Imagine: Babysitters

What’s the Story?

Ubisoft's IMAGINE: BABYSITTER is a game from Ubisoft's Imagine series, a collection of Nintendo DS games aimed at letting young girls explore different professions. In this particular title, players assume the role of a college student who decides to make some extra cash by babysitting.

The format is similar to other caregiving games like Nintendogs. From an overhead map, players travel to different houses in the neighborhood to look after a variety of babies. During the babysitting sessions, players will have to entertain the baby with rattles and other toys to keep him or her happy, and respond to visual cues indicating when the baby needs to be fed, soothed, or have a diaper changed. As the game progresses, players will earn new outfits to dress the babies in, and can shop for new furniture, clothes, and hairstyles for themselves as well. As players build stronger relationships with each baby, the baby will respond by initiating play (which takes the form of mini-games such as memory matching and Simon Says) and trips to the park.

Is It Any Good?

While it's cute to watch the babies toddling around, the game's production values are average at best. Some of the babies' poses look strange, and sound cues are dismal – especially ones that involve voices. Also, parents have a habit of coming home right when you're in the middle of a task, like changing a diaper, causing you to fail. Still, as a career sampler, the game succeeds in pulling no punches. Babies aren't treated like cute dolls, but like actual babies with all the crying, neediness, and responsibility that comes along with them.