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My Dress Up DS

Format:
DS

Genre:
Minigames

Further reading:
Mini games

Buy/Support:
Support Andy, click to buy via us...

My Dress Up is one of the Oxygen My games that provides make up themed drawing games. It not only enables players to try their hand at wardrobe make overs, but they also get to design their own clothes along the way.

It's one of those type of game genres...

Mini games come in a variety of shapes and sizes. What unites the genre is the speed with which players can pickup the games and the relativley short time requried to complete a level or two.

But why is it any better than the others...

The My series from Oxygen Games take a different route to Ubisoft's Imagine series. The focus here is on familiarity rather than novelty. Their games each have a similar look and can all talk to each other. Not only does this enable siblings to play together regardless of which game they have - but it introduces some nice cross overs like importing a My Make Up face onto a My Dress Up model.

My Dress Up takes a similar approach to Imagine: Fashion Designer, providing many similar features. As with other games in the series, it benefits from the familiarity that comes from a shared interface. It can also be used to chat to players with other games, which is a nice touch when siblings have either My Secret Diary DS or My Make Up DS.

My Dress Up aims at a younger audience than either Imagine: Fashion Designer DS or Barbie: Fashion Designer DS. Whereas both those games tasks the player with cutting and sewing their outfits, here the action is kept to selecting style, fabric and colour.

This simpler approach lets the game focus on other aspects of design - such as choosing appropriately matching outfits for certain occasions. There is an endless stream of requests from client needing advice - and it is this consultation process that had the greatest potential of connecting with younger players.

So what experience should I play this game for...

My Dress Up appeals to younger gamers who want to dip their toe in the world of fashion. Those with older siblings but without an exciting wardrob of clothes of their own will find this mix and match dress up experience a lot of fun.

And when can I take a break...

This is the simplest of the Oxygen My series games, and players will be up and running in no time. The number of outfits created will determine the length of each session. As things progress the number of items, accessories, fabrics and colours grows which extends this selection process.

This is a great game for who...

Young players will enjoy the simplicity of the pick and mix approach to fashion. Intermediate and school age players will enjoy completing tasks and acquiring the various new fabrics, colours and designs.

Expert may need to look elsewhere for their dress up needs. Although many will poo poo the childish nature of the game - it's not a million miles removed from creating a new character in Tiger Woods 09 Wii.

Written by Andy Robertson

You can support Andy by buying My Dress Up



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Andy Robertson writes the Family Gamer column.

"Videogame reviews for the whole family, not just the kids. I dig out videogame experiences to intrigue and interest grownups and children. This is post-hardcore gaming where accessibility, emotion and storytelling are as important as realism, explosions and bravado."

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