Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop
was first released in North America in early 2006 on the NDS. Featuring a wide
array of fun mini-games, it proved to be a success with gamers of all ages.
Corner Shop 2, the original’s sequel, expands on the basis of its predecessor by
adding even more mini-games in addition to refining old ones. While this is all
fine and well, unless you’re a part of the target audience, you may not find too
much enjoyment out of this run-your-own-shop simulator.
The game places you in the shoes of
an ambitious entrepreneur setting out to own all of the shops in the Tama Mall.
You will begin with a set amount of Gotchi Points to get you started on your
way. These Gotchi Points can be used to buy shops and items for your petite
living space. Points are earned by working at the facilities you’ve purchased.
There are a dozen or so shops
available, ranging from a gas station and a bowling alley, to a concert hall,
the returning fan-favorite from Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop. There are
four expansions you can obtain on your businesses: Putchi, Metchi, Gotchi, and
Royal. When you initially purchase a shop, it will be at Putchi status, but as
you serve more and more customers, it’ll gradually build its way up to a
prestigious Royal standing.
“Line up those pins on the double!”
The mini-games themselves are
extremely varied, each possessing their own unique traits custom to the job
you’ll be doing. In example, at the burger shop you will be making burgers for
hungry townsfolk. The thing is, not everyone likes their burgers the same way.
Taking Burger King’s “have it your way” approach, you’ll have to abide by the
tastes of your customers. As the ingredients fall towards the bun on the table,
avoiding the lettuce can mean the difference between a satisfied and an angry
customer.
At the gas station, you will be
filling up tanks, cleaning car exteriors, waxing, and changing tires on your
customer’s cars. However, if these tasks are not completed in a timely manner,
expect a low grade on your performance. This brings us to Tamagotchi Connection:
Corner Shop 2’s 4-point grading scale represented by smiley faces. After serving
a customer, they will award you a rating based on your efficiency and accuracy.
If you’re always receiving zero and one star scores, customers are less likely
to return for additional services. After all, a happy customer is a returning
customer. Who said kids’ games can’t teach economics?
Other mini-games include a sushi
bar, flower shop, clothing boutique, and flight attendant. At the clothing
boutique, you will be crafting tote bags, pants, and shirts. The challenge lies
within catering to the customer’s desired design and color. In the flight
attendant game, you will have to meet the needs and wants of passengers on a
plane – akin to how a real-life flight attendant would. The mini-game will have
your character frantically placing items on a tray to bring to people aboard the
airplane. Once you’ve got everyone’s order down, pushing the tray down the isle
will deliver the goods.
“We got the beat.”
Parallel to Subway’s stamping system
that allows for a free sandwich every ‘x’ amount of purchases, every time a customer shops
at one of your shops they will, in return, receive a stamp on their Tama Mall
membership card. Different stores carry different stamp designs, so this is a
good way to see who’s going where.
Regarding presentation, the audio
and visuals from the first Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop have returned
untouched. While this is unquestionably a slight disappointment, the audio is
solid and the visuals continue to acquire a certain sense of style.
In case you haven’t noticed yet, this
is a title exclusively consisting of several mini-games targeted at a young,
female audience. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as the audience in question
will have a blast, but gamers looking for a little more substance will need to
look elsewhere.
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Review Scoring Details for Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 2 |
Gameplay: 7.2
With 12 mini-games, there’s a great deal of variety. But due to the
one-dimensional nature of the games, most will become bored rather quickly.
Graphics: 6.5
Stylistic or not, these visuals could have easily been done on the GBA
without a problem. Additional special effects would’ve livened up the
atmosphere.
Sound: 6.5
While decent, the soundtrack can begin to take a toll on the nerves after
extended playing sessions.
Difficulty: Easy
It’s no secret this is aimed at a younger demographic, and the difficulty is
clearly representative.
Concept: 8.0
The idea behind Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 2 is no doubt a unique
one. You’re simply not going to find many games out there attempting what’s
being done here.
Multiplayer: 6.2
You can trade items with other players, but that’s pretty much the bulk of
it.
Overall: 7.1
Whether you fall in the target audience or are someone who’s dreamed of
running their own business, there’s definitely some entertainment to be found
here.
