One Of The Very Best DS Games That No One Knows About.
Pinky Street Kira Kira Music Hour is, as its title might suggest, a rhythm game, but it's also part adventure and part sim. The game works off of a hub of sorts, and you begin in your apartment (I think). It is, after all, in Japanese and I don't understand a lick, so I'm guessing it's the character's apartment. That said, it's perhaps the most import-friendly DS title I've come across. There is currently no walkthrough available for the game (though there is a basic FAQ on GameFAQ), but you really won't need one.
When your chibi character is in her apartment, you have a menu of options on the left-hand side of the screen. You can choose to dress her up; changing her hair style, top, bottom, accesories, etc.; and all of those items will affect her performance in the dance competitions throughout the game. You can also choose to play songs you've already beaten in the game -- a sort of practice, I suppose. The menu options also allow for you to save a selection of your favorite outfits, as well as saving your game. Perhaps the main option, however, is the door. From here, you exit into the bulk of the game.
Well, the hub, anyway. Like Elite Beat Agents, as you win competitions, you unlock additional areas to explore. Unlike EBA, however, these areas don't just offer new songs to dance to, but also offer places to shop for new clothes and accesories for your character, as well as provide a vending machine where you can get random goodies. Additionally, there's an area to photograph your chibi gal.
The dancing is perhaps a little easier and not quite as interesting as EBA, but, with all the collection and story elements thrown in, it's a game that has a lot of depth and a lot of value.
It also sports what are probably the very best graphics ever seen in any DS game to date. The chibi-character models are quite similar to those seen in Tales of Symphonia (GCN), and they're done with some extremely fine texturing. A little edgy, perhaps, as in all DS games (thanks to no texture filtering), but not at all pixelated. A very attractive game. Also a very good-sounding game, which is, of course, essential to a music / rhythm game.
Anyway, few have yet to review the game. Maybe folks are too embarrassed to admit they're actually playing it. It does, indeed, appear to have been catered toward young girls. But for an American, the Japanese quality is very appealing. I, myself, probably wouldn't have bothered with it had it come out here in the States, but it definitely has a certain charm as an import title. Mainly, though, I can't resist the stellar presentation. All DS games should have this level of quality, with respect to sound and graphics. Looking for something a little different, very cute and a lot of fun? You might want to check this game out. It's got something for everyone. Dancing for the rhythm-game fans, cute chibis for the pervy boys (or pervy dads), great graphics for graphic snobs like myself, and it's a game that's extremely import-friendly.
Thanks for reading, and happy gaming.
-GD