Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 2

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Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 2
Tamagotchi Connection Corner Shop 2.jpg
European cover art of Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 2
Developer(s) NanaOn-Sha
Dimps
Publisher(s)
Producer(s) Masaya Matsuura [1] [2]
Series Tamagotchi
Platform(s) Nintendo DS
Release
Genre(s) Life simulation game
Mode(s) Single-player
multiplayer

Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 2 [a] is a 2006 shop simulation game developed by NanaOn-Sha and Dimps, and published by Namco Bandai Games and Atari for the Nintendo DS. The game is based on the virtual-pet toy, Tamagotchi, and tasks players with running shops and serving customers in different store-specific minigames. It is the sequel to Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop , and was followed by Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 3 .

Contents

The game features twelve minigames themed around various shops. The minigames are played exclusively via the DS's touchscreen.

Corner Shop 2 received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the art style but criticized the repetitive nature of the minigames. The game has sold 1.09 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best selling Nintendo DS games of all time.

Gameplay

The gameplay of Corner Shop 2 remains much the same as the original, with some new minigames added and quality of life improvements over the original. Unlike the Tamagotchi toy line, the main gameplay does not involve caring for a virtual pet, and instead players assumes the role of store owner and serve customers through various minigames. [10] [11] The game starts with the player choosing a Tamagotchi partner to open a business with. After choosing a partner, the player purchases one of four available shops in Tama Mall and gets to work serving customers in shop-specific minigames. All minigames are played using the Nintendo DS touchscreen, [12] with the top screen usually reserved for instructions and dialogue between your partner and the customer being served. [13]

After serving customers, the player receives the in-game-currency, Gotchi, and is given a review. Gotchi can be used to purchase new shops and upgrade existing ones. There are four levels of expansions per business, Putchi, Metchi, Gotchi, and Royal. Shops start at Putchi rank, and players are tasked with upgrading all of their shops to their max level by serving more customers and earning more Gotchi. [14] Progressing through the initial shops will unlock more, for a total of twelve shops available. [12] Three shops are carried-over from the first game, the florist, bakery, and concert hall. The minigames for these shops remain mostly the same with some additional features and improvements. In addition to touchscreen controls, the concert hall makes use of the DS' built-in microphone. [15] New shops available include a gas station, sushi restaurant, health clinic, and a bowling alley. Players can also unlock special "combo shops" that combine elements of existing shops, including a sushi-bowling alley where sushi is placed on bowling lanes instead of pins, and a music clinic, where players heal customers with music. [12]

A screenshot showing the Gas Station minigame. Mametchi appears on the top screen and talks to customers, while the player serve a customer by filling their car with gas, washing and waxing the car, and swapping popped tires. Screenshot of Tamagotchi Connection, Corner Shop 2 on Nintendo DS.png
A screenshot showing the Gas Station minigame. Mametchi appears on the top screen and talks to customers, while the player serve a customer by filling their car with gas, washing and waxing the car, and swapping popped tires.

Corner Shop 2 has an optional game mode that allows players to care for their partner Tamagotchi. Players can feed their Tamagotchi snacks and dress them. In addition to upgrading stores, Gotchi can be used to purchase snacks and cosmetics for the partner Tamagotchi, including home decorations and costumes. [11] [16] Additionally, Tamagotchi Connection V4 toys included passwords that could be inputted in Corner Shop 2 to unlock exclusive items. [17]

The game features over 100 different Tamagotchi, the majority of which appear as customers. Many of the Tamagotchi characters that appear as customers from the first game return, as well as new characters from Tamagotchi Connection V4, Tamagotchi School, and Uratama. There are three partner Tamagotchi available, plus a forth available as a secret unlock after upgrading all the stores to their max "Royal" rank. [18] New to the sequel, the game features a directory that shows all the Tamagotchi the player has encountered. The directory lets players see the Tamagotchi's name and how well they have served them in the past. [19] Customers who receive better service are more likely to return. [15]

Players who own the game can also send a demo copy of the game to others via DS Download Play. [20] Players could also trade items and screenshots over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. [21] In November 2006, players were also able to exchange Gotchi for exclusive items by visiting DS Download Stations in Japan. [22] [23]

Plot

The game begins with the player receiving the news that they have just won 10,000 Gotchi from the Tama Lottery. The player's partner Tamagotchi advises you to purchase shops at the Tama Mall using your winnings so that you can provide essential services to Tama Towns residents.

