Barbie Super Model

Game review

The website Best Old Games might suggest a focus on games that excel in gameplay, graphics, sound, and popularity. Yet, it's important to recognize that not all notable games achieved such perfection. An example of this is Barbie Super Model, a game from the early '90s that, despite its significant flaws, played a pivotal role in drawing girls towards computer gaming. One day, Barbie was sitting in an unnamed Hollywood restaurant with a glass of wine. It was nice outside, her pink convertible was waiting for her outside, and since she had a fashion show in the evening, she decided to go to the gym and practice some steps.

One of the first games with a well-known doll in the main role is a mixture of several game modes: the basic element is progressing through the levels with the help of a means of transport, which is different in each season - first it is city traffic, then summer running around the beach on roller skates, running after a snowy town and finally a bike ride in a New York park. Control of driving or running is limited to arrows: up and down arrows are used for vertical movement along the belt, left and right are used to brake or accelerate, depending on the direction of travel. At the end of each traffic passage, there is a gym scene in which Barbie must learn a simple sequence of steps (using the cursor arrows and the Alt, Ctrl and Shift keys). And then the same way back to the beginning of the round, where they have to demonstrate the learned composition at the parade.

Regrettably, Barbie Super Model fell short of its potential in almost every aspect, from gameplay and graphics to sound. Players take on the role of Barbie, with the ultimate aim of becoming a supermodel. This objective unfolds across four segments, corresponding to the seasons of the year. Each segment replicates the same gameplay dynamics with minor variations in graphics and the vehicles used.

The game begins with a move to training, requiring players to navigate from left to right, dodging obstacles and collecting bonuses along the way. Following this, players enter a practice room to learn four basic modeling moves. The journey back mirrors the initial route, this time moving from right to left, culminating in a catwalk performance showcasing the learned moves. Additionally, there are two bonus mini-games, though they hardly merit mention due to their lack of substance.

While Barbie Super Model deserves credit for making computer games more accessible to girls in the '90s, the execution was undeniably poor. The game seemed to leverage Barbie's brand for attention rather than delivering a quality gaming experience. It's a classic case of a game that, despite its significant outreach, was marred by a lack of depth and quality in its development.