guess that’s the boy whose room we’re living in now . The professor also told me he’s leaving soon, but it sounds like he’ll be replaced by a new person to meet.

The day has finally come! I finished cutting down the tree! Unfortunately there are bees on the other side and I think they can be ignored but I got curious and poked them, so I got to see what happens when you get stung too. The animation and transition to the aunt taking care of him are all so cute. Remembered when I warped back that way to order a new kite.

Lacking much else I wanted to do, I ran back to my newly opened path, saw some pretty sights and got some new bugs, but ultimately the uncle grabbed me before I could see it all. You can tell at night Moe is kind of pensive given the day

Surely there must be a diary entry for the monk coming, so I wonder if someone here will get that.

Day 13 - It’s bug day, apparently. The uncle told me about the bug encyclopedia (which I noticed when getting the kites and skimmed a little) and recommended using it to learn about rare bugs and how to find them. To be honest I read a few entries and I’m having a hard time figuring out how to put it into practice haha, hoping I just stumble onto more things. I found the guy at the bridge again and he showed me a さなぎ on the warning sign and told me to come back to check it out in the next days, so I need to remember to do that.

But I have a new place to explore so I then beelined for across the tree and a few screens in I was met with… what I can only describe as a blue portal??? I don’t know, flying particle effects in a circle that looked like literal magic but I couldn’t grab my phone and photograph it in time. Someone else get here and tell me I’m not crazy. It happened on this screen and when it disappeared there was like a wolf howl?

Something about this screen gives me the vibe I’m on a film set with a painted backdrop, which I don’t mean as an insult at all, I think the feeling is lovely.

I’m in those sunflowers! This game is so lovely and pretty.

It’s pretty crazy how long this path goes. I found a few things to investigate for descriptions and Boku was fascinated by a huge tree, but ultimately it’s a lowkey sightseeing trip if I didn’t miss anything. I found what I think is the end of it and this little hill is nice but nothing specifically happens here, no acknowledgement that I made it. Very intrinsic motivated exploration kinda game, isn’t it?

After all that I saw the beehive again and realized an instant warp home is actually nice… so I got stung again to play the dinner guessing game, hahaha. This feels the least in the spirit of the game of anything I’ve done.

Love Shirabe telling me it’s Friday the 13th and then being like “well this is Japan so it doesn’t matter”

[WeepingWeeb]

Day 12

• A monk came
• Talked to aunt after and Boku asked about someone dying three years ago? Something about measles?
• Ordered a new kite (the bug one)
• Chopped the tree
• Did 15 強 beetle sumos until I lost, then it wouldn’t let me use my special bug again

Day 13

• Uncle talked about more bugs in the bug book which I read but nothing happened. I hope more bugs show up now though
• Chopped the tree but it didn’t fall yet
• did a king bug sumo, it looks like you can only do one per day? (Is the goal to beat all the kids at king level??). Got to 30 wins and then decided to leave
• Another nothing day, I think Boku is slowly losing his mind because what is this drawing even

Day 14

• Picked up my new kite
• Chopped the tree, still not fallen but I can see the big chip in it
• Went to the hill and Boku stopped to watch a plane/helicopter go by I think (didn’t have the sound up it was a shiny light)
• Got to the max height with the new kite
• caught a fish at the waterfall pool
• Got a new dragonfly
• Didn’t see anything for a new lure over there, I just need to check the well area and maybe the new area past the chopped tree that hasn’t been chopped yet
• Aunt gave me the photo she took of me and my kite, so cute!
• Turns out it was a UFO Boku saw how fun

Day 15

• Apparently Boku is being left alone today whilst the rest visit brother(?)'s grave
• The kids also weren’t in the hideout, no beetle sumo
• The tree finally fell down, hooray!
• Caught a new beetle over there
• There’s another beehive oh no. Poked it cause clearly that’s a good idea
• Magically woke up at the house even though nobody’s home
• Met a magic dog in the new area that made Boku pass out again, what a ruff day

• Reached like a little butterfly haven clearing
• Found another bug tree
• Found a lovely sunflower scenery

• Found the beach!
• Found a strange clump by the beach, at dinner uncle said it was a whale eye bone
• Registered bugs and went to bed, got a little cut scene of a whale maybe boku’s dream

[Daisoujou]

I’m so glad you got a picture of the magic dog; that was so weird haha. Apparently I missed the whale ear bone so I might have to make the trip back there…

[downtimes]

@WeepingWeeb

whale eye bone

Looks more like 耳 in the book to me.

