spacemt354's Reviews
Before beginning I would like to add the disclaimer that I don't know Nintendo very well. We thought it would be a good dynamic (with
@MonorailRed being more familiar with Nintendo properties than I am) to have reviews from both a fan's perspective, and an average guest. To convince both that this lounge is a good fit and exciting new area in Universal Studios Japan.
Paper Lounge
From the jump this project you were on your game, and out of the seven Stanzas so far in the competition for Team Castle, this might be your proudest achievement in the game. Is it still what I think is your ceiling for potential? No (but that's a good thing!) Because from the teamwork, to the organization, to the preparation - this team truly impressed me with this project.
- From a presentation standpoint, the three headed punch of a custom introduction video (great job Tiki adding some humor and levity to the project!) to the custom BGM (great work Brer!) and the custom Weebly website (RM at his finest), this was such a team effort immediately with the first impressions.
- The location choice in CityWalk Osaka was bold - thinking outside the box I like it. While I'm not 100% sold on the portal entrance (I think that is a bit too much of an effort for just a restaurant) it was well explained to go from the 3D to 2D world and the visuals helped! How many Stanzas have I said to include custom visuals because they help make the project more original and explanatory
- That being said, despite the iffy portal, the music was a catchy choice!
- The backstory of the lounge is also commended. You were able to take a property I'm personally not familiar with, and describe it so it makes sense to an average joe Nintendo bro reading this.
- And the artwork for the interior, yes yes and yes! I'll say it again, how many times did I say there were artists on this team? You don't have to be Picasso to be praised, it's the effort that counts for me, and this got the point across to me in a way that I don't think you would have if you just used the reference photos you had in your thread. Also, the paper characters along with the actual guests helped explore that 2D/3D trippy dimensional analysis game being played throughout the interior.
- I like the layered approach, and the separate entrances.
- The restaurant stage lost me a bit, it could have been explained a bit more clear, because to me are these character actors on stage in 2D costumes? Or is it a screen?
Window effects, with another hand-drawn image! Again, it's not the Mona Lisa, but it shows effort to me, so great work IDI on that!
- Labo Pipe Organ was solid as well - a nice touch!
- And lastly the menu, really enjoy the extensive research done here knowing that really nobody on the team knew anything about Japanese cuisine and that was a concern early on in the brainstorming - you really made it as authentic as you could, and provided some great visuals because I as the reader sometimes don't even know a dish off the top of my head. The references to Mario are great too -- and wow, I just realized, which I will address in Brava's the names are great, so great minds must think alike because you both had Princess Peach Fizz
- I liked the mention of a Japanese menu, but I would have actually liked to see it -- show me don't tell me - I feel like I'm from Missouri!
- A small detail, but the 'make a reservation' with the link to the USJ website - nicely done there.
Addressing the teamwork to round out this review, everyone on the team had a hand in this project in some fashion - yet the leadership (Poe and Tiki as a tagteam on this, along with Brer as a Nintendo expert, and others as role players willing to help) the ability to trust one another without shutting ideas down really stood out. You learned from the past and applied it here, overall - fantastic job!
Luigi's Mansion Lounge
Unlike some other reviews, this might be the most mixed I have ever been about a Team Brava project, and the best way to explain it is first focusing on the positives of the project, then delving into some things I was disappointed by from this team, rather than reviewing in a linear fashion similar to other reviews.
Project Positives
- I thought it was a wise choice to pick a Nintendo property with a more mature theme to it. A haunted spook house would provide a great atmosphere, and separating the lounge from the family area was another good choice to make.
- The costumes and menu art work, just wow! A welcome back to Figment and another stellar contribution from D Hindley, who both continue to top themselves in the art department. These were definitely the highlights of the project for me. The attention to detail in not only the authenticity of the character costumes and designs, but also the specialization of the drinks themselves, including down to the glasses themed to Nintendo characters, were astounding design choices.
- Continuing with the menus, the yen inclusion for prices and the choices - were home runs for what I would call 'creative realism' - taking imagineering items and presenting them in a creative fashion, by making it look...real!
- The names and designs were Nintendo through and through - and as mentioned before, you both even had some of them like Princess Peach Fizz the same
- To add, the touch of an authentic Japanese menu was superb! Great creative thinking, and something that stood out to me more than just the mention that it is available in Japanese.
- The special add-ons when ordering drinks reminds me of Trader Sam's in a good way, a perfect blend of innovation to go along with the interactive lounge setting of Luigi's Mansion.
Project Negatives
- As sad as it is for me to say, I have to be honest...this was probably the worst teamwork of the first seven Stanzas for Brava. From the beginning you just didn't get off to the rapid fire brainstorming start that the team is known for. It stuttered out of the gate, and to me...that falls on leadership.
- Pi was gone for the first day of the project, and by Saturday, wasn't even aware that the project was extended an extra day.
If you're busy, it's totally fine, but you should have had the awareness to either a) relinquish the PM role for the benefit of the team, or b) find a way to make it work and cut short the wishy-washy decision making of the team who were trying not to step over anyone.
- Because being in and out activity wise...that caused others such as Figment to have to organize the project (the PM's responsibility), the menus to be designed before even the theme of the restaurant was voted upon (causing the menu to feel disjointed from a more dark, haunted Luigi's Mansion), and others on the team wanting to help, but instead sitting on their hands, waiting for assignments, and eventually just feeling disconnected from the project.
- Out of all the teams, Brava especially should know that if a Project Manager is busy, or inactive, that you're allowed in this game to internally switch. Stanza II, you switched from englanddg to Voxel, and you created one of the best projects of the season in my opinion. Where were the people from 'classic' Brava who could have stepped up early on, and offered this option, especially given the brevity of these challenges? This team knows better.
How to fix this?
1 - For starters, and shocking that I am saying this to one of the most talkative teams in history, you need better communication from leadership on down. For Stanza VIII till Stanza X, if the Project Manager is not available early on, have the PM step down or someone else step up, to not waste time. If/when the Project Manager returns, there can't be another full vote for 'okay let's decide on the theme' when components of the project are already in progress. Just go with what fits that progress (in this case the menu) the best and run with it.
2 - The 'trying new things' element of this team has been slacking as of late. This project felt very boiler plate, aside from the brilliant art work, unlike the Brava of old who would have found a more creative route to take with the project...and not settled for the standard.
3 - Help each other out! There were people on the team wanting to help, and others who knew Nintendo and claimed to know special things about Osaka -- but did nothing to help the progress of the team. Make them feel included rather than wondering if they can do something or not.
This was in many ways a harsh review yes, somewhat unlike me, but...I want to be honest and upfront because I
care and
know you can do better than this effort!
This is not a bad project - many things out of this were very positive, and some of the best artwork of the season! But the teamwork and overall perspective of this project, stood out to me as something that could (and should) improve going forward!
