Build-A-Bear Workshop – NDS – Preview

Built around the license of a stuffed animal
store, it may be easy to write off Build-A-Bear Workshop as little more than
licensed drivel. However, that would be a mistake, as the title has a surprising
amount of depth to it if you give it a chance. Developer Neko Entertainment has
done a fine job of taking the compelling pet-sim elements from games like
Nintendogs and meshing them with some fun stylus based mini-games to make the
experience interesting. More than your average kids’ game, Build-A-Bear Workshop
is a fun and surprisingly addictive game with a good amount of content.

Naturally, the first thing that you’ll do in
Build-A-Bear Workshop is create your stuffed animal. Whereas other games in the
pet-sim genre have you choose between your avatar and occasionally name them,
Build-A-Bear Workshop has you not only do these things, but also has you do the
things you would when creating your own stuffed animal at the store. You’ll pick
out clothes, fill them with stuffing and even sew them up when all is said and
done.



Once you have your stuffed animal, you’ll have to
take care of them in order to keep them happy. This includes feeding them,
playing with them, and putting them to bed when they need it. Most games in the
genre would have you simply pressing an icon and food will magically appear, but
Build-A-Bear Workshop requires you to get your hands a little dirty and prepare
food yourself. In the game, you’ll have to make cakes to feed your friend, using
the stylus to mix ingredients in a saucepan and cook in the stove. As you earn
points and progress, you’ll be able to buy new clothes for your character to
wear, as well.

Additionally, the games that you play with your
buddy are fully interactive. Some of the games are pretty simple stuff, like
trying to swing your stuffed animal on a swingset and kick a soccer ball through
a goal using momentum gained by dragging the stylus. However, there are some
games with a fair amount of depth to them, like the dancing mini-game. By
drawing shapes on the touchscreen, you’ll get your character to perform certain
dance moves, like moonwalking or waving. There is even a Dance Dance
Revolution-like mini-game where you’ll have to draw shapes to the beat in order
to gain points (this particular mini-game is multiplayer, as well).



Graphically, Build-A-Bear Workshop is
surprisingly well done. The characters are done using 3D polygons and stand out
very nicely on the DS, and the game feels very bright and colorful throughout,
much in line with the game’s kid-friendly themes.

Build-A-Bear Workshop has a lot of substance to
it, and the deep mini-games and pet-sim elements should make it a title that
stands above its peers in the genre. Look for it to release later this month.