One of very few true dating games to make it to North American consoles, the Nintendo DS launch title Sprung is an amorous, lighthearted social simulation that takes place in a ski resort. While Japan is known for producing a wide variety of games in the style, Sprung was developed internally by French publisher Ubisoft. Players take the role of a single man or a woman who is hoping to hook up with a member of the opposite gender. The basic game plays out like a text adventure, with images of different scenes and characters displayed along with brief descriptions of the current situation and multiple-choice player reactions. The game challenges its players' smooth-talking sensibilities in over 50 conversational missions, with titles such as "Secret Admirer," "The Sketchy Ex-Boyfriend," "Hot Chick Scavenger Hunt." ~ T.J.