- Reviewed on: Nintendo DS
- The Good: Hollywood quality dialogue; sexy cartoon sprites; catchy music.
- The Bad: Trial-and-error game play sometimes makes you want to throw your brand new DS across the room.
- The Verdict: Like a real relationship, you'll need to learn to forgive Sprung its many faults if you want to see it through to the end.
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REVIEW:
Relationship game-loving DS-owners must be in heaven: the current ratio of romance games to all other games for the DS is one to six.
At launch we were provided with Sega's innovative amorous adventure Feel the Magic: XY/XX, and now comes Ubi Soft's slick-looking but oft-times frustrating Sprung. At this rate the DS is set to become the most lovey-dovey gaming system in the world.
Sprung is most efficiently described as a text-based romance adventure game. Playable characters include the smart and sexy hip chick Becky and the boy-next-door stereotype Brett. The two leads are long-time friends vacationing with their pals at a posh ski resort. Brett has a secret crush on Becky, who, unfortunately for him, seems set on keeping their relationship platonic.
Interactive conversations make up 99 per cent of the game play. Players interpret the body language and the dialogue of non-player characters in order to steer discussions and achieve specific goals, such as scoring a date or landing a goodnight kiss.
The game makes good use of the DS' dual-screen and touch sensitive functionality. The character you speak with is shown on the upper screen while Brett or Becky appears on the touch screen on the bottom, giving the appearance that the two characters are both looking at each other and at the player. The stylus is used to select appropriate responses from a list as the chats play out.
Players usually know the exact objective they want to achieve at the beginning of a scenario, though occasionally they're allowed to choose an outcome, as in one scene in which Brett must decide which of his two buddies he wants to use for dating help.
Even though the objectives are usually set, players often have a bit of leeway in the path of answers that will lead to the goal. This is where Sprung is at its best. In one level Becky deals with a modelling agent in an attempt to get a contract as a model. She's obviously attracted to the agent, so players can have her flirt a little with him, creating a fun bit of sexual tension. Don't go too far though, or Becky will end up spending the night with him, waking up to an empty bed and no contract.
On the flip side, some scenarios require players to choose specific responses throughout the conversation. In one scene Becky tries to find out who she's supposed to be going on a blind date with by speaking to a few people at a nightclub. These people must be approached in the proper order and specific responses must be chosen in order to gain their trust and complete the level. One little slip up and it's game over, try again.
This kind of trial and error game play can become extremely frustrating. I had to restart some scenes dozens of times in an attempt to try to find the proper conversation path. What's worse is that the correct responses often aren't evident, making the game a matter of guesswork.
The only other game play element in Sprung is a relatively simple item system, which is fun but used too infrequently. As the game progresses, players end up acquiring and using a wide variety of items, from gum and makeup to pepper spray and pocket knives.
Players can often opt to use an item rather than choose a line of dialogue. For example, the first time Becky runs into her ex who cheated on her the only way to successfully get away from him is to "use" the bracelet he once gave her. Becky will throw the bracelet at her ex, letting him know in no uncertain terms that she isn't interested in repairing their relationship.
The game play may be flawed but the presentation is spot on.
The dialogue is game's most virtuous feature. Scripted by Colleen McGuinness, a screenwriter for television's North Shore, the conversations incorporate modern slang and clever insults that should strike a chord with teenagers and college students.
Sprung's graphics are also polished. Cartoon sprites accurately convey emotions through subtle and not-so-subtle facial animations, providing a bit of subtext to characters' responses. In fact, players will find that the text responses are often exactly the same, but feature different accompanying facial animations that convey a broad spectrum of meanings (just think about all the different ways you can say "Hi, Becky").
Rounding out the high production values is a nice array of catchy music that helps set the mood for each environment, be it a nightclub, a ski shop, or a hot tub. Voice acting would have been nice, but perhaps impractical given the massive amount of dialogue.
Obviously Sprung isn't for everyone. Even those who like the idea of a well-written romantic text adventure with pretty graphics and good music will find some scenes terribly frustrating. Still, there is something oddly appealing about virtual flirting.