Feel the Magic: XY/XX

Feel the Magic XY/XX
Project Rub

Developer(s) Sonic Team
Publisher(s) Sega
Director(s) Takumi Yoshinaga
Producer(s) Yojiro Ogawa[1]
Artist(s) Nanako Yarimizu
Writer(s) Chizuru Asyura
Composer(s) Naofumi Hataya
Tomoko Sasaki
Mariko Nanba
Platform(s) Nintendo DS
Release date(s)
  • NA November 16, 2004
  • JP December 2, 2004
  • EU March 11, 2005
Genre(s) Mini-game compilation
Mode(s) Single player
Distribution Nintendo DS Game Card

Feel the Magic: XY/XX, known in Japan as Kimi no Tame nara Shineru (きみのためなら死ねる, lit. "I Would Die for You") and in Europe and Australia as Project Rub, is a minigame video game compilation developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. It was first released in North America, and was later released in Japan and PAL regions.

It follows the attempts of a young male protagonist to impress a young woman, aided by a group of people known as the "Rub Rabbits" into completing a series of minigames related to the plot. These minigames are all controlled by the touch screen and microphone, and often involve tapping, scribbling, and blowing into the microphone.[2]

Plot

Feel the Magic: XY/XX follows the events of a man who meets a girl and instantly falls in love; however, she is not nearly as receptive, and the protagonist attempts to win her over, ranging from romantic gestures to protecting her from a stampede of bulls. As he attempts this, he is assisted and cheered on by a group of men with rabbit ears; however, he is also pursued by a romantic rival vying for the girl's affection, using his incredible intelligence and technology to steal her from him.

Gameplay

One of the minigames from Feel the Magic: XY/XX called "Goldfish"

Feel the Magic: XY/XX is played solely with the stylus and microphone, and features a voice recognition system through both speaking and breathing. It is composed of several minigames that are loosely linked, as the player tries to impress the girl.

There are three main modes of play. Story mode is the main mode which contains the minigames in each chapter with three levels of difficulty, 'Normal', 'Hard', and 'Hell'. Memories is a gameplay mode where one can play any of the previous minigames previously beaten. Stars can be collected in Memories, that can unlock certain pieces of clothing. The third mode, Maniac, is where one is able to take all the articles of clothing earned during the game to dress up the girl.

There are other features in the game. It can be played in English or Japanese, allowing it to be import friendly. 'Hidden Rabbits' can be collected in the cutscenes through Story mode, and after collecting enough, clothing can be unlocked. There are 60 Hidden Rabbits. After completing the game, the Sound Test is unlocked, where the sound effects and music can be listened to. Feel the Magic: XY/XX has automatic saves.

Development

In 2003, Sega dissolved United Game Artists (UGA), one of its internal game development studios. The head of the studio, Tetsuya Mizuguchi, left Sega that year to form Q Entertainment. Former members of UGA, such as Space Channel 5 veterans Takumi Yoshinaga and Takashi Yuda, were merged into Sonic Team.[3][4][5][6][7] At Sonic Team, Yuda produced Sonic Riders, while Yoshinaga created Feel The Magic and The Rub Rabbits!.[6][7][8] Development on the latter began after Nintendo unveiled the Nintendo DS hardware, which features a touch screen that can be rubbed with a stylus. After observing that the word "rub" sounds similar to the word "love", Yoshinaga decided to create a game built around both concepts. A "love comedy story" was the basis for the title's plot, while Yoshinaga chose to represent its characters with silhouettes to allow greater room for player interpretation. Although this subject matter was suggestive, Yoshinaga had no desire to include overtly sexual content, and considered the input of the predominantly female development team to avoid incorporating offensive material.[1][6]

Feel the Magic: XY/XX was originally announced at E3 2004 under its code name, Project Rub. Then-executive managing director Yuji Naka said the title would place "an emphasis on controls using a Touch Screen, which will allow us to achieved the concept of 'rubbing,' a unique and fun gameplay mechanic made possible by the DS. We will investigate a wide-range of gaming elements unique to DS, so look forward to future Sega titles."[9] Game details and previews came much later, in October.[10]

Reception and legacy

Author Torill Elvira Mortensen used Feel the Magic as a good example of a game that makes use of its respective console's technology. Torill noted that after its release, it was considered the best game for the Nintendo DS in terms of its utilization of the DS' touch screen and microphone. Torill also noted that its humour and its gameplay were appealing to reviewers.[11]

On February 2, 2006, the game won the "Best Concept" award at the 2006 Imagina Games Awards.[12] Game Informer has named the game one of the top ten weirdest of all time.[13]

A prequel titled The Rub Rabbits! was released in Japan in 2005 and in North America and Europe in 2006. Music from the game appeared in a Samba de Amigo styled minigame in the 2012 game Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure, and in a Valentine's event in the 2012 game Phantasy Star Online 2.


See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Sonic Team: Kikizo Interview Spring 2005". Kikizo. 2005-04-17. Retrieved 2014-07-03.
  2. ↑ Behrens, Matt (2007-03-27). "DS: Innovation Retrospective". N-Sider. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  3. ↑ Fahs, Travis (2010-09-09). "IGN Presents the History of the Dreamcast, Page 2". IGN. Retrieved 2014-07-03.
  4. ↑ Doree, Adam (2004-04-13). "Video Interview: Tetsuya Mizuguchi". Kikizo. Retrieved 2014-07-03.
  5. ↑ cf. "Tetsuya Mizuguchi Interview 2005". Kikizo. 2005-10-13. Retrieved 2014-07-03.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Thomason, Steve (March 2006). "Love Story". Nintendo Power 19 (201): 38–39.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Hoffman, Chris (March 2006). "Lord of the Board". Nintendo Power 19 (201): 65.
  8. ↑ cf. Theobald, Phil (2006-01-27). "Sega Talks Sonic Riders Part Two". GameSpy. Retrieved 2014-07-03.
  9. ↑ "Sega Confirms Content for Nintendo DS". Sega. 2004-05-10. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
  10. ↑ Harris, Craig (2004-10-05). "Feel the Magic: XY/XX Preview". IGN. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
  11. ↑ Torill Elvira Mortensen. Perceiving play: the art and study of computer games. pp. 28–34.
  12. ↑ Gamasutra - Imagina 06 Award Winners Announced
  13. ↑ “the top 10 weirdest games of all time,” Game Informer 180 (April 2008): 28.

External links