Looking forward to playing this week. Have already 20 different ideas of what I want to do. Thank you early players for the inspiration as always

[Daisoujou]

Day 14 and 15

Day 14 - Wow, the aunt launches straight into a big story about when she was Boku’s age seeing the American soldiers land and hiding from them. Had kind of a sweet ending but I’m never prepared for this game’s sudden serious moments, makes them hit harder.

Ran into this girl again and she asked me about the city and made it clear she’s really displeased with her rural life and plans to go to the city. I can relate tbh; I grew up in a fairly rural place and never liked it.

The main attraction today, though, is taking another trip out with Shirabe! I love the goofy music it plays when her and Boku are planning to go out, and the two of them talking is so cute. She dropped another reference to her brother who died and some of the things he was into when he was alive. Everyone’s reflecting on heavy stuff now

I thought I’d use this chance to get that whale bone but I don’t see it anywhere! On the beach I assume… maybe I’m missing it but I’m kind of wondering if there’s some randomness or invisible trigger I don’t know and I don’t have it cause I really looked around. Or it won’t be here while with Shirabe? Huh.

Anyway 岬 is a word I always seem to forget the reading on so it’s good to get a little more practice today.

Had a lovely moment at the top with Shirabe, then after dinner I got my kite photo!

Aww, Boku told Moe (and wrote here in his diary) about thinking about his mom; he’s a little homesick. I really like how this game is hitting all the conflicting emotions. The trip is fun, sometimes tiring, sometimes bittersweet and almost melancholic, etc.

Day 15 - Disappointed we don’t get to join, but Boku waving bye is so adorable. Today was when I was thinking I could probably pick up my kite, but not with the uncle gone.

Ran into Yoshiko (I think that’s her name?) again on the bridge and she wanted to ask more about Boku’s city life.

I chose 3rd floor マンション to give her the most exciting city answer possible and she indeed loved it. She had a lot to say about the frogs in spring and now I want to see this place at other times of year! Shame we can’t.

Yesterday when I checked in on the さなぎ it was wiggling, but today I don’t see it at all when I check the sign, so I went back to アニキ’s bridge to consult him. We commiserated over missing it, but he did say a super direct genuine thing about how it was nice to become friends with me, sweet kid.

Without the new kite I had no big plans so I figured I’d check in on the hideout since I haven’t been there in some days. Found it totally empty, though. Noting coming back here for another day…

Now that I’ve opened all the paths (that I know of) my mind is turning back to wanting to catch that big fish but tbh I kind of forgot what the uncle said I needed. Hopefully collectively we can figure it out sometime in the remaining half a month.

So, I was pleased to bump into so many people, but with no other real goal at this point I wandered back in the direction of the beehive since I have been across the log bridge a lot recently. This time I saw the satellite fly by when I went on top of the hill! The mixing really is awful though; I missed half of what the narrator said because the bugs were literally louder. Got a couple new bugs, did a little fishing, then the day ended.

Personally, I had to tell him 酒池肉林. I’ve always liked that word haha. He was just impressed I knew it (which I choose to take as third wall breaking praise for my language learning, thank you おじさん ) but didn’t comment on the content lol.

At night Moe is worrying about the mail a lot again

With this, I also got the space diary:

[downtimes]

@Daisoujou

Now that I’ve opened all the paths (that I know of) my mind is turning back to wanting to catch that big fish but tbh I kind of forgot what the uncle said I needed. Hopefully collectively we can figure it out sometime in the remaining half a month.

I think one thing you have to get is hair from the dog you can pet in front of the house. At least I and someone else (don’t remember who) triggered something there.