Development

Masaya Matsuura, whose studio NanaOn-Sha produced the game. Masaya-matsuura (cropped).jpg
Masaya Matsuura, whose studio NanaOn-Sha produced the game.

Due to the success of Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop, development on a sequel began quickly. [24] [20] The game began development prior to the merger of Namco and Bandai in March 2006. [15] NanaOn-Sha, who developed the first game, co-developed Corner Shop 2 with Dimps, who assisted with creating new minigames. [1] [20] [25] Corner Shop 2 was announced in February 2006 at the Nintendo DS Conference 2006 Spring press event. [26] [27] On August 17, 2006 Namco Bandai Games America announced the game would be getting an international release, with an estimated release window of Winter 2006 in the USA. [28] [29] [30]

Referring to the US localization, the game's localization manager Brian Glazebrook stated that the biggest changes needed were to the games humor. He stated "it’s more of a cultural thing. Some of the humor doesn’t translate well to us, some of it is completely foreign to us. Areas such as that, we had to take some liberties." [15] The game was published by Namco Bandai in Japan, North America, and Europe, [20] and by Atari in Australia. [31]

Release

Corner Shop 2 was showcased with a playable demo at the World Hobby Fair  [ ja ] in Tokyo and Sapporo in June 2006, [26] [32] where it was reported as being the most popular DS game at the event. [33] In Japan, the game released on July 27, 2006. [3] [7] On August 17, 2006, Namco Bandai Games America announced that the game would be getting a North American release that winter. [29] Corner Shop 2 was further showcased at the Tokyo Game Show in September 2006. [34] [35] On November 3, 2006, Bandai announced that Corner Shop 2 had "gone gold" and was scheduled to be released on November 14, 2006 in North America. [36] The game was released at an MSRP of $29.99 in the United States. [21]

In December 2006, Atari announced that Corner Shop 2 would release in Australia and New Zealand in March 2007. [37] The game originally scheduled to be released in Europe by the end of 2006, [38] but didn't release until March 23, 2007 with distribution through Atari Europe. [8] [39] [7] The Australian release of the game was also pushed back to April 5, 2007. [9]

Reception

Critical Reception

Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 2 holds a rating of 66/100 on review aggregate website Metacritic, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [48] Many reviewers noted the cutesy and fun nature of the game, while also criticizing the overly repetitive nature of the minigames. Several critics noted that the game was entertaining only in short bursts, [49] with Greg Mueller of GameSpot writing that "Corner Shop 2 is clearly designed to be played for a few minutes at a time, but you'll quickly see all the game has to offer by doing so and lose interest. Although the minigames are fun at first, and the visual style goes a long way to give the game a great sense of character, those things aren't quite enough to make the game worth the asking price." [12] Reviewers also compared the game to other popular minigame collections at the time like WarioWare [11] [50] [14] and Cooking Mama. [51]

Retrospectives have referred to the Corner Shop series as wholesome or cozy games, [52] with Leah Williams of GamesHub stating "with its cutesy drawn style, great soundbites and relaxing gameplay, it’s the kind of game that really tickles your brain while letting you completely relax." [53]

Sales

Japan

Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 2 was the top-selling game in Japan during the week of its release, selling 192,458 copies. [54] The game was the second best selling video game in the month of August 2006, behind New Super Mario Bros . [55] By mid-November 2006, Corner Shop 2 had already become the 19th best selling DS game in Japan up to that point, with 568,820 units sold. [56] The game had sold 713,237 copies in the region by the end of 2006, making it the 14th best-selling game in Japan that year. [57] [58] In a financial report, Bandai stated that the domestic release of the game was "particularly successful with girls in the elementary school age group, like its predecessor the previous year." [59] Despite the release of Corner Shop 3 in Japan in 2007, Corner Shop 2 was still in the top 200 games sold in Japan that year, selling an additional 94,797 units. [60]

International

According to Bandai Namco's financial report for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007, Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop 2 was the company's third best-selling game worldwide, selling 871,000 units. [61] [62] [63] In May 2007, the game was listed as the tenth best selling DS game in Europe. [64]

To date, Corner Shop 2 has sold 1.09 million copies worldwide, making it the 70th best selling game on the Nintendo DS. [65]

See also

Notes

  1. Japanese: たまごっちのプチプチおみせっち ごひーきに, Hepburn: Tamagotchi no Puchi Puchi Omisecchi Gohi-Kini

References

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