Care for Natsumi from age 11, help her build a balanced life, train her talents and guide her through the competition ladder to become a national idol.
- Presentation
- Quick start guide for new players
- Core mechanics
- Menus
Idol Natsumi is a Tamagotchi like game, with a short game loop, simple mechanics, that can be played on-the-go. The player has to be able to progress in the game even by just playing it for 5 minutes.
In Idol Natsumi, the player takes care of and raises a Japanese girl named Natsumi Hasegawa from age 11 to age 21. Her goal in life is to become a popular singer in Japan.
- Insert the game SD card and start Idol Natsumi. Choose 0 NEW GAME the first time. Choose 1 CONTINUE in later sessions; your save file is stored on the SD card.
- Read the short introduction. You are Natsumi Hasegawa's manager. Your job is to care for her daily needs, develop her abilities and prepare her for competitions.
- From the Home screen, press TAB to open or close the main menu. Use UP/DOWN and ENTER, or press a number from 0 to 9 to go directly to a feature. ESCAPE returns to the Home screen.
- Press 0 to check Natsumi's stats. If Hunger is low, choose Food. If Hygiene is low, choose Health, then Wash. If Energy is low, choose Rest, then Sleep.
- Complete one training activity. Sing or Dance raises Performance; Swim, Gym or Run raises Fitness; Library raises Culture.
- Visit the Garden early. Select a plot with the direction keys, press ENTER, then plant and water it. Return later to pick the flowers and sell them through Training > Market to earn money.
- Press SPACE from the Home screen to view Challenges. These objectives introduce gardening and perfect training, while giving you a clear next goal.
- Open the Stats screen and press S before switching off the device.
| INPUT | NORMAL USE | SPECIAL USES |
|---|---|---|
| TAB | Open or close a menu | Home and submenu navigation |
| 0–9 | Select a numbered menu item directly | Fastest way to navigate |
| Arrows / WASD | Move through menus or playfields | Garden, dance, swimming and lane games |
| ENTER | Confirm or interact | Garden actions, timing games and dialogs |
| ESCAPE | Go back or return home | Leave many screens and activities |
| SPACE | Open Challenges from Home | Also used in some mini-games |
| S | Save from the Stats screen | Use before switching off |
For a simple first session:
- Start a New Game and read the introduction.
- Press 0 to inspect Natsumi's Stats.
- Press 7, then plant and water two garden plots.
- Return Home and choose Training > Sing.
- Press SPACE from Home to inspect your Challenge progress.
- Return to Stats and press S to save.
This short route introduces care, interaction, character growth and longer-term objectives without requiring you to understand every menu immediately.
Your long-term objective is to guide Natsumi through the Local, Departmental, Regional and National competitions.
To unlock a competition, bring Hunger, Hygiene, Energy, Performance, Fitness, Culture and Grace to their maximum value of 4, then complete three perfect training sessions. Use Challenges as your short-term guide while you prepare.
- TAB opens or closes the main menu
- ESCAPE goes back to Home screen
- ENTER validates selected option
- UP/DOWN Navigate menus
Idol Natsumi is meant to be easy to navigate using a few keys; most of the time you have two options: the slow way, using TAB to open a menu, then UP/DOWN to pick the option you want and finally press ENTER to confirm, or the fast way, simply press one of the number keys to quickly access the feature you're after.
The fast keys are as follows:
| KEY | FUNCTION |
|---|---|
| 0 | Open Status board |
| 1 | Open Inventory |
| 2 | Open Food menu |
| 3 | Open Training menu |
| 4 | Open Competition menu |
| 5 | Open Health menu |
| 6 | Open Rest menu |
| 7 | Go to the garden |
| 8 | Open Events menu |
| 9 | Looks at your cards collection |
If you end up somewhere you don't want to be, simply press the ESC key to go back to the Home screen.
Press 0 from the Home screen to access it.
It shows Natsumi's statistics as well as her age. It refreshes whenever a stat is updated, so you can leave it open if you feel like idling for a bit while keeping an eye on your little protégé.
Pressing S on that screen saves the game.
