I've been on a casual game kick lately in between time replaying Mass Effect, Saints Row 2 and Too Human. One of the games I decided to check out based on the cute description was Feel the Magic: XX/XY.  It's definitely quirky and gets points for that, but it was an exercise in frustration. Normally, I wouldn't review a game quite this old (it's from 2004), but I just felt the need to warn anyone who hadn't checked it out that this isn't fun for anyone just looking to kill some time with a cute game.

First, I was greatly disappointed to discover that the game was simply a bunch of mini games tied together loosely with a story of a guy trying to impress and win the affection of a girl.  I had expected something more along the lines of a simulation game with some mini games to break up the pace. Alas, the quirky graphics and story telling is overshadowed by a bunch of mini games, many which I found frustrating, both in understanding what I was supposed to do and actually doing it. 

In short: While cute and visually appealing, the mini games are frustrating, some to the point of wanting to chuck the DS. The story is cute, if generic – guy sees an attractive girl and does silly things to get her attention and eventually must rescue her from a rival who kidnaps her. The sound, the visual appeal and the silliness of some of the mini games keep this from getting rated worse.