![]() ![]() Genuinely new and inventive forms of play are relatively rare in video games, a medium that more often trades in refinement than revolution. ![]() ![]() The Case of the Golden Idol is a game of reasoning, elegantly modest in execution – the artwork is rudimentary, but strikingly so – but one that often requires extravagant feats of deduction. ![]() These words must then be used to fill out blanks in your detective’s report on the scene, to explain precisely what happened and how. Clicking on people, props, documents and searching characters’ pockets provides a succinct description of the person or object – and, often, a key word which is then added to the gutter at the bottom of the game screen. The various players are caught in a moment of panic, surprise or furtive worry, and it’s up to you to deduce recent events. Unlike much detective fiction, the diorama is shown at the precise moment, or in the immediate aftermath, of the crime. Furthermore, dictating their personal lives through restrictions is uncomfortable.Each case is presented to you as a frozen tableau. Their anxieties are a liability to the business. Women, some as young as 12 years old, are business assets. There is, however, an elephant in the room. I’ve played a few management games in my lifetime but little offered such a deep dive into a unique entertainment industry. You can mitigate potential issues by setting rules when it comes to social media usage, public appearances, and dating.Īll of these different gameplay elements come together to create an incredibly fascinating management experience. Some are prone to scandals and fits of jealousy. Some idols are shy, while others are outgoing. These women also have traits that impact the business and group dynamic. Stats can be improved by spending time with your idols, fulfilling their Wishes, and caring for their mental and physical health. Each randomly generated woman has stats that determine their individual skill and what they bring to the group. You can hire talent by holding local, regional, and country-wide auditions, spending upwards of a million yen to find the best girls. With money being so precarious in the early game, however, every unplanned expense feels like a mistake.Īs much as Idol Manager focuses on the day-to-day aspects of management, the idols are what truly keep the business afloat. Promotion and performances are something you need to do anyway to advance your idol’s skill and success. I made a lot of expensive mistakes before I realized what was happening. In Idol Manager, tapping the Up or Down button costs 12,000 yen each time. Decades spent playing video games have led me to expect the D-Pad to let me scroll through blocks of text or navigate hotspots. I really didn’t like how the game maps promotion and performance events on the D-Pad. Interfacing with screens and menus isn’t terrible on a PlayStation controller but takes getting used to. Add in the ongoing expenses that drain your finances month over month, and Idol Manager has the potential to get downright stressful.Īll this information is presented through a user interface that shows the game’s mouse-and-keyboard roots. There’s so much data on hand that it can feel pretty overwhelming. For example, “Sexy” dance moves and “Happy” lyrics may play well with young adult males but they can alienate your group’s hardcore female fans. Your audience’s gender, age, and devotion to the group determine what sells or flounders. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |