"Can you feel the... ah, screw it."

“Rub it!”

Get used to that phrase. You'll be hearing it a lot.

Feel the Magic: XY/XX is one of the most bizarre and distinctly Japanese (no, that's not an insult) games I've ever played in my life – it's a wonder that the game even made it Stateside in the first place, though this kind of created-under-the-influence-of-crack design usually results in some sort of cult following over here in North America (see Pikmin and Katamari Damacy). But Magic seems to be headed into uncharted videogame territory – that of a romantic comedy. The wacky and admittedly chuckle-inducing story involved a somewhat Amish-lookin' fellow that falls in love at first sight with a hot babe. Magic is the story of how this guy wins her over with the help of the Rub Rabbits, a group of people who dress up like rabbits and believe they can help any old schmuck win the heart of the girl of his dreams with a few simple tips. And, of course, actually getting these two together is your job. Never would've guessed.

Before you are done with Magic, you will:

- Ride a unicycle over a thin walkway between two very tall buildings.
- Save a group of people from a few very evil candles.
- Pluck scorpions off of a girl's back.
- Force goldfish and turtles out of some guy's stomach.
- Force yourself out of the stomach of a giant snake.
- Stop a stampede of raging bulls.
- And a whole lot more…

In truth, Magic is really just a collection of mini-games, one after the other, that must be completed to advance the intentionally ridiculous, ludicrous, cartoonish story. We've seen this kind of thing before. Magic came not too long after the premiere of the Game Boy Advance hit WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames, another freakishly bizarre handheld offering that was really just a constant string of mini-games that were used to carry an irrelevant story. Magic is hardly a rip-off, though. The overall feel of the two games is vastly different. Magic focuses purely on the concept of a love story, with an overall lighthearted but somehow slightly familiar edge to it in its tale of one guy who's willing to do anything to win over the woman of his dreams. What's more is that Magic is honestly the only DS launch game to make use of all of the system's primary innovations right out of the gate. Hell, even Nintendo's own first-party launch title (Super Mario 64 DS) didn't make the DS stand out as the unique unit it was, making Magic perhaps one of the most important games in the DS library.

The style is the crowning aspect of Magic, though, merely because that's the thing that will stick with you long after the game is over and done. The graphics are fairly low-tech, but are so stylish you won't care (and use a smart mix of 2D and 3D objects to fool the senses). The characters themselves are nothing more than solid-black silhouettes that look identical to the ones dancing around in those iPod commercials. This alone adds a unique feel to the game. Everything is animated in an appropriately over-the-top fashion. The soundtrack is amazingly catching considering that it's coated with Japanese voices yelling, “Rub it!” repeatedly. It sounds somewhat similar to the music in the aforementioned Katamari Damacy, which is a major compliment. Considering that only a few themes are used throughout the game (as in, over and over), I was surprised that I never grew tired of it. I still pop Magic into my DS every now and then, and still get a kick out of the music when I do. It's all extremely well produced.

Once you actually get into Magic, you'll fully understand just how wacky and innovative the game can be, despite just being a collection of mini-games, one after the other. The game is split into chapters. Some chapters only have one mini-game to be completed, while others may have several, giving you some options as to how you're going to get this girl to fall in love with you. All of the games use the DS's unique features in some way. Most of them use the touch screen as a primary source of entertainment, while a few of them have you blowing into the microphone for actions such as putting out a candle and propelling a yacht. Before starting a mini-game, you're given quick instructions on what exactly it is that you're supposed to do, in another aspect that makes this game far slower and more relaxed than WarioWare. Games typically last five rounds, with each round getting impressively more difficult than the last. The slow level of progression works to make you better at the game.

The mini-games themselves are extremely varied in design and exercise many major gaming skills: Speed, precision, timing, rapidity, and even endurance – yes, surviving some of Magic's games may mean just holding out for a long time to give your hands workout. (This is demonstrated in one of my favorite mini-games, in which you must rescue people from an antlion by scribbling on them rapidly, making them climb out of the quicksand. To win on the tougher levels, you've really got to go through hell.) Each mini-game feels distinct, and ideas are never repeated. In one mini-game, you've got to use the stylus to spray paint a design on a wall within a time limit, but you've got to spray inside the lines, and you have to avoid hitting parachuting guys as well (yeah, this is a weird game). You've got to be quick to spray all parts of the painting within the time limit, and you've also got to be careful as to not hit any part of the wall that isn't within the paint zone.

Not all of Magic's mini-games are fun, though, so be warned. Occasionally, Magic will take a break from its usually zany, frantic, chaotic nature by toning it down a notch and introducing these more laid-back, “quiet” mini-games in which the main character continues to strengthen his relationship with the girl. There's one “game” where you're given the task of – watch out! – holding hands with her. Tricky, tricky stuff. In another, you've got to scrub dirt off of her arms and face. Such intensified challenges are a rarity in Magic, but are here nevertheless. Another iffy mini-game category you might want to approach with caution: Boss battles. They are infrequent as well, and a few of them are kinda cool, but most of the time they're clunky and damn near-broken. I still shudder at the thought of the “Plants” battle, and you will, too.

But that's hardly a laundry list of complaints. Magic provides a surprising amount of fun and has developed a sort of cult status among fans, which eventually resulted in a sequel (titled The Rub Rabbits). Although it's a short game, the developers did their best to increase the replay value by adding three difficulties. You can replay any of the mini-games as many times as you like and can even play for high scores. There's even this weird Maniac mode, which allows you to unlock different clothes for the game's leading lady. Lots of stuff to do. I sometimes even popped the game in just to re-experience the amazing look and feel of the presentation, the wackiness of the music, and the downright insanity of the game's pace and attitude. Although it had a short life, my DS system has a buddy with whom it will never truly part. Magic is quite a ride.

Pros

+ Amazingly unique presentation gives the game personality.
+ Surprisingly compelling story with a good sense of humor.
+ Mini-games are varied and often extremely fun.
+ Makes great use of the DS hardware.
+ Unsophisticated but attractive visuals.
+ Katamari Damacy-like soundtrack is very catchy.
+ Plenty of replay value.

Cons

- Some of the mini-games aren't all that great.
- It's a short game.
- I suppose some of the music is repeated too much.

Overall: 8/10

This was probably my favorite DS launch game, and it was certainly the most important. Feel the Magic: XY/XX was the one game that, right out of the gate, proved what the DS was capable of, and just how unique the thing was. I always considered the DS's opening moments to be horribly slow. Magic was the DS's saving grace in my mind, and while it may have been overshadowed at this point by better, more innovative games, it will always have a spot in my DS collection. I recommend it to you.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 01/08/07