Feel the Magic XY XX has been known by many names since the Nintendo DS came out. Starting out as “Project Rub” (which is now the European name) at E3 2004, and having come out in Japan under the title “I Would Die For You” (translated, of course), the name Feel the Magic XY XX doesn’t seem to have the same pull as it’s forerunners. But rest easy, because the game is still packed with the same zany sense of humor, awesome audiovisual flair, and crazy gameplay you’ll find in the other regions. Play this title one time, and you’ll realize just how much the Nintendo DS is capable of, despite it’s brevity. Make no mistake about it; this is the Nintendo DS’ current killer app.
Love at first sight: Part 1
"Make no mistake about it; this is the Nintendo DS’ current killer app."
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I’ve got to say that Sega has really given this title a look of it’s own. I’m really impressed with how it looks, especially in motion. A good description of the art style would be if Target mixed some of their ads with the Queens of the Stone Age music video for “Go With the Flow,” only less about dirty sex, and more about the insanity of love at first sight. The colors are surreal, the world is featureless but stylish, and the people are simplified, which is possibly how someone who actually stalks someone really sees the world. It almost looks cel-shaded. And even though the character models aren’t sporting very many polygons (which is sometimes very noticeable), the animation is really smooth. Feel the Magic just looks great.
The Pure Sound of Fun
Feel the Magic’s music is comparable to that of the PS2’s Katamari Damacy, and that’s saying something. There’s something completely and undeniably fun about the music in this title. In fact, it’s as infectious as it is memorable; you’ll be singing it in your head for weeks. It’s just that fun. There aren’t too many individual songs, but when a handful can be this endearing, you know that Sega has some really special people when it comes to their musical talent.
Love at first sight: Part 2
The game begins simply enough. While your character is walking down the street, he passes by a woman, and immediately falls in love. She’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen, so graceful, and elegant. Sadly, your character is wearing a helmet. Any woman in their right mind ignores guys that wear helmets for fun, right?
The Rub Rabbits know this. That’s why, after seeing this scene play out on a movie screen (don’t ask, I don’t know either), a member of their group somehow ends up on the screen with the intentions of helping your character become noticed by this exquisite female. He does this, by swallowing some goldfish, and it’s up to you, the player, to get them out of your newfound ally’s stomach, setting up the beginning of the story, and overall weird tone of this title.
The story really takes some strange turns and ultimately explains everything that seems inexplicable in a weird way (like why you have a helmet on), while still leaving it some things unexplained. However, this story is also quite brief, and not very deep. I don’t really think it could have been extended in many places, but it’s still a wild, and wacky ride.
RUB IT!!!
“Rub it!” is a phrase the game will say as gameplay begins, and it’s fitting, because that’s usually that’s a good description of the gameplay. The story’s weirdness is accompanied and complimented by some equally strange gameplay that makes great use of the DS’ feature list. It’s weird to imagine just how a bunch of mini-games can string together with a few cut scenes to create not just a cohesive gaming experience, but a solidly told yet quirky love story.
"It’s weird to imagine how a bunch of mini-games can string together with a few cut scenes to create ... cohesive gaming experience..."
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That’s right, the gameplay is comprised mostly of mini-games. In fact, most of these mini-games are comparable to those found in any WarioWare title. You’ll be fighting off rampaging bulls by poking them with the stylus, you’ll blow out candles using the systems microphone by blowing on the screen (people lose their mind on that stage I swear it), and you’ll help squirming citizens up a quicksand slope, who desperately don’t want to be eaten by the mutated Antlion waiting for them at the bottom.
But for all the strange, macho events where you’re trying to impress this girl through dangerous stunts or heroic acts, Sega mixes in mini-games where your character shows the girl just how much he loves her, creating a very real, strong sense of love as you play. In one stage you’re constantly trying to hold her hand by touching it with the stylus, while you protect her from a swarm of attacking bees (I told you this game is weird). In another, you help her unbutton her dress (I swear to god) because her clothes are wet, she’s cold, and they need to be dried off. I don’t want to give away all the moments, but there are a few where you really feel the love. Don’t get me wrong, none are overly sexual, but there are a few moments where you say “I know what you were thinking here Sega! You rascals!”
Nothing lasts forever…
"Even with it’s short length Feel the Magic XY XX is the most innovative, imaginative, and stylish title for the DS yet. "
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Sadly, Feel the Magic does not last long. I probably completed the game somewhere around four or five hours, and there isn’t much left to do after you do so. You can spend some more time with the games you’ve already completed in a “Hard Mode,” you can try to get high scores on them which will unlock new outfits for the “love interest,” but nothing really new or fresh opens up extending the life of this title.
Even with it’s short length, Feel the Magic XY XX is the most innovative, imaginative, and stylish title for the DS yet. This game uses the DS’ feature list almost completely, aside from the wireless LAN, and it creates one of the most memorable handheld gaming experiences ever. Sega has pointed the direction that the DS needs to go, and they’ve pointed in the direction they should take as a company as well. There is no question about it, everyone needs to “Feel the Magic.”
