The world of fashion is not one that often intersects with video games outside of often limited customization or instances where titles focused on general day-to-day life and clothing happens to be apart of that. Fashion Dreamer is one of those rare exceptions where the entire aim, goal and core idea is fashion. When this title was revealed for Switch there were immediate comparisons to Nintendo’s own Style Savvy series which over the years had gained its own cult following and popularity. While Style Savvy hasn’t returned in some time, it seems like Fashion Dreamer is looking to fill those shoes with its own approach and we’ll be taking a look today to see just how well it stands on its own.
There’s no real story of note in Fashion Dreamer, as it simply revolves around an online digital platform known as Eve where people involved with fashion can connect and get involved with one another. It’s where fashion thrives and even those who know little about fashion can join in on trends and maybe learn a bit more about the things they enjoy. The characters walking around Eve are known as Muses, and players start out by creating their very own Muse who could be one of many they create to experience this digital world. Each Muse can also select a variety of favorite colors, clothing they really want, and more that expresses their personality. After going through a tutorial explaining each basic functionality, Muses are left to explore at their leisure and begin their life trying to become popular making their brand and aiming to be a top innovator of fashion on Eve.
The very first step in Eve is the most simple: gathering a variety of clothes. Since this world is merely digital, this is easy right off the bat, as going up to any NPC or other player avatar allows individuals to select and choose the clothes they like from the outfit. Doing this adds that clothing to available outfit options, and this is extremely important both for ones own fashion and helping out others as well. It’s all good and well to pick stuff only that an individual likes, but what about the others asking for help dressing up? NPCs or other player avatars when spoken to will let players dress them up how they see fit, with one or multiple wishlist desires they’d like for their outfit. This isn’t required by any means, but fulfilling NPC wishes earns a better score and boosts their affinity towards the player which can eventually level them up and earn special rewards. Sometimes they’re hoping for a certain color intertwined, or perhaps trying to look cute or cool. There’s a good amount of variety to choose between and fortunately there’s really no wrong answers, but basing options on the current trends of the day will help when the outfit is shared to the player’s in-game social media. Gaining followers and notoriety through this is what allows players to progress, so it’s important to keep being fashion forward in mind in order to unlock even more options for clothing.
Outside of simply copying the clothes seen on others, players are also able to color and craft their own outfits if they so desire. This can be done through two different methods. The first is through earning gacha tickets and using them to unlock random outfit pieces, and the other is using the in-game currency to purchase outfits permanently that can be edited and recolored to add to a collection at any time. The selection of clothing is small at first, but over time as each Muse increases their popularity, more will be available at a slowly-increasing price. This is the best place to create the perfect outfit with nearly unlimited color options available in addition to unlocked color palettes earned through helping dress others. For the most part every individual color on an outfit can be adjusted and changed with the exception being some of the outfits with more advanced patterns or graphic tees which either can only be slightly altered or not changed at all. For those who want themselves to be known, there’s also the ability to create a unique brand marker which will be put on any created outfit so those who pick it up know who was responsible for it. There’s quite the variety both in creating outfits and a brand icon to stand out.
Although the focus here is on outfits, there’s one other aspect players can partake in to spice things up in design. Each Muse has their own Showroom where they can improve their own space and add a nice flair to match their design approach. Much like the clothing, unlocking furniture and additional options will require the Muse’s skill as a fashion artist who can show they’re worthy to have even more options at their disposal. Other players can visit the showroom and give it a look around, and vice versa for those who might want to get insight on how to make their showroom pop. There are pretty strict limitations on the showroom itself, but there’s enough variety to make something that works without losing a ton of opportunity. It’d be nice if the showroom were a teensy bit larger to put things in, but all things considered, it does feel like a side mode to the main fashion show that it has to offer.
The online feature of Fashion Dreamer is entirely optional, but in a lot of ways required in order to make fast-paced progress. Going online lets players see and like outfits in order to obtain them, and each time someone gets likes on their outfit, they also earn currency. It adds up quickly too, with some likes garnering 20k or more, which can in turn be used to create even more outfits. It’s a collaborative way to involve players without directly interacting with one another. Players can also check and see who is currently in the same world area with them and while no direct conversation can be had, players can request outfits from others in order to get a new look, and of course as mentioned prior visit each others showrooms if they’re open. Checking the online trends is also massive help for inspiration and gaining new clothing items in addition to seeing who has top ranking outfits at the moment. It’s almost entrancing sometimes to see what color combos people have gone with and created, giving way to further increase a Muse’s own closet along the way.
The character models in Fashion Dreamer are simple with a wonderful charm to them. There’s a decent amount of customization for the characters themselves that allows players to choose height and minor body build preferences. The downside here is each body build does unfortunately limit the type of clothes they can wear. It’s disappointing as some clothing is listed as either A or B type, meaning they’re exclusive for one or the other. It’s a shame when something as simple as shirts, shoes and even jackets are limited to specific body types because there are fun unique styles to be had that just can’t be mixed as Fashion Dreamer currently is now. It’s unlikely to change, but it would be a nice inclusion down the line. The visuals themselves are simplistic, but manage to pop with color and little details. The music is relaxed, which is what’s needed here in a title that’s often about staring at the same screen for a long time picking out clothes or creating new ones. The music never gets annoying, and some is even delightfully catchy. It would be nice if the player movement speed could be faster, but fast travel helps mitigate a lot of the issue. There are occasional framerate drops, but it never remains consistent. The item page with outfits can also begin to take a while to load once a lot of clothing has been acquired, but it’s nothing unbearable given it’s easy to sort individual categories.
Closing Comments:
Fashion Dreamer is not necessarily a title that someone is going to sit down and play for hours on end, but it’s impressive how addictive the simple gameplay loop quickly becomes. The excitement of getting new clothes, creating new styles, trying on outfits others are wearing and so many other little things is fantastic. Even for someone who only has a mild, passing interest in fashion, there’s fun to be had here. The ability to simply have fun in a digital world where it doesn’t cost real money to buy and wear fantastic outfits is well worth picking up this title in and of itself, and it’s simply a wonderfully-welcoming title for anyone who loves the creative side of clothing. Fashion Dreamer is a fantastically-designed title that’s perfect for those who are fashion-forward or anyone who even remotely is interested in the idea of playing in the creative digital dress-up world of Eve.
Fashion Dreamer
Announced for the Nintendo Switch and set for a 2023 release, Marvelous' Fashion Dreamer is a simulation game about a fashion influencer.
