System: PSP
Dev: Backbone
Pub: Konami
Release: May 22, 2007
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: Teen
Review by Maria Montoro

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Review Rating Legend
1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor
2.5 - 2.9 = Average
3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
3.5 - 3.9 = Good
4.0 - 4.4 = Great
4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
5.0 = The Best

I found this game focuses on cliché roles and superficial aspects of life a bit too much. And it doesn't give you much freedom to truly do what you want to do; it makes you repeat the same pattern until you get a date for the Prom and finish school. Grades also vary randomly; you can't shine at one subject without being merely mediocre or plain bad at the others. In my opinion, The Sims offer a much more open-ended experience that also feels more rewarding and entertaining. I wish they had planned out this game a little differently; of course then it would just be plain Sims because the gameplay is the only thing that sets it apart, really.

At least the controls and graphics are good. It's easy to move the character around with the control stick, and then push the X button when you're close to a character to talk, or the square button to ask your friend out on a date. The characters are cute and three-dimensional, with several clothing choices and styles that represent the different teenager tendencies: Goths, nerds, jocks, spoiled brats… anything you can think of, as long as it's a stereotype! The environments are original and well designed; I can tell Brooktown High is a good school. The characters actually have different face expressions and postures while they talk, which makes the game more lively and believable. Too bad they repeat themselves so much! There was one visual glitch in this game that should have been corrected: for some strange reason, my character woke up in the air every Saturday morning, away from the bed. Not on Mondays, but just on Saturdays. I don't know if she was taking a new yoga class and meditating mid-air, but it's most likely just a game flaw that they missed before launch, nothing too bothersome, though.

I was surprised to see that the characters in this game actually talk. You'll see subtitles anyway because they don't talk the whole conversation aloud, but they do say a sentence or two every time, which is nice because the voiceover is funny and well done, although it doesn't quite synch up with the lips. The music is modern; the game presents several different music tracks that you can select at anytime, as long as you have access to the computer in the dorm room. The only problem is that some songs are a bit too similar, and they get a little repetitive after a while. More variety would have been better, but it's not that bad.

Would I buy this game for myself and continue playing it? No. You couldn't catch me dead. It's not that it's a terrible game, it's just not addictive, interesting, or rewarding. There are so many good games out there that I'd just rather play something else that has some more insight. My high school life was interesting enough for me that I don't need to revive it with a game that offers as little as Brooktown High does. If you think you might be interested in the game though, you could try and rent it, or buy it and sell it when you're bored! But don't say I didn't warn you! The game has little to do with your romantic skills, so don't get your hopes up!

By Maria Montoro
CCC Co-Site Director

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