16A virtual reality game with a rather lengthy name does not necessarily make for a great experience. The Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls: Viewing Revolution is an example of how a too-long name will automatically turn people away. While we are great fans of PlayStation VR games and experiences, this one never succeeded in leaving a lasting impression. A missed opportunity, to say the least.
The Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls Isn’t the Greatest
It has to be said, we had somewhat high hopes for The Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls. Every game released on the PlayStation VR is well worth trying out, albeit some of them will fall short in the end. This particular game falls into hat category despite Bandai Namco’s best efforts. The game offers something we rarely see in the Western world, for which the developers should be applauded. However, it is obvious this type of game doesn’t suit our expectations that well, even though we kept an open mind.
To put this into perspective, The Idolm@ster Cinderella girls is all about beautiful anime girls dancing around on a stage. There is also a background story, although it can be mostly ignored. From a gameplay perspective itself, there is even less to speak of, which is somewhat disappointing. It is your job to manage aspiring ideas looking to achieve their fifteen minutes of fame on the big stage. In most cases, that would include setting schedules to focus on auditions, training, and stage performances. Sadly, that is not what we are getting here, or at least not in an engaging manner.
One thing The Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls tries to do is making the player bond with the various characters they are managing. Unfortunately, this could have been executed in a better manner, as the novelty does wear off rather quickly. Interactivity is extremely limited in most cases, which effectively makes you lose interest in playing further. While the design of the game deserves top marks, it is a game you pick up once and put down once, without ever touching it again.
Cinderella Girls is a great visual experience, but it is not novel enough to keep players engaged for more than a few minutes at best. You spend most of your time looking at, rather than interacting, which can’t be the end goal by any means. It is a missed opportunity by Bandai Namco, that much is evident. In Japan, games like these will e quite successful, but the rest of the world will most likely pass up the opportunity.
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