Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop

Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop features those wacky Tamagotchi pets from 10 years ago, but this isn’t a simulation game, and players won’t have to spend hours caring for there helpless pets. Instead, this is a collection of mini-games, a la Wario Twisted style.

Our family had the chance to preview this game a few weeks ago, and enjoyed the quirky gameplay and weird humor. However, despite the games being fun to play, it remained to be seen if they had any staying power. Well, after some time spent playing these games over and over again, the verdict is that while the games do tend to become tiring during a long session, the games are fun enough for quick pick-up games, and are cute and engaging enough to keep kids coming back for short games.

The games consist of “shops”, where one of three available characters that the player has chosen will service the customers. At first, only two shops are open, the takoyaki (dumpling) shop and the spa. The dumpling shop requires that players make dumplings and cook them up according to the number ordered by the customer. All of the available ingredients have to be used, and this game is primarily one of timing and speed. I never could get them to cook just right.

The spa is the place to be for some soaking and general relaxing, and the customers are lined up at the door. Just match the shampoo, soap and other spa ingredients, and keep the water at a warm temperature, and success is guaranteed. This game is much easier than the takoyaki one.

Other games include a music game, where players have to match the instruments during a song; a dental salon, where customers get their teeth cleaned and decorated; a jewelry shop, where jewelry is made according to specifications; a laundry, where clothing is cleaned; and several other shops, for a total of 11 in all.

These mini-games mostly require players to match the orders or ingredients that customers request. This does offer more variety than at first experienced from the two games available at start-up, but there still could have been more of a logical aspect, like the old Thinkin’ Things PC games for kids. In those games, characters all stated things they liked or didn’t, and the players had to eliminate the choices to guess the correct selections.

Playing the games successfully garners accessories for the players to purchase, like clothing and house decorations, but these articles aren’t much to get excited about. And, even if the player bombs on making the customer happy, he or she will still get paid. However, to upgrade the shop and unlock others, the mini-games will have to be won.

This collection of mini-games is fun and well designed for the most part, but the gameplay is slightly shallow and won’t hold players’ attention for long at a time. However, the games do exert an attraction, and kids will come back for short spurts of playing. A decent game choice for families.

Gameplay: 7.0
These little guys are cute, and fun to play with at first. But, soon they become a little tiresome. The games, while different and quirky, just don’t have enough substance to them to hold anyone’s attention for long. However, they are fun enough in short spurts of game time.

Graphics: 8.0
The characters and shops are attractively drawn, and quite charming in a kooky way.

Sound: 7.0
The music is fairly entertaining and better than what is offered in many similar games.

Difficulty: Medium
The games differ in difficulty, mainly because the instructions are unclear, and what is required is hard to figure out. The micro-games in Wario Twisted were easier to figure out than these.

Concept: 7.0
There isn’t anything that stands out as innovative, but the execution and design is good and the game is implemented well.

Overall: 7.0
A charming mini-game collection, but one that could have used more “oomph” for staying power. Still, families with multiple children will probably want to take a look, as it does offer some variety and no violence.