[Daisoujou]

Great, thanks for the help. I have to remember to do that next time, then we’ll get the rest I bet

[downtimes]

And I’m of on day 12 and day 13

day 12 (35 min)

• Monk was in the house to hold the ceremony
• Boku just directly and frankly asks the mother when the boy died. Man the innocence of a child…
• Gave the hair of the dog to Uncle, he told me that he needs two days to finish making the lure.
• Got my new kite from uncle, promised to fly it high again.
• Met Aniki again on the delapitated bridge, he told me a kid drowned here
• Went to Sumo with my new bugs, they are all super weak and lost in the easiest setting. Their fate will be to get archived as punishment
• Met the teacher again and asked him where there is a good view around
  
  
• Chopped the tree again and it fell and made a bridge
  
  
• Caught a good amount of new bugs (box was full) and Boku was impressed by some big tree
  
  
• Explored a little close to the coast. Uncle got me on my way back
• I got my picture from the first kite flight right at dinner
• Remembered that I wanted to make sugar water and was successful without the family noticing
• Did my round with the family and catalougued my new bugs
• The sightseeing with the setting sun apparently left an impression
  
  

day 13 (22 min)

• AHHHHHH– forgot to water the flowers. I hope they don’t die
• Got my 中吉 from the 地蔵
• Let my new kite soar above the required 120m again, I also found out how to get out of flying without crashing
  
  
• Used my sugar water to catch some capable new sumo bugs
• On the way back uncle caught me again. I simply am not making it back in time ever
• Took a bath and did my usual rounds with the family members
• Uncle gave me fishing tips this time around
• Catalgued my bugs and drew this bug cathing picture
  
  

Plans for the next days:

• Ask uncle for a new, harder kite again
• Go to sumo and win some rounds with my 73mm beetle
• Find out where this ominous mountain path is that teacher keeps mentioning, anybody has any hints on unexplored routes we still have to explore?

[Daisoujou]

I’m really not sure! Having that in the back of my head is part of why I got the desire to revisit the hideout, figured having opened the new area might trigger them to tell me something new sometime? But yeah didn’t find them yet so we’ll see.

As a note for myself I gotta remember next time to get the dog hair, and my new kite

[Daisoujou]

On we go, second half!

ぼくのなつやすみ / Boku no Natsuyasumi (Game Club) - Week 5

Welcome to Week 5 of ぼくのなつやすみ Club! [image] Home Thread | Game Club Week 4 Mar 9th Start Point Day 16 End Point Finish Day 19 Previous Week Week 4 Next Week Week 5 Walkthrough: English | Japanese Participation Will you be joining us this week? poll Game Systems / Tips Saving happens at the end of each day when you write in your diary. Remember that starting on day 2 you can pull out your bug net at any time (right trigger on PSP)! R…

[downtimes]

I took another look at the handbook in week 1 that was posted. It looks to me like the only area we haven’t explored is where the red tent is. It’s apparently after the kite action hill, but I honestly didn’t see any route that goes on from back there.

If time allows in my next 2 days I might try to take another look.

[downtimes]

Finished day 14 and day 15

day 14 (27min)

• Looks like a second shirabe date
• I can sadly only order the semi kite and not yet any of the harder kites. So semi kite it is
• My flowers didn’t die because I forgot one day, phew
• Oh, wow, auntie was talking about the end of the war and how she experienced american soldiers coming to 小樽. Very interesting
• Ordered my new kite from uncle and got my big lure
  
  
• Met yoshiko on the brigde, she talked about the city and asked me how I like it here
• I really wanted to sumo, but I know shirabe is waiting on the new tree bridge, so I didn’t go to sumo
• I couldn’t resist to fish for the big fish though with my new lure. Was a success!
  
  
• Found shirabe after the bridge and started the date
• Ran into the ghost dog and fainted like all the other players
• During the date I unintentionally found a dead cat under the boat
  
  
• Finished the date with shirabe while cloud watching on the 風の岬. Beautiful atmosphere but the cloud made me laugh
  
  
• Did my rounds with the family members
• Catalogued my new bugs and finished the day
  
  

day 15 (20min)

• The whole family will be out for 墓参りso I’m left completely alone
• Tv had something on about the end of the war and our responsibility to keep the peace
• Because of our other players I know the sumo gang is not in the hideout today, therefore I decided to look for the ominous red tent
• Met yoshiko on the bridge again, she asked me about my life in the city and was envious. I told her I live on the second floor, and she was impressed “WITHOUT A GARDEN”
• No matter how I search that area after the kite hill I can’t find a way or the red tent
• While walking around I ran into Aniki on the bridge
• He told me about the cocoon and I promised to regularly take a look at it starting tomorrow
• Uncle caught me again while roaming around, apparently they already came back
• Did not guess the dinner correctly at breakfast time. Anybody hit the correct one ever? Does something happen?
• My usual round with the family members
• Moe asked me about the postman. I wasn’t in the house, so how would I know? She worries if her letter didn’t arrive
• Finished the day, no new bugs or much interesting to report.
  
