Nintendo New Style Boutique 2: Fashion Forward for the 3DS

New Style Boutique 2: Fashion Forward is the latest fantastic release for the Nintendo 3DS. We honestly can't rave about this one enough - I've enjoyed playing it nearly as much as our 10 year old girl!

  

 In her words, what happens in the game is as follows:
'Your character is given a mini key by Grandma, which unlocks a mini door. A tiny person called Sophie comes through and then makes you tiny so you can go back into her world with her. Once there, you are given an apartment, and you are then made manager of Sophie's shop.

You have to create fashion looks for customers, and if they agree to buy them you earn money for yourself. As you progress, more buildings are unlocked, such as a hair salon, beautician, and the Exhibition Hall where you can buy more stock for your shop. You can help in each of these other business to earn more money, or you can go there to buy yourself a new look. You can also do other activities, such as go to a cafe or a rock concert.  

With your money, you can buy miniature items to decorate and style rooms in a doll's house called Caprice's Chalet. You can also have your hair and make-up done!'

So that's it in a nutshell, but there's SO much more to it than that. The possibilities really do seem to be endless in this game. The core is as T said above; your character (which of course you get to name and dress yourself, as well as being able to choose eye style, skin tone etc) becomes Manager of a Fashion Boutique in a place called Beaumonde City. The city grows as you become more successful; you do that by speaking with clients and choosing outfits to sell to them relevant to their requirements. Of course you have to buy and manage your own stock and your shop interior and window displays; there are a dozen brands with 19,000 items and accessories to discover.

Your character can choose between five different careers at any time; Boutique Manager, Make-Up Artist, Hair Stylist, Designer or Model. As you walk around the City you can make contacts and improve your business as well as enjoying your own free time by having your own hair or make-up done. There are different options on everything from eyeshadow to lipstick, and as you improve through the game you are awarded new colours and choices.

  

Sorting the rooms in the Dolls House is a great creative outlet; with over 1,700 miniature items you won't get bored! You can pick colours and styles, and you can also choose exactly where to place everything including furniture. So it really is comprehensive home designing.

You can connect with friends via Local Play and visit their City or invite them to yours. You can take part in fashion contests on Miiverse, and scan Amiibo characters to receive extra rewards, 

We could fill pages and pages with these screenshots but of course we don't want to spoil it all for you... let's just say that it would definitely make a brilliant Christmas present, one which would be returned to over and over. It's available from Nintendo: New Style Boutique 2: Fashion Forward for £34.99 and right now there's a free £5 beauty voucher if you purchase there*. This game is definitely great value for money in our opinion. The visuals are of course 3D on the new 3DS but this game can also be played equally well in 2D on the 2DS.


*As at December 1st 2015. Please see Nintendo site for details.

Disclosure: We were sent the above product for the purpose of this review, but have not received payment. All the views expressed here are our own.