It's not a cooking game. But it is sweet. http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/reviewArt.cfm?artid=15031 If all licensed games were like Strawberry Shortcake: The Four Seasons Cake, then no one would complain. I would be proud to gift this to a fledgling gamer with their brand new Nintendo DS.
Strawberry Shortcake is a run and jump platform game geared for younger players, but that's not to say the game is simple or boring. I died several times, but the game's mid-level checkpoints, as well as a general scarcity of enemies and sharp objects, keep things manageable. And while the game does start out almost too easy, later on there are more involved challenges that do require attention.
Since Strawberry Shortcake is a 2D platformer, the colorful characters and levels didn't strictly need to be rendered in 3D. However, it's really nice to see developer Shin'en do just that and deliver a strong technical product. Additionally, the game world stays artistically appealing because it features the four seasons instead of just sticking to a candy motif. The music varies based on the season of the current stage and helps to set a relaxing, laid-back mood throughout the game. The sound effects are also delightfully varied, from pogo-stick springing to the creaking of a rope swing.
The controls for Strawberry Shortcake would be well suited for a GBA game. The touch screen is never used except for one isolated instance, and the X and Y buttons do nothing. The R and L buttons merely shift the camera up or down. The player can practically play the entire game with just the directional pad, A button, and B button.
With its simple controls, the game has other ways to keep things inventive. Levels make frequent use of power ups like swimming goggles, pogo sticks, and parachutes. They also introduce some interesting mechanics, like gelatinous cubes that can both serve as platforms and be squished down low to cover holes or provide access to tunnels. Additionally, Strawberry Shortcake can collect bubble gum in order to blow bubbles that can either be bounced on or used to lift obstacles.
Strawberry Shortcake is also meatier than expected with 40 levels (including the four mini-game stages), each with anywhere from 20-35 strawberries for players to collect. These strawberries grant access to more levels but aren't needed to beat the stage. For example, a large sign with the number 120 might block your way to the next map; you would then have the option of collecting all 30 strawberries in each of four levels or alternatively collecting 20 strawberries from each of the six levels available. It's a progression system that helps Strawberry Shortcake offer a little bit more challenge to more experienced players while leaving an abundance of low-lying fruit for beginners to pick.
You reach the end of the game when you've gathered enough berries for Strawberry Shortcake and her friends to net third place in a baking competition (a little more than 600). But the game will immediately turn around and tell you that collecting 900 strawberries will earn you the silver, encouraging you to revisit past levels for better scores. As a 23-year old male, I'm not exactly in Strawberry Shortcake's target audience, but the solid gameplay and the compulsion to master levels might entice me back for one or two more sessions. But truthfully, the game won me over when I started picturing one of my 10-year old cousins playing Strawberry Shortcake on her DS. In my daydream she looked like she was having fun.
Pros:
Difficulty may start easy, but ramps up a little over the length of the game Solid 2D platform gameplay The 4 mini-games are well executed and almost complete levels in their own right Cons: Doesn't really exploit the special abilities of the DS The one instance when the touch screen is used can be a bit temperamental Easiness makes it hard to recommend for advanced gamers Graphics: 7.5 The colorful and vibrant world of Strawberry Shortcake translates very well to 3D on the DS, and is especially impressive in some of the mini-games which abandon the 2D side-view camera for a more top-down perspective.
Sound: 7.0 Different relaxing theme music for each season keeps things enjoyable, and the game adequately delivers a range of audio cues.
Control: 9.0 The controls are simple but right on the money: there's no need for anything more complex. However, the one use of the touch screen mars an otherwise perfect record: slashing leaves in the autumn mini-game requires a very precise stroke gesture and won't register anything else.
Gameplay: 7.5 Solid 2D platforming coupled with an accessible level of difficulty make Strawberry Shortcake easy to recommend for youngsters. Use of power-ups and other game mechanics help keep the levels and gameplay fresh. The game is too simple for experienced players, though, and the beginning levels are too easy to be of much interest to anyone.
Lastability: 7.0
Strawberry Shortcake has plenty of content: 36 levels, including four secret unlockable levels, and four mini-games. Experienced players may be able to beat the game in two or three sittings, but less experienced gamers will proceed at a slower pace. And once the game is beaten, between the skipped levels and missed strawberries, there's still a few more hours of gameplay for completists.
Final: 8.0
Strawberry Shortcake is just about perfect for its target audience: young players familiar with the franchise who need straightforward gameplay and unlimited continues. The game doesn't condescend by dumbing down the gameplay or experience. Instead, Strawberry Shortcake is a fun title that bakes in all the quality that experienced gamers expect, and then covers it in frosting and a mountain of strawberries.
Topic: REVIEWS: Strawberry Shortcake: The Four Seasons Cake (Read 7344 times)
