Tamagotchi Connection: Cornershop – Review

Go on, admit it, you secretly yearn for the return of your irritating little LCD Tamagotchi. You miss hearing it beep endlessly during the night, demanding your attention and continuously needing to be fed or entertained. You even miss hiding it beneath cushions or in dark cupboards just to shut it up for the sake of some blessed peace and quiet—but don’t worry, because we all do. Fear not, however, as now you can relive the days of retro-style babysitting in an entirely new Nintendo DS package named Tamagotchi Connection: Cornershop.

The great thing about this new incarnation of the Tamagotchi phenomenon is that it’s completely different. Yes, I did just say that’s the great thing about it. This game isn’t a simulation where you have to attend to the every whim of your little electronic friend. This is an actual game, which just so happens to feature various types of Tamagotchi, and your aim as the player is to keep them all happy by providing great stores for them to shop in. Structurally, the game is actually a variety of mini-games similar in style to Wario Twisted, and you get to utilise your DS to the best of its abilities.

The general premise of Tamagotchi Connection is that you choose one of three characters and start off with, and initially you’re able to run two stores—these two stores vary depending on the character you choose. Your character’s aim is to build up each store until it reaches the ‘royal seal of approval’ (this can be three or four levels on each little shop). You get to play in an assortment of stores such as a bakery, dentist, music studio, jewelers, florist, spa and more. Ultimately, the aim is the same for each of them: create items for your customers in order to make them happy. They’ll pay you even if you screw things up, but making them happy means you’ll win new items such as clothing or objects. A strange visitor, who seems to be your father in various disguises, will show up as you progress through each level, and he offers you money to build a bigger store. Do this and you’ll eventually get to meet the princess, who will then give you that coveted royal seal of approval that you desire so desperately.

The gameplay in Tamagotchi Connection: Cornershop is very simple, but it can be a little frustrating at times too. Overall though, it’s easy enough to pick up and play and should suit all ages. It reminded me a little of Trauma Centre, in that it uses the DS stylus continually and in a creative way. You’re basically using it throughout each mini-game to create the products your customers want. It’s usually easy once you know what you’re doing, although the takoyaki (dumplings) shop had me stumped for ages! You’re not on any set timer during the game, but your customers do expect a speedy service and therefore you need to make them as happy as possible. This of course means a fast service with top-quality goods.

Graphically, Tamagotchi Connection is exceptionally cute and perhaps looks like a “girls’” game—to use a terrible stereotype. It features numerous brightly coloured backgrounds and quirky characters, some of which look like ‘Monster-isms’ and some who simply look like fleshed out old-style LCD Tamagotchi. Either way, they suit the feel of the game well and will probably make you laugh now and again at just how weird they are.
For me, one of the catchiest aspects of the overall game was its sound. The music is so annoyingly likable that it sticks in your brain and you’ll be humming and singing it for hours after you’ve closed the DS. Yes, this may well be seen as the game that gave us the timeless tune: “Tamagotchi, tama-tama-gotchi!” Grrr! Damn those pesky composers. The character voices are also fine, though nothing exceptionally memorable; but, again, they suit the game well and seem to fit nicely into the general package. Deaf gamers here won’t be at any disadvantage as they can happily play the game without the sound on. Though, that said, the one store that could prove difficult aurally is the music store, and this could well end up being very frustrating in terms of interaction.

The gender aspects of Tamagotchi Connection: Cornershop are null and void. It’s difficult to tell what sex most of the characters are, so it really isn’t that important. It’s the kind of game that will appeal to male or female gamers and will no doubt be very popular with younger children also. There’s thankfully no bias in which shops you play either, and characters that appear male or female both need to run the florist and jewelers, etc.

Overall, I really enjoyed this little title. It’s a quirky and unusual game that’s another great example of what the DS should be used for. The gameplay integration of the stylus works brilliantly and the mini-games are all interesting and fun. The overall game may not have a lot to it where content is concerned, and you’ll likely finish it within a few days, but there’s plenty of opportunity for some invaluable pick up and play gaming. The area in the game that allows you to clothe your Tamagotchi and alter their living environment was completely lost on me—and could have been used to add in another shop as far as I’m concerned. But, ultimately, Tamagotchi Connection: Cornershop is a solid and interesting DS title. It’s not necessarily a must have, but if you enjoy unusual games that require the stylus then it’s definitely a game worth looking at. Tamagotchi, tama-tama-gotchi!

Review by Tracy