Clique, The: Diss and Make Up

$20, Nintendo DS

Teaches: logic, reading, female stereotypes, spatial relations

CTR Rating: 80%

CTR Review

Based on the young adult book series by Lisi Harrison, you assume the role of the new girl at Octavian Country Day School (OCD). You start by naming and personalizing your character with clothes, hair and shoes, and then build your own school schedule; a unique feature that increases your feelings of control over the experience. As you move through the day, you talk to other girls via text boxes, to pick up some bits of gossip about other girls. Some will undoubtedly be offended by the mean spirited theme of this title, which most likely spills over from the book, which we did not read. For example, you learn that one girl steps in poop; another writes fake love notes to impress people. In addition, girls -- while diverse in terms of skin color -- all have similar body shapes (thin) and hair styles (straight). We'll leave the morals aspect out of the rating. In terms of design and content, there's plenty to do, and some of the games, such as the shape drawing game in the art room, are innovative but hard to figure out. We also liked the ability to use a map to find your way quickly through the maze-like school. Testers were bothered by the repetitive music, however; and there's an endless-feeling supply of text boxes to click through.Content includes nine mini-games, which must be unlocked, and three game save slots. Progress is saved automatically. A wireless multiplayer feature lets you unlock special gossip, providing the other player has a copy of the game.All in all, if you don't mind a bit of mean, this might be a borrow.