"I actually enjoyed this game a lot!"

It's very surprising that two dating-based games have been released in the US very recently and for the Nintendo DS. "SPRUNG" by UbiSoft is actually a very fun game and for those who enjoyed the relationship aspect of "Dead or Alive: Beach Volleyball" to the dating sims ala conversation selecting of "Tokimeki Memorial", "Graduation" to name a few will in doubt enjoy this game.

Let me first point out that although dating sims are popular in Japan, most American gamers will either love or hate this type of gaming because it is conversation based. Also, a major note that separates this from many Japanese dating sims is that the goal is not to have sex with the women you meet but the main goal for the male character is to date women but the focus is to find a way to get your best friend/childhood friend to take notice of him as a potential boyfriend than just the "I think of you just like a friend" type.

GRAPHICS: One thing that I like about the graphics is that it's contemporary and the people are adults (college or older). Whereas, many Japanese dating sims are either junior high or high school. Depending on the conversation choices you pick, they react to the answer but these are not movements but still pictures. For me, the fact that this is different made was nice.

MUSIC: Different sections have different music, go to a club and you get a club beat, go to the restaurant, you get music of that scene.

STORYLINE: I have only completed Brett's story but it is very nice to have a second storyline for Becky and the choice to play two characters. For Brett, the main storyline is being with Becky who broke up with her BF, Sean (caught him with another girl), they both hang out at a ski resort and take part time jobs. In the course of hanging out with his two buddies (a wannabe comedian, Danny and the ski jock, Lucas), they dare you to get phone numbers for women and from this, you start meeting women you will go on dates with and have adventures with throughout the storyline.

One of the coolest storylines/games in "Sprung" was a club scene where you have to get the phone numbers from certain women and another is a "Truth or Dare" game which was very fun to play.

OK, now the MINUSES of the game:

- Being a Nintendo DS game, many reviewers and gamers want to see a game that takes advantage of the DS technology. This game really doesn't. Sure, it utilizes both screens but you really don't need the touch pad. Just your D-PAD and a button to select conversations.

- One thing that is missing in this dating-sim compared to the Japanese dating sims is the emotional factor. If you watch a relationship-based anime, you know whenever things go good, something is going to go bad, someone is going to get hurt and there is an emotional period. Granted, this is not a Japanese created game BUT this game is missing the emotional factor. Perhaps it's with Becky's storyline but definitely not on Brett's. Because you are limited with still graphics and conversations that lead to accomplishing a mission, the storyline doesn't dwelve off into problems and that is what makes a dating-sim storyline exciting is that sure, you have missions to accomplish but before you can get that good ending, a character has to go through some emotional pain. The only part I can even seem to remember Brett's character being upset is near the end where the hottie Kiki, doesn't give a pendant to Brett but to his rival, Connor and you have four choices of being upset. But that is where it's lacking is the emotional factor. Another example is that if Becky's friend Erika likes Brett, then there is a love triangle. The storyline doesn't even dwelve into that. Everything is to clean cut. The only emotional factor is when you choose wrong and your story ends (where you have to restart at the scene/checkpoint).

- Unlike a game such as "STAR WARS: KOTOR" or "FABLE" or even "Suikoden III" where a choice from the conversation affects the storyline, in "SPRUNG" a choice can either get you pass the game, earn you an item but that's about it. No repercussions from your choices. It would be interesting if there were repercussions that affect the storyline and which person you end up dating or being with in the end.

- REPLAY FACTOR: The good news is that once you complete it with one character, you can play the game with the other. After beating it, some may want to get all items. But definitely a game that you can share with friends during traveling or even people (or girlfriends/significant others) who are not usually not interested in playing video games but more interested in reading people's blogs.

THE LOWDOWN:

Despite this game being simpler than a typical "dating-sim" and much cleaner than a Japanese PC dating-sim game, the fact that UbiSoft tried a dating sim is cool! The characters are cool! The storyline, despite the emotional/deep storyline is still hip. Don't be surprised if many of the reviews you read on the magazines are negative because the truth is, dating-sims have never really gotten any exposure to the American gaming scene. If you look at "Dead or Alive: Beach Volleyball" (DOAX), people loved it and hated it. But those who loved it, enjoyed the relationship factor and of course the beautiful rendered women, "Sprung" is a game that definitely will appeal to those who want an alternative to other types of games out there. Also, a game that both a guy and girl can enjoy (so, you can tell your girlfriend that she can play another game aside from that card game on GBA) and take the game as is and enjoy. "Feel the Magic" has an edge on "Sprung" because of the insane and cool mini games especially how it takes advantage of features on the DS to play the mini games but "Sprung" is still good despite it being not technologically great.

Despite being a conversation, choose a line game...it's not easy and some games will take you an hour or more to figure out.

I rate "SPRUNG" with a 7 out of 10.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 12/21/04