Press 1 from the Home screen to access it.
It shows how many flowers, tickets and food items Natsumi currently have. The amount of money in her purse is also displayed. Press LEFT/RIGHT to go from one page to another.
Press 9 from the Home screen to access it.
Matsuri tickets grant you access to the local Matsuri festival where you can play the Garapon lottery game and win beautiful illustrated cards. The Cards collection viewer allows you to browse your collection: Press LEFT/RIGHT to go from one card to another, press SPACE to hide or show the legend.
- Age progression is automatic,
- Natsumi ages one year every 24 hours,
- Here is how progression goes for Competition:
| LEVEL (natsumi.competition) | STATUS |
|---|---|
| 0 | Not started, all Competitions are locked |
| 1 | 1x perfect Training achieved (any category) |
| 2 | 2x perfect Training |
| 3 | 3x perfect Training -> Local competition unlocked |
| 4 | Local competition completed (local champion) |
| 5 | 1x perfect Training |
| 6 | 2x perfect Training |
| 7 | 3x perfect Training -> Departmental competition unlocked |
| 8 | Departmental competition completed (departmental champion) |
| 9 | 1x perfect Training |
| 10 | 2x perfect Training |
| 11 | 3x perfect Training -> Regional competition unlocked |
| 12 | Regional competition completed (regional champion) |
| 13 | 1x perfect Training |
| 14 | 2x perfect Training |
| 15 | 3x perfect Training -> National competition unlocked |
| 16 | National competition completed (national champion) |
- Natsumi must be in very good shape before entering any competition,
- That's why Hunger, Hygiene, Energy, Performance, Fitness, Culture and Grace must be at 4 (their maximum),
- Should any stat drop below 4 at any time, competition will be locked.
Stat caps: 0 is the lowest while 4 is the highest.
- Hunger (integer; 0 to 4; indicates how hungry Natsumi is)
- Hygiene (integer; 0 to 4; indicates how clean Natsumi is)
- Energy (integer; 0 to 4; indicates how energized Natsumi is)
- Spirit (integer; 0 to 4; indicates the general mood of Natsumi)
- Popularity (integer; 0 to 4; indicates how popular Natsumi is)
- Performance (integer; 0 to 4; shows how good of an entertainer Natsumi is)
- Fitness (integer; 0 to 4; indicates how healthy Natsumi is)
- Culture (integer; 0 to 4; indicates how knowledgeable Natsumi is)
- Grace (integer; 0 to 4; shows how well-mannered and likeable Natsumi is)
| STAT | TYPE | RANGE | HOW TO INCREASE IT | DOWN (causes that lower it) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | Passive | 0–∞ | Increases automatically every agingInterval ms |
— |
| Hunger | Passive | 0–4 | COOKING: +1 per selected ingredient, capped at 4. RESTAURANT / ORDER / MATSURI food: set Hunger directly to 4. Some visitor events can also set it to 4. | Decreases by 1 every hungerInterval ms |
| Hygiene | Passive | 0–4 | WASH: a successful shower sets Hygiene to 4. ONSEN: sets Hygiene to 4. | Decreases by 1 every hygieneInterval ms |
| Energy | Passive | 0–4 | SLEEP / ONSEN: can add +1 on five-second pulses until Energy reaches 4. The increase is probabilistic and depends on Natsumi's other condition stats. | Decreases by 1 every energyInterval ms |
| Spirit | Derived / Active | 0–4 | MEDITATE: +1, capped at 4. Completing a CHALLENGE sets Spirit to 4, and a visitor event can also set it to 4. updateSpirit() recalculates Spirit from Hygiene + Energy + Hunger + Performance + Popularity when Natsumi ages. |
Can be reduced when updateSpirit() recalculates it from lower contributing stats |
| Popularity | Active | 0–4 | Completing a COMPETITION perfectly (no missed notes) sets Popularity directly to 4. | — |
| Performance | Active | 0–4 | Completing SING or DANCE training adds +1, capped at 4. | — |
| Fitness | Active | 0–4 | Completing SWIM, GYM or RUN adds +1, capped at 4. Note: in the current implementation, RUN also awards +1 when the run ends in failure. | — |
