With the advent of DIY and HGTV, it
almost seems like it’s become fashionable to get one’s hands dirty. Of course,
sustained physical labor isn’t suited to everyone. It often requires advanced
training, exceptional concentration, and a hardy constitution. If you’re
anything like me, you may have none of these traits. Fortunately, that’s where
video games come in. The Nintendo DS version of Our House gives players a chance
to tackle home improvement without the worry of paint stains or the stench of
polyurethane.
It’s easy to see where the stylus
might come in handy for performing miniaturized versions of actual labor.
Stripping off wallpaper, swapping out furniture, and bricklaying can all be
found within the myriad of activities available in Our House. Instead of
straining your back, you only risk straining your hands – and that’s only after
a rather prolonged gameplay session. The underlying premise is constructed of
irony, on a foundation of self-interest. You have a shoddy residence, and you
wish to improve it. Unfortunately, you haven’t any money to make significant
renovations. The answer lies in fulfilling various contracts for clients, some
of which will be picky and try to make your job as difficult as possible. If
anything, this game certainly granted me a bit more sympathy for contractors.
Joke if you must, but it really does make sense for the work to be rooted in
self-interest. Essentially, you are improving the homes of others in order to
improve your own.
As you continue to make progress and
earn more money, you will sell your personal residences and acquire new ones.
While the game does not authentically simulate the logistics of home repair, it
does help to bolster one’s preliminary understanding of just how much work is
required. Anyone with a modicum of interest in real estate knows that a more
appealing home will sell for a higher price, so before a property is sold in the
game, you must do what is necessary to raise its market value. Oddly enough,
this can be done with the addition of furniture and appliances, things which one
might expect the previous owner to take with them upon departing. Even so, the
practicality of the simulation certainly has educational benefits for younger
audiences.
The problems with Our House can be
found primarily in its redundancy. There are only so many times a player will
want to carry out a given task, and if it’s only being performed for an
extrinsic reward, the enjoyment won’t last. Even so, there is a surprising
amount of variety given the constraints of the platform. Our House does make a
nice effort to spruce things up with its cartoony graphical design. Simple and
colorful, the interface is easy to understand and utilize, so there is
definitely high accessibility for a wide range of audiences. The wide array of
home furnishings will also lend a bit of replay value for the dedicated
collectors. It might not be a hardcore home improvement simulator, but Our House
is still a pretty good diversion and a nice way for folks to get initiated with
the basics.
|
|
Gameplay: 7.5
The tasks found
throughout Our House have plenty of variety, though they can get tedious after
long hours of play.
Graphics: 7.0
Simple, colorful,
and clear visual design keeps the game free of clutter. It’s not exactly
stunning, but it gets the job done.
Sound: 7.5
Sounds work well
within the context of a DS building/repair sim.
Difficulty: Easy/Medium
Fun for younger
audiences and the challenges feel pretty balanced.
Concept: 7.0
Not the first time
we’ve seen such a game, yet admirably executed.
Overall: 7.4
Our House isn’t
meant to attract a hardcore following, so it’s best enjoyed for what it is: a
pleasant diversion that works especially well for children on road trips. It
doesn’t have any of the guilty gore of other popular titles, it provides genuine
entertainment, and you may even learn a thing or two.
