Sega Feel The Magic: XY/XX (DS)

• Reviewed by: MaxBiaggi2

  Strengths: Unique/innovative game play, interesting story, stylish graphics, catchy tunes, budget price, sequel now available

  Weaknesses: Short overall length, limited unlockables and replay value, frustrating difficulty on harder modes

  Overall: Sega did a great job of finding new and original uses for Nintendo's DS touchscreen and microphone at the system's launch. Both are used extensively in your adventure as a hero trying to win the love of an attractive young woman. Both the graphics and music are simple yet memorable, and the story will pull you through the couple of hours you'll spend with the default difficulty setting. Unfortunately, you'll find only some harder difficulty levels and unlockable clothing items for your lady friend once you've finished the game. Personally, I love this game, but I wouldn't want to pay more than $20 for it new. While Feel the Magic was innovative a year ago, it now feels a bit dated and simplistic when compared with recent releases. Luckily for fans of the original, a "more of the same" sequel Rub Rabbits has now been released.

• Reviewed by: galvatron2k1

  Strengths: Best use of the touch screen and microphone, sound, graphics

  Weaknesses: Short and repetitive

  Overall: Feel the Magic for the DS definately makes great usage of the touch screen and microphone functionality. In this game, you try to win over a girl that you are attracted to. To try and woo her, you must complete a number of minigames that require you to use the touch screen or blow into the microphone. The graphics and sound are both solid.Although the game shows of the DS functionalities well, it also causes the game to be very short and repetitive. Be prepared to be rubbing the touch screen with your stylus often.There are some unlockables in the game, such as hard mode, and also when you insert specific Sega titles into the Game Boy Advance slot, it unlocks some accessories for your female friend.Overall, it is a solid game.

• Reviewed by: slodaddy

  Strengths: Quirky humor, great sound effects and music.

  Weaknesses: Does not utilize the DS controls to their fullest potential.

  Overall: This is one of the first games that released with the DS. It's really not a bad piece of software for coming out of the gate so soon. The programmers really tried to vary up the scenarios in which you use the DS microphone to blow into (to snuff out candles, for instance) or use the stylus in various novel ways (e.g. sliding and poking). At times the scenarios can get frustrating to the point that your wrist is cramping, but at least you have the option of playing in doses. This is recommended since too much playtime might infuriate you. This title's saving grace is the warped sense of humor demonstrated with unique siloutte-style graphics and zany sound effects. The lounge music is actualy quite good. Overall--worth checking out.

• Reviewed by: Honrosie42

  Strengths: Fun goofy mini games, attractive graphic style, very simple story yet very charming

  Weaknesses: Short, bosses are a tad too hard and long compared to other mini games, one mini game is the touch screen equivelent to fast button mashing (I hate fast button mashing)

  Overall: I find this game very charming. I also find it very short, but I loved it so much I played the other difficulties until I found it too hard. The game involves your character winning the heart of the girl of his dreams through various wacky mini games. (You know, fighting bulls, blowing out giant monster candles, riding shopping carts. The usual stuff that girls are impressed by.) Mind you, this isn't in the "dating game" genre. It's more like the warioware games, with all of the mini games connected by a story of winning love. I found the bosses to be a pain. It took me a few weeks to beat this game, but only because I had such a hard time on the bosses. Otherwise I think I would have been done in a day. After the game is done, there is still more to do. You can play harder difficulties, or try for mini game high scores. As you do these, you will unlock new outfits to dress the girl in. That's kind of fun. To sum up: I really like this game even though it's short.

• Reviewed by: sabin23

  Strengths: Unique look, sound and gameplay, good use of touch screen.

  Weaknesses: Too short, low replay.

  Overall: Feel the Magic is like one of those unique and quirky games that are made in Japan but are never released stateside. But now with Nintendo DS's dual screen and innovative touch screen, more of these intersting games should see worldwide release and I couldn't be happier. The game makes you go through a whole bunch of interesting tasks in order to impress the girl. The use of touchscreen is seamless and very addictive; however. while the games are fun, they seem a little shallow and not all that deep. Once you beat the game, you may revisit the game once or twice to show off the DS to your friends but that's about it. Yet, while it lasts, the game is very fun and as one of the few games that fully integrates the DS's touch screen, you can't go wrong. Just be sure you want to pay full price for a game that is short.