Diva Starz CD-ROM

• Release Date: 2001
• Genre: Action
• Style: Multi-Genre Action
• Similar Games: Barbie Super Model (IBM PC Compatible), Bratz (IBM PC Compatible), Bratz: Rock Angelz (IBM PC Compatible)

Game Description

The Diva Starz hit the mall for fun and adventure in this interactive CD-ROM for the PC. Released at the same time as Mattel's talking dolls of the teen fashion-plate characters, the game allows players to hang out with Alexa, Nikki, Summer, and Tia at some of their favorite places. Mix up a hot music selection for the girls or join them at the arcade for a game or two. Pink? Plaid? Preppy? Punk? Dress them up and change their hair, each girl in the style that suits her best. When players learn enough about each Diva to know about her favorite things, she'll share special secrets and unlock new surprises.

Review: Overall

Diva Starz CD-ROM puts the Mattel dolls with the disproportionately huge heads and anime-inspired eyes in a colorful mall environment, letting you dress them in new outfits and change their hairstyles. It seems like a fun activity, but ultimately the game has no purpose, even for players who might own the actual dolls.

The four divas were given obvious personalities (e.g., blonde Alexa likes to shop; Summer cares about the environment) but don't stand out as individuals -- even their voices are interchangeable. If they felt more like well-formed characters, perhaps the title might have succeeded a bit more in its intended design.

Mini-games in Diva Starz CD-ROM are either too easy or frustrating, but never fun. Diva Challenges require you to perform specific tasks, whether it's creating a "techno" song for Tia in the Music Spot or giving Nikki a hairstyle good for biking in the Style Spot. Unfortunately, solutions to some tasks are far too obvious and can be achieved on the first try, while the purpose of others is unfathomable. You can ask the other divas for clues by clicking on their image, but the advice is usually some variation of "Keep trying."

Upon completion of a challenge, tokens are awarded for use in three totally unimpressive arcade games. They're nothing more than variations on basic games (one is simply tic-tac-toe), simplistic, and easy to finish. At the arcade, you earn points that can be spent on new items at the various mall spots, but these "prizes" are hardly rewards, since you're led right back to where you began in the first place.

Quality in Diva Starz CD-ROM is lacking. Clothes in the Fashion Spot are mostly the same item displayed in different colors, and the snippets of music to be combined in the Music Spot are too similar to make a difference. Despite the forgiving nature of young girls who might be more amenable to the simplistic gameplay than older, more discerning girls, it's difficult to imagine anyone enjoying the blatantly bubbly language that includes words like "Cool-errific!" The game sadly underestimates the intelligence of its audience constantly and is actually condescending at times. Kids are smarter than the game gives them credit for.

It's doubtful any gamer will find Diva Starz "cool-errific," or even basic fun. Fans of the dolls will be disappointed and will get more enjoyment of playing with the actual dolls than the CD.

Review: Enjoyment

When the game isn't too easy, the lack of guidance is frustrating. The mini-games are pointless and boring.

Review: Graphics

Characters and backgrounds are drawn well, but the rest of the game has a limited color palette and roughly drawn images.

Review: Sound

Voices are perky but interchangeable; music and sound effects are repetitive and annoying.

Review: Replay Value

With not much to do and no real point in playing, there's no reason to play more than once.

Review: Documentation

The manual explains how to play the game but not its purpose.

Production Credits