Imagine Figure Skater for Nintendo DS

In the world of video games, it seems that most games are focused on shooting bad guys with various weapons.  Not only are those games perhaps not what you want your child playing, but it misses an entire demographic of video game players.  That is where Ubisoft, a video game design company, has come in with their latest addition to the Imagine video game series of games.  Imagine:  Figure Skater has entered the marketplace and people are taking notice.  

Imagine:  Figure Skater is part of the Imagine video games that are actually the first series of games that was made with its target market being girls from six to fourteen years of age.  Imagine: Figure Skater is actually the fifth game from this series.  The game itself is designed to let the girls playing it slide into the magical world of figure skating.  When they begin to play, they can wind their way through the jumps, costumes, music, spins, and excitement of a figure skating competition.

With your figure skater, you will “learn” how to perform different figure skating moves and even full performance routines.  Your figure skater will be able to impress the crowd by performing spins and jumps, and even jumping combinations like a triple lutz into a double axel.  As your character grows and progresses, your coach will be able to teach you new and more complicated moves.  Once your character has learned a lot of the moves, you can actually choose your own music for their routines.  You can also choose your own costume for each routine.   

Your figure skater is highly customizable.  To create your character you choose from three various figure skater characters.  Each of these character has very different personalities.  From there you can adjust their hairstyle and color.  You will then be able to choose the perfect outfit and accessories that will complete your skaters look.  

Once your figure skater has been designed to your liking, you can begin working your way through the story line where you will make friends and rivals at the rink.  And do not think that all that your figure skater has to worry about is the skating rink.  Your figure skater has to also go to school when they are not on the ice.  You will also have to go through practices with your coach so that you can get your competition performance routine perfected.  When you are working with your trainer, you will also be able to set goals for your figure skater so that you are ready for your big performance.

Ubisoft has taken great care to translate the moves that your figure skater needs to perform into actions that you can perform on the DS touch screen.  Basically, to get your character to spin and jump, you will need to use your stylus to complete quick interactions on the touch screen.  For example, to get your character to spin all you need to do is scribble with your stylus pen in a small box that is provided.  As you scribble back and forth, your figure skater will spin with ease.  The more complicated the skating move that you are taking on is directly proportionate to how complicated your stylus sequencing is.  

Imagine:  Figure Skater also keeps track of your figure skaters abilities from the moment that you start the game.  Because of this, you will be able to know what types of moves your figure skater is able to handle.  Obviously, within the first few minutes on the game your figure skater is probably not equipped to take on a Triple Toe Loop and Triple Axel combination.  Without the skills and the stamina, your skater will end up crashing on the ice.  

Imagine:  Figure Skater also has some great mini games that give you a break from the hard work of figure skating.  In fact, you can even play curling!  The curling game is definitely one of the best of the mini games available, and you will be able to access it right at the beginning of the game.

Ubisoft has definitely changed the face of video games with their creation of the Imagine video games, and Imagine: Figure Skater does not disappoint.  By playing the game, you will be able to get that first person excitement that you watch with envy every eight years at the winter Olympics.