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Title: Ohimesama Debut
Price: $48.90 (Wait a while, it it’s coming to North America)
System(s): DS
Release Date: May 29, 2008
Publisher (Developer): Cave (Cave)
ESRB Rating: N/A; Cero A (All Ages)
Pros: Touchscreen dancing is fun, the story is charming and there’s a nice simulation/dating sim aspect following the six princes.
Cons: Most of the girl’s costumes aren’t cute. The 3D versions of the characters are hideous. Dances are only challenging initially, until you learn the patterns.
Overall Score: 7.5/10

As many are aware, I am fortunate enough to have some friends who also import video games from Japan. This means I get to sample games I normally wouldn’t play, and, in the case of Ohimesama Debut, be pleasantly surprised.

Yes, an Ouendan-loving friend of mine bought Ohimesama Debut. Since it has multiple save slots, she was gracious enough to let me claim one. Of course when Natsume releases it in the US, I totally intend on buying a copy.

Ohimesama Debut is a surprisingly fun game, though I don’t think we’ll see many boys or men running to stores to pick it up. Even though there are some less than pleasant visuals, the gameplay and entertaining concept make up for it. If Natsume hadn’t localized it as Princess Debut, I’d have bet money that Ubisoft would have brought it over as Imagine: Ballroom Dancer.

Be that girl, watcg that scene

Ohimesama Debut begins with two normal girls from Earth walking home from school. When one gets home, her wardrobe opens to reveal a regally looking girl with a floating mouse-creature. The girl, who looks exactly like our heroine except for their eyes, reveals she is a princess who doesn’t want to take part in this big dancing competition. She asks the heroine to swap lives with her.

Of course anyone would instantly swap lives with some random woman and flying rodent, so the heroine goes through the wardrobe and ends up in a magical kingdom. Nobody seems to notice the difference. She is introduced to five elligible princes and a large anthropomorphic rabbit dance instructor, and then retires to her pink house outside the castle. The story’s fluff, but who cares - the target audience won’t and I sure didn’t.

Anybody could be that guy

So there are six princes. I’ve only encountered five, but that’s probably because my Japanese is bordering on atrocious. After learning to dance at the studio, the new princess can roam around the kingdom. Sometimes one of the princess will be at the spot you visit, and you’ll get to answer questions to improve your relationship. He may even ask for an inpromptu dance.

After a day or two, the blond prince showed up at my character’s cabin when I was heading back to end the day. He asked if I would be his dance partner. I figured, “Why not - all of the characters are equally ugly once they go into 3D mode for dancing?” and agreed. At this point the top screen changes to show the heroine and her dance partner, along with their compatibility. From then on, you’ll be dancing with him at the studio instead of Mr. Bunny (not his real name), you’ll have little events with him and you’ll be with him in competitions.

The guys in here also reaffirm the beliefs of any dating style sim - as long as you dance well and tell them what they want to hear, guys will fall in love with you.

You can dance, you can jive

I really enjoyed the dancing gameplay in this game. Its a combination of Elite Beat Agents/Ouendan and Imagine: Figure Skater. You pick an accessory first to decide your costume. Then you choose a classical music piece. In story mode, everything is choreographed for you. Whoever worked it out did a great job, because each move flows together and suits the music perfectly.

It also can be challenging - at least the first few times you perform a dance. If you don’t chain all of the dance steps together, you are penalized and your score is lowered. If you chain them, then you earn points towards your score. For extra points, you can hold the last position, then tap before the next action begins on the bottom screen.

However, the graphics are hideous. On the top screen, the heroine and her partner are rendered in 3D, dancing while you perform the correct sweeps on the bottom. They are frightening. I just had to look away. Maybe it was their awkward limbs, maybe the blocky heads or maybe the cold, soul-less eyes. I don’t know, but I couldn’t watch them.

Having the time of your life

So as long as you avoid watching the character’s 3D figures dance while you’re dragging and tapping on the touch screen, Ohimesama Debut is a delight. I bet a lot of girls of all ages will want a copy. I know I will - even though her outfits were atrocious. If the rumors are right and Natsume is localizing it, then remember to check it out when it’s at GameStop as Princess Debut.

COMING NEXT WEEK:Well, we’ve learned about Japanese pop star Hikaru Utada, so next week we’ll learn about Japanese rock star Gackt. If you don’t miss a single installment of Important Importables, or want to know right away when the next column is up, then sign up for the Gamertell Newsletter and RSS feed.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Last week Important Importables talked about Hikaru Utada.

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