In this fun twist on a hidden object game, Anna wants to be a Hollywood designer to the stars. Along the way, she learns the tricks of the trade as a Fashion Apprentice to her auntie, a stylish, but busy and disorganized, boutique owner. Left on her own to hunt for fashion accessories, clothing design tools and supplies, and her cute little dog's toys, Anna earns Glamour Points to use for purchasing clothing for herself. She must dress to impress, both herself and the models, in order to succeed in the fashion world.
Shopping, Dress Up, and Fashion Design
Anna doesn't stay in the boutique for long. She takes assignments, travels to several of the world's fashion hot spots (New York, Chicago, Paris), stays in fancy hotel rooms, and goes shopping. She fills her wardrobe and earns points for putting together fashionable ensembles for herself, as well as for dressing models in themed costumes for magazine covers. Anna's hunt for objects is interrupted by a recurring arcade-style mini-game with increasing levels of difficulty.
Romance, World Travel, and Fashion Career Development
Each new experience helps Anna develop her fashion design skills and advance in her career. At photo shoots, Anna meets agents, photographers, and models, including a romantic interest or two. She receives gifts of flowers and expensive jewelry. She appears to be getting everything she ever wanted. However, the job is competitive and Anna must stay focused and stand up for herself in order to receive the recognition she deserves. She accomplishes her tasks, perhaps too quickly, as the game can be completed in a few hours.
Audience, Game Play, and Free Trial Downloads
Overall, Fashion Apprentice is an enjoyable, if too short, combination dress up and hidden object game with a story line. The atmosphere is stylish right down to the embellished mouse pointer and gloved hand cursor, with rooms done in glitzy bright colors and upbeat background music. Progress through the levels is recorded on a map that shows Anna's accomplishments and the places she has traveled.
The experience has appeal for fashion fans of all ages. A household with more than one potential player in line makes purchasing this short game worth the money.
Free trials of Fashion Apprentice, as well as many other fashion-themed games, including Zen Fashion, Satisfashion, Fashion Story, and Home Sweet Home, can be found at Big Fish Games.
Fashion Apprentice fans may also enjoy the free mini-game, Fashion Designer: New York, hosted at Girly Fashion Games, a blog that posts free dress up, makeover, and room decor games.
Sara McGrath - Sara is a veteran homeschool mom of three, Usborne consultant, and the author of Unschooling: A Lifestyle of Learning.
