Those that love trend simulation video games as a lot as I do will possible bear in mind a sequence for the Nintendo and 3DS often called Fashion Savvy (also referred to as Fashion Boutique and Ladies Mode). Developed by Syn Sophia, this sequence of video games was distinctive.
They every had their very own tales as to the way you got here into proudly owning a boutique of your individual, you’d meet full of life, memorable characters throughout your time as a stylist, and most significantly, you had customisation choices galore. Because the launch of Fashion Savvy: Styling Star in 2017, which featured a pop idol twist, followers have been in want of a brand new dress-up recreation like Fashion Savvy for the Nintendo Swap.
Syn Sophia listened, in fact, and lately dished out Trend Dreamer for Nintendo’s hybrid handheld. That mentioned, regardless of being unable to place it down for the previous week or two, it was removed from what I’d hoped. As a lot enjoyable as it’s at hand out my unwarranted trend recommendation to people, the sport is uninteresting, flat, and lifeless in comparison with its religious predecessors.
We’re dwelling within the age of social media (or the collapse of it, in the event you’re feeling cynical), and Trend Dreamer has tried to make this the core caveat of its recreation, to its detriment. Relatively than opening up a boutique, tending to prospects‘ wants and visiting the Exhibition Corridor to purchase new garments, Trend Dreamer is all about gaining social media followers. The memorable characters we beforehand had have been exchanged for caricatures that aren’t half as partaking, your ‘boutique’ is merely a Showroom that gamers can go to somewhat than having any substantial objective, and even clothes customisation feels half as thrilling because it as soon as did.
With all of that in thoughts, this didn’t cease me from tirelessly taking part in the sport for hours on finish. Whereas it’s removed from what I anticipated it to be, and much faraway from how vigorous and engagement the Fashion Savvy sequence was, there’s nonetheless a variety of enjoyable available in allotting unwarranted trend recommendation to NPCs or different participant’s Muses. Every time you accomplish that, you acquire followers, and the extra followers you acquire, the extra hub areas (often called Cocoons) that you would be able to go to.
Even then, the joy of unlocking a brand new hub space to discover is missing; they’re all the identical, that includes some characters to offer trend recommendation to, a salon, and a pop-up space the place you may accumulate new garments. There’s no incentive to really hold going with Trend Dreamer after some time; you’re not boosting a boutique’s earnings anymore, you don’t need to diligently earn money from prospects to purchase new clothes gadgets, and so forth. There’s no limits, which is nice for some gamers, however damaging for simply how partaking the sport really is.
Syn Sophia has efficiently modernised the sequence, and it is definitely not let gamers down by way of simply what number of gadgets of clothes can be found. If you need a recreation the place you may repeatedly dress-up characters again and again in new clothes, Trend Dreamer is simply that. You possibly can take loads of photographs of your characters outfits, amass an enormous social media following, and unlock extra garments whereas doing so. However that’s it for Trend Dreamer’s gameplay loop. It’s related sufficient to the Fashion Savvy sequence, however the lack of a problem or an overarching purpose past gaining as many social media followers as doable seems like a let-down.
Let me reiterate that as lifeless as Trend Dreamer typically feels, I nonetheless can’t name it a foul recreation. I undoubtedly had enjoyable taking part in it, and can little question return to it after I really feel like mindlessly taking part in dress-up. However the lack of a problem, purpose, or any actual gameplay past amassing cult standing among the many trend world has seen me doing one factor I by no means fairly imagined doing in 2023, and that’s returning to Fashion Savvy. Whereas Trend Dreamer is undoubtedly granting the liberty that I think about a variety of gamers have been dreaming of, I can’t fairly assist however miss the problem that its religious predecessors supplied.
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