Feel the Magic: XY/XX has some problems, but it truly stands out in the end, as an original, creative and fun title.
Right off the bat, you notice it's cool 60's inspired style. all characters are in black silhouettes, and the smooth flat-shaded cell style and smooth animation work well together. The game's story is played out with short animations, and comic style screen images that depicts the crazy story. The sound is heavily Japanese based, with little sounds, quirks, and humming filling the background music that fit the style and presentation.
The gameplay uses just about everything the DS has to offer. From the many ways you can use the touch screen, and the built-in microphone, every mini game feels new. The gameplay relies heavily on the touch screen, since all the minigames and menus require you to tap or rub the screen regularly. Some of the minigames require you to blow or speak into it, to complete a goal in the game. For example, at the main screen, you can record a short clip of your voice to be played when you are at the menu.. Simple, but it helps add a personal touch. Even the game allows you to read certain GBA carts to unlock exclusive content. What didn't Sega think of?
The story is as follows: you play the role of a shy boy, who has fallen in love with a girl that passes him by. Luckily, the Rub Rabbits see this, and meet up with him in his quest to get the girl to notice him. They suggest by joining the super performance group, their crazy acts will surly get the girl's attention. Unluckily, a rival (who isn’t pretty), also has his sites set on her. During the course of the story, he'll try to take you out, and kidnap the girl to express his love for her. Somehow, these people don't know the meaning of the phrase "just ask the girl." Oh well, more fun for us.
Your quest will have you doing all sorts of insane things to impress the woman. It'll require you to engage in minigames that seem like more “thought out" Wariorware style games. Your adventures will play out over 19 scenes in the story mode. In some scenes, you'll be able to choose which games you'll want to play, and in some you won't have that option. As you clear these games, you'll earn "love points" and unlock them for play in memories mode. Once you earn 100 of love points, you'll advance to the next scene.
The games in Feel the Magic: XY/XX are just wacky, crazy, and just plan funny. from he start, you'll be trying to push goldfish and turtles (no typo there) out of a man's stomach. You'll move on to tapping rabid bulls, pushing mines out of the way of people riding in shopping carts, to human bowling on a bust street, opening up skydivers' parachutes by trying to unlock the combination, to even helping your woman out of her (wet) clothes.
The bad part is, the game's story is over too soon. Luckily memories, and harder modes aid to the value. memories mode, allows you to replay the minigames you have beaten in the story mode. You only get one chance to go as far as you can (max is ten rounds.) For each round you beat, you get a star, and as the stars add up you'll unlock stuff to dress your character in with the maniac mode option. there are also other ways to unlock stuff like, from having specific Sega titles in the GBA slot when you boot up, to finding the hidden Rub Rabbit signs. Hard, and the insane Hell modes, allow you to play the game in harder variations. And trust me, they don't call it "hell mode" just for kicks.
Now Feel the Magic: XY/XX is a good game for DS’s launch it's not a fantastic game. it has some flaws. such as length in it's story, no multiplayer, and some of the controls for the minigames aren't tight. Some games are just plan mean on normal mode like chaser, which will cause you to throw a fit. Feel the Magic: XY/XX has some technical and collision problems, but for a launch title for the DS, it truly stands out in the end, as original, creative and fun. It's truly one of the titles that showcases what the DS has to offer to the gamer community.