  

Stats:

• Catalogued Bugs 72
• Playtime 7:15

Next step: Win king sumo with my new bug, fly the next kite

[Daisoujou]

@downtimes

Did not guess the dinner correctly at breakfast time. Anybody hit the correct one ever? Does something happen?

I did get it right one time! Honestly I got congratulated and all but it wasn’t too much beyond that, haha.

I love that self portrait of Boku you got day 15; seeing all the journal entries is making me glad to do this as a club.

[TheNerdyNova]

Got a little behind (I’ll blame the readathon even tho that doesn’t make sense as an excuse ) So I just wrote really simple recaps of my days :))

Day 12

-Got kite and flew it to about 70m
-Aunt met me near the beetle tree and she took a photo of me

Day 13

-Started chopping down the tree
-Went to hideout and ファット was talking about the big fish
-Bug sumo for the first time

-Flew the kite again, looked in my manual for the controls, and I was able to hit the 120m this time!!

Day 14

-The aunt shared her story of American soldiers in her town Otaru
-Got some more beetles and bugs. The days end so quickly! Especially cause I’m trying to chop down the tree, but it’s so far!

-They all keep saying summer is half over!

Day 15

-Ooh, I’m home alone!
-The uncle gave me a lure from the doggy fur, but it still wasn’t enough to catch the big fish. Now I forget what other type of fur he said I could grab?
-Second chop to the tree
-Wanted to bug battle but my friends weren’t there
-Found my first カブトムシ!!

-Yayyy I got せんべいお土産
-I guessed dinner right! Huzzah!
-There was a black and white news(?) station on the TV. Since it was black and white, maybe stuff about a war, because he talked about 平和 as well
-Oh no! Moe asked if anything from the post office(workers?)… and nothing has. Poor girl!!

[TheNerdyNova]

@WeepingWeeb

Another nothing day, I think Boku is slowly losing his mind because what is this drawing even

HAHA, that’s funny, I like that

[Daisoujou]

@TheNerdyNova

-They all keep saying summer is half over!

Speaking of, you just reminded me how much I used to hate when people did that when I was a kid, haha. Of course I don’t want to think about that! You have me taking psychic chip damage for no reason!

[VikingSchism]

Day 12

The monk visited in the morning and that was an interesting little scene - especially the English “how old are you”
Took another swing at the tree, then went looking for bugs and went to fly my kite as high as I could to unlock the next kite. Got a “nothing happened today” diary entry for my troubles:

Day 13

The lure was finished today, so I took a chop at the tree and went back to find the big fish. Took me a few attempts of running back and forth but I eventually found and caught it. I’m the fisher king now.

Day 14

Talked to おばさん in the morning and she told me a story about how she saw American soldiers landing at the end of WW2 and she was scared at first but when she saw them hugging a cat and making “meow” noises she thought that they’re just humans after all (“同じ人間” is a phrase I’ve heard a lot now and it’s such an interesting one to me)
The tree fell down and I was able to go exploring beyond it. I encountered a ghost dog???

I can imagine ボク going to tell all his friends at school about this and not one of them believing him

Day 15

The rest of the family were out to visit the grave of the boy who died, so I went back to the beach and found an odd object. Running all the way to the beach and all the way back took up most of the day so I just teleported back to the house by poking the beehive to see what would happen given no one was home. And sure enough ボク woke up in the 縁側 with the dog barking at him.
おじさん explained that the weird object was a whale’s ear bone and explained how whales earbones aren’t attached to the rest of their body so float away when they die. Then there was a cutscene of a whale after writing the 絵日記
Call that yumenikki