Hang out in the mall and get to know the Diva Starz. Alexa, Nikki, Summer, and Tia are all ready to chat and play; each of the Divas wants to become your friend--as long as you pay attention and learn what they're really like. Diva Starz has a simple premise: the better you understand your Diva pal, the more fun the two of you can have together. Players can go with a Diva to the Music Spot, where they'll learn to combine instruments with other musical elements such as melody, beat, and sound effects to create different types of tunes. When you mix one that your Diva friend absolutely loves, she rewards you with tokens you can use in the arcade.
If music isn't your thing, you can pick an outfit that matches your chosen Diva pal's tastes in the Fashion Spot, or whip her up a trendy new hair-do in Style Spot. The key to each challenge is using the selected Diva's personality to guide the choices you make; not all of the girls like dance music, long dresses, or having their hair pinned up. Fortunately, players can ask them questions by using a miniature chat interface; the Diva's responses to various questions yield clues to help with the music mixer, fashion decisions, and hairstyle choices.
And though the game places an unfortunate emphasis on girls' appearance and dress, the chat sessions give the Divas a chance to reveal other, more substantial facts about their lives. Asked about career goals, Tia responds that she wants to be an Internet entrepreneur. The Divas also tell players, in brief but positive terms, about their mothers' jobs.
After earning a handful of tokens, it's off to the arcade, where players can try the games that await. With a range of activities intended to serve a variety of ages, Diva Starz's difficulty level is all over the map. Some of the challenges are fairly tough; in contrast, the arcade games are extremely simple--one of them is a version of tic-tac-toe.
Diva Starz has a pleasingly circular format. Winning the arcade games earns players even more information about the Divas, as well as more options for clothing, hairstyles, and music mixes. By making wise choices, you'll find out still more about your Diva friends. The distinct personalities of the four characters are emphasized, encouraging girls to consider the idea that different people have vastly different personalities. In Diva Starz, they also learn that listening and understanding these personalities can be enormously rewarding. (Ages 6 and up) --Alyx Dellamonica
