Pretty Princess Party

Pretty Princess Party is a combination party game and fantasy interior decorator for the Nintendo Switch.   It released in December 2019, and it my most played title on the Switch.  I have poured most of my Switch hours into this very game.  I've completed the main story twice, and I'm almost at max stats.  Although you can dress up your princess, I would not consider this really a dress up game, because dresses are in short supply.

The main goal of the game is to decorate an empty castle and the homes of many bunny villagers.  So what this game has the most of is pastel colored furniture.  You unlock more furniture by successfully completing minigames!  There are only six minigames though, two for each core stat.  Core stats are cuteness, coolness, and elegance.  You also get rewarded a ton of furniture just for decorating bunny homes though, so you actually don't have to play any minigames at all to beat the story.

Why are the villagers all bunnies?  To save time and money on assets, I'm assuming.  But how are the dress ups?  The princess dresses are all very lovely, and there are even a few princess pantsuits, but you cannot mix and match tops and bottoms, or add layers, it's just the outfit, the tiara, and the shoes, so Pretty Princess Party does not hold up as a dress up game.  But if you like bunnies, and want to decorate their homes, you've come to the right place.

But why is it called a party if it's a fantasy themed interior decorating game?  Because there is a multiplayer mode, where you and 3 unfortunate friends can all play the minigames together, AFTER you've unlocked the games in story mode.  Will this replace Mario Party?  No.  There are only 6 minigames total, they cannot carry the game as a party game.

If this game isn't a dress up game or a party game, why have I spent most of my Switch hours playing it?  The bunnies man, the bunnies.

Style Savvy: Fashion Forward

Style Savvy: Fashion Forward is the third installment of the Style Savvy series.  It released in North America in 2016.  Like the first two, you're in charge of a fashion boutique in a town full of colorful characters.  Menswear did not carry over from Trendsetters, but there are many other features added instead.  You can be a makeup artist, hair stylist, interior designer, and runway model.  And you can make your own clothing designs!  There's a lot to do in SS:FF.

Once you get the main game loop down of buy clothes and sell them, the game introduces fashion shows, which become your main goal.  You sell tickets, you dress the models, and you model too.  In later fashion shows, you get the option to do everyone's hair and makeup too.  It's a lot.

The clothes?  They seem about the same as in Trendsetters, so what you're really getting this game for is the additional side jobs, the hairstyling, makeup, and modeling.

I dunno what else to say about it.  It's more Style Savvy.  And I like it.

Nintendo Direct Feb 2023: Fashion Dreamer Hype

Yesterday was the most recent Nintendo Direct stream.  I try to watch them when I can.  There wasn't a lot of exciting news.  Lots of DLC, sequels, and remasters of old games.  But one trailer made the whole thing worthwhile.  Fashion Dreamer, by XSEED and Marvelous.  

Style Savvy fans have been waiting for a sequel for 6 years.  I think it's safe to say, it's not coming.  Thankfully, we finally have a spiritual successor.

In Fashion Dreamer, you are an aspiring style influencer who wanders the city making friends and giving makeovers.  And taking selfies, there's always selfies nowadays.  And, in an astounding change for fashion games, it appears you can play as a male character!  I'll prolly be a female character, but I mean it's nice to have the option!

Not gonna lie, when I first saw the preview, I was really concerned that the fashions were too boring, and I really didn't wanna be an "influencer" but I've warmed up to the idea.  And let's face it, fashion is more boring these days than in previous decades.

Fashion Dreamer is supposed to come out sometime in 2023.

Guild Wars 2: Base Game

 

Guild Wars 2 is an MMO, the sequel to Guild Wars (2005), launched in 2012.  Since it's launch, it's had 3 expansions.  There are 5 playable races, 9 classes, base game is free, and there is no monthly subscription.  Hubby and I chose to buy the expansion bundle after a few days of play.

The game is turning 11 years old this year, and it's age actually makes it very good.  It was designed before the whole Gatcha Hero system became popular, and it has a lot of familiarity to a World of Warcraft, which I really enjoy.  There is a cash shop for quality of life and cosmetic items, but none of it is game breaking or cheating.  

I fell in love right away with the plant people, called the Sylvari.  So much so, that I got my husband to roll one too, so we could do the starting zone together.  The Sylvari are colorful and inspired looking plant people, with treelike skin and leaves or sticks for hair.  Also, they glow in the dark.  VERY COOL!  I made a head to toe purple Sylvari Ranger.  The Ranger class is like hunter in WoW, you fight with an animal companion.  And you can tame more.   And name them.  Paired with a bow and arrows, it was the obvious choice for me.