Lovely Lisa and Friends is played with the Nintendo DS, and features an option to use the Nintendo DSi camera if you have one.  Players will navigate by touching points on a map of Lovely Lisa’s town to help Lisa perform chores, or work her part-time job, or practice for the big “Idol” competition, which is essentially a fashion show.

The mini-game selection is extensive, and features activities that range from helping Dad build furniture, to helping mom clean the house or put the babies to bed.  You can also participate in mini-games to help Lisa at work, whether it’s scooping ice cream cones or playing “policeman” and helping lost kids find their correct homes by matching their descriptions with the proper houses.

We enjoyed nearly every one of Lisa’s mini-games, and really enjoyed the positive, non-violent values that were being conveyed.  It may seem crazy, but our only real complaint, and it may seem strange, is that this game is SO girl-centric, that most boys in the age-range that would enjoy a game like this would be too embarrassed to play something so geared for girls.

Although a single-player game, Lovely Lisa and Friends was designed with families in mind.  There’s a “for grownups” selection on the main menu which allows parents to tweak the game’s settings to their kids’ skill level.  It’s also possible to enjoy playing this one together by taking turns during some of the more enjoyable mini-games.

In a world of games created mainly for young boys, Lovely Lisa and Friends is a delightful game for girls that provides fun mini-games that encourage positive behavior.  There is some emphasis put on gender stereotypes such as heavy make-up and the glorification of shopping, but for the most part Lovely Lisa provides a very positive DS experience that we recommend for the girl gamers in your family.

INFORMATION FROM COMPANY'S FACT SHEET
Lovely Lisa and Friends invites girls to learn to be their best, while working hard and having fun in an engaging fashion doll simulation game. Players can explore personal creativity and style by utilizing the Nintendo DSi camera functionality to take photos of real world images and apply them to a variety of outfits to dress Lisa.

Key Features
• Girl Time is Fun! - Lovely Lisa and Friends allows girls the opportunity to express their girly side with wholesome messaging and age-appropriate gameplay
• Play Dress-Up and Explore Fashion Ideas - Players can test out their fashion ideas with features that allow them to add make-up, polish their nails, add
glittering accessories, and even design their own outfits with Lisa and her friends
• Tap into Hidden Talents and Hobbies with Mini-Games – Budding stars can show off dance moves in the idol game and learn to play the piano
• Build Valuable Skills – Girls are tested with the responsibility of managing a career and developing skills for success with mini-games
• Design and Customize – With plenty of creative and customization options, the possibilities are endless. By using the Nintendo DSi camera functionality to
customize a variety of outfits that reflect personal style and taste, gamers build a sense of individuality while boosting creativity