Hatsune Miku - The Planet of Wonder and Fragments of Wishes - Game Review
10Hatsune Miku - The Planet of Wonder and Fragments of Wishes - Game Review
Hello, gaming enthusiasts! Welcome back to the Veteran Game channel, your go-to source for all things gaming. Today, we're diving into the magical world of Hatsune Miku in her latest game, Hatsune Miku: The Planet of Wonder and Fragments of Wishes.
As you know, I'm a big fan of Hatsune Miku, and it's hard not to gush about her adorability, especially in this new venture. Crypton, the IP rights holder for Miku, has been working diligently to morph her image from being exclusively tied to rhythm games, and make her a more general celebrity mascot, much like Rilakkuma or Hello Kitty. Now while I miss the rhythm games, this brand development move has been intriguing, introducing us to a series of wholesome spin-off titles that transcend the typical shovelware we often see.
The Planet of Wonder and Fragments of Wishes is another stride in this direction. It's a minigame compilation, but trust me when I say it's far from the run-of-the-mill. It offers us a handful of engaging, well-crafted minigames, including some fan-favorite Miku mobile games, one of which is Hatsune Miku Amiguru Train. If you've ever played this game, you'll know how addictive navigating the Crypton characters down a pathway, collecting balls of yarn can be. And now we get to enjoy this delightful experience on Switch!
The other minigames in this compilation are your classic arcade score attacks: carrying boxes without tripping, stacking blocks without toppling the tower, collecting apples falling from trees, and repeating sequences of drum beats Flagman-style, among others. None of these games are revolutionary, but each is well-made, with smooth controls, delightful aesthetics - enhanced by Miku's presence, of course - and leaderboards to fuel your competitive streak.
Tying these games together is a simple yet entertaining narrative and an exploratory map. Miku and her crew are on a space journey when a shooting star collides with their ship, causing them to crash-land on a planet full of adorable animal-like beings. By aiding these beings through the mini-games, the group can fix their spaceship and make their way home. While it's a simple story, the vibrant graphics and story panels really sell it. This is a first for a Miku game, and it's quite a refreshing change.
Though I've voiced concerns in the past about defining personalities for Miku and the other vocaloids, in this case, it's less of an issue. The character sprites feel straight out of a SNES game, and the overall presentation is so adorable that it feels more like a heartwarming fan project rather than an attempt to pigeonhole Miku's personality.
While this narrative framing is commendable, I'm eager to see Crypton push the boundaries further. With all these assets in place, there's so much more that could be done to weave engaging stories around these characters. Imagine a SNES-era JRPG featuring Miku and her crew – I'd definitely sign up for that!
In conclusion, while Hatsune Miku: The Planet of Wonder and Fragments of Wishes might not be the ultimate Hatsune Miku spin-off, it is certainly a delight. Despite its limited library of mini-games, each game is well-executed and backed by the infectious charm that Miku games are known for. What excites me most, however, is the future of Miku games and the new narrative paths they could tread. More than anything, this is a Miku game, and it brings joy in its purest form. And isn't that what gaming's all about?
Stay tuned for more game reviews, and as always, keep gaming!