Awkward controls and a requirement of patience are the only things holding Birthdays the Beginning back from excellence as a scientific twist on a world simulation. Managing to perfectly balance education and enjoyability, you’ll continually be delighted by the different paths life can take and the ways you can shape it as you alter your Cube. Three different game modes and a vast library of creatures to discover offer playtime beyond the basic goals of the Campaign, and ensure the birthday surprises continue for hours on end.

Quotation forthcoming.

Birthdays is particularly disappointing in that I really enjoyed the concepts and ideas it brought into the game, but the poor execution does it an injustice. It feels over within an hour of play, but with the various modes and challenges it drags on and on. Birthdays the Beginning is an idea I don’t want Wada to give up on, but until the formula has time to be polished and expanded upon, I would rather sit out on any further celebrations.

It comes so close to being something I love and then it has a hollow core. The best way I can think to explain it is how at some point as you grow up your toys stop being these magical things with their own lives and start being toys. From watching the trailers and following the development I was hoping for a window into a little lively toy universe but I’ve opened up the packaging and I can’t seem to find the spark.