Sega's Feel the Magic: XY/XX is a very unique experience on an equally unique handheld. The game is played out entirely using the touch screen and microphone. Some of the sights, sounds, and experiences are amongst the weirdest we have ever seen in a videogame outside of Japan. Feel the Magic: XY/XX feels like a more grown up Wario Ware, but it definitely does well to separate itself.

Facts and Features:

• All the action is controlled by your touch, sounds, or breath
  
• Unlockable costumes for the characters and new game modes
  
• Wacky storyline where you attempt to win the girl of your dreams
  
• Supports GBA game port
  
• Available now

Presentation
Feel the Magic: XY/XX is presented through wacky cutscenes and tells a fun story. You are a love sick average joe that will do anything to win over the love of your dream girl. In order to gain her attention, you join up with a performance group named The Rub Rabbits. If you perform well, you'll earn her affection and the story advances. If you fail in your performances, you'll be left to try it again before moving on. The way the game eases from cutscene to mini-game is very smooth and well done. The game does a great job of explaining your objectives before throwing you into a mini-game, so you usually know how to navigate the madness right off the bat. The menus in the game are easy to get through and the buttons are large enough that you don't need the stylus if you prefer to just use your finger, I hope developers realize that big buttons need to be a standard for DS game menus, because reaching for the stylus repeatedly can be irritating.

Gameplay
Feel the Magic: XY/XX sports some very addictive and unique gameplay. Much like Wario Ware, you'll be playing mini-games that can be as short as a couple seconds long that require twitch reactions. Where Feel the Magic: XY/XX is different is that there are boss battles and lengthy mini-games at times. Everything is controlled by either you touching, rubbing, blowing, or shouting, so you might want to save this game for when you aren't on an airplane or in the middle of a class lecture. Here is a little sampling of the craziness that you'll confront in Feel the Magic: XY/XX:

Candle: Candle has you blowing on your DS to get the characters to blow out candles that are advancing on you. If you fail, the candles will burn you and your buddies.

Bus Stop: This game has you rolling into a ball to bowl over your friends that are waiting at a bus stop.

Hands: In this game you will need to use the touch pad to hold the girl of your dreams' hand and also to swat at any bees that approach.

Each mini-game usually requires you to pass it several times with each attempt getting harder in difficulty or throwing in a new twist or two. Once a game is passed, it goes into your memory where you can play it apart from the story mode. Most of the games are really fun, but there are a small handful that will frustrate you. Luckily, there are ways to beat the game without having to pass every single mini-game.

The gameplay is very simple yet very addictive at the same time. The length of the game is the shortest of the launch titles and it really leaves you hungry for more. Once you finish the game, you can work on collecting all the costume changes, and there are a lot to collect. Another way to get bonus cosutmes is to insert another Sonic Team GBA game into the GBA slot before turning on the system. By doing this with Puyo Pop I was able to earn a hat for my dream girl.