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A fun collection of minigames. Namco Bandai Games’ latest DS title is a touch-screen minigame collection for the Nintendo DS. Although it won’t provide a particularly deep gaming experience, the 12 minigames are fun and the presentation is strikingly charming.
Corner Shop 2 gives you 10,000 points at the beginning so that you can purchase stores. You’ll own and run stores where you do stuff like make sushi or wash cars. You goal is to earn points that let you buy snacks, clothes and accessories for your Tamagotchi, as well as purchase new stores to get even more money. Additionally, you can expand every store at least one time and some three times. This, in turn, increases the number of customers that you can have at one time and makes you even more money. The game lets you choose from three different Tamagotchis at the start and they all have a unique personality.
Each of the game’s 12 stores is actually a unique touch-screen minigame. All of the minigames use the touch-screen exclusive. For example, in the bowling alley you’ll have to make sure that the ball goes back in the chute and place pins. In the sushi restaurant, you’ll have to make the sushi by actually combining the rice, wasabi and topping before delivering the sushi to the restaurant. All of the minigames are based on this simple game design. While this works for most games, some of them are ridiculously easy to the point where the lack of challenge equates a lack of fun. The game does get a bit harder as your shops expand and you get more elaborate challenges but nothing overwhelmingly difficult.
As expected from a game branded with the Tamagotchi license, you can play around with it. You can dress it up and feed it snacks, as well as decorate the room that it stands in. Otherwise, you’ll be spending your time trading pictures and greeting cards with friends. In a cool touch, you can even send a demo of the game to another player via the game share feature of the Nintendo DS.
The graphics are simple but very charming. The Tamagotchis look good, bright, and colorful and oddly cute. The sound fits the game very well. The music is very catchy and the limited voice acting from the creatures fits in juts as well.
Taken for what it is, Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 2 is a fine addition to a young gamer’s library. It’s the perfect game to play when you only have a few minutes to spare, but don’t expect a very deep game. -- Michael Taylor, PGNx Media
---- Dec 3, 2006
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