| Culture | Active | 0–4 | Completing LIBRARY adds +1, capped at 4. | — |
| Grace | Active | 0–4 | Selling flowers, eating at the RESTAURANT or receiving an ORDER adds +1, capped at 4. | — |
| FOOD | ICON |
|---|---|
| Red apple |  |
| Green apple |  |
| Avocado |  |
| Bread |  |
| Banana |  |
| Broccoli |  |
| Sweets |  |
| Carrot |  |
| Meat |  |
| Coconut |  |
| Coconut juice |  |
| Coffee |  |
| Biscuits |  |
| Corn |  |
| Croissant |  |
| Fried egg |  |
| Grapes |  |
| Kiwi |  |
| Milk |  |
| Orange |  |
| Peach |  |
| Pear |  |
| Strawberries |  |
| Maki |  |
| Sushi |  |
| Watermelon |  |
| FOOD | PRICE |
|---|---|
| Tofu vegetable Teishoku | $700 |
| Grilled salmon Teishoku | $800 |
| Fried chicken Teishoku | $900 |
Natsumi can use the Orderibi mobile app to get food delivered at home
| FOOD | PRICE |
|---|---|
| Cheap bento | $600 |
| Healthy salad | $750 |
| Deluxe Teishoku | $1200 |
Natsumi can walk to her local combini to stock her fridge with vegetables, fruits and drinks.
Face off against neighborhood talents at the Shiodome Ward Community Hall, singing in front of roughly 30 people and a jury featuring… the owner of the town’s best karaoke bar! Everybody starts somewhere.
Level up and head to the Hanamori City Hall Auditorium, where you finally step onto a real stage with semi-professional lighting. This time, the jury includes a few retired ex-Idols with sharp ears and even sharper eyebrows.
Now it’s getting serious. Enter Osaka Minami Art Center - Stage B and perform like a seasoned pro. The audience is bigger, the lights brighter, and every note counts.
Step into the Tokyo Grand Dome Hall, compete against Japan’s top young singers and, if you’re good enough sing alongside Minami Toshida herself.
In this mini game, improve your Performance level by catching music coins falling from the sky before they hit the ground. Use the LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to move horizontally and make sure you drop as few music coins as possible.
Help Natsumi get ready to become a good dancer with this mini game in which you must press the LEFT, RIGHT, UP or DOWN arrow keys according to what's displayed on the screen. Get it right 30 times to increase your Performance level.
Go to the local swimming pool and avoid 30 sharks to increase your Fitness. Yes, sharks.
Hit the gym to increase your Fitness. This mini game will test your skills and reflexes, so warm up and go for it! Completing the training increases Fitness by 1, up to the maximum of 4.
Go for a run in the forest and increase your Fitness by 1, up to the maximum of 4.
Current implementation note: RUN awards the Fitness point when the run ends, including when
runGameFailedis true.
Natsumi can grow flowers and sell it to the local market.
Opens the Status board
Opens the Inventory
Gives access to the food menu.
Cook at home with ingredients stocked in the fridge. Use this option when Natsumi is hungry and you want to prepare a meal from the food bought at ConbiMart or won during events.
How to cook:
- Open FOOD → COOKING.
- Move the cursor with the arrow keys, or with W/A/S/D.
- Press ENTER to add or remove the highlighted fridge item from the current recipe.
- Pick 1 to 4 ingredients. Selected ingredients are marked on the cooking grid.
- Green-highlighted ingredients can combine with the current selection.
- Press SPACE to cook/eat the selected recipe. Cooking consumes one of each selected ingredient and raises Hunger by 1 per selected ingredient, up to the maximum of 4.
- If the selected ingredients do not match a known recipe while a known recipe is available, the game rejects the mix. If no known recipe can be made from the fridge stock, a generic Pantry Snack can still be cooked so Natsumi is not blocked from eating.
Available recipes:
| RECIPE | INGREDIENTS |
|---|---|
| Avocado Toast | Bread, Avocado |
| Egg Toast | Bread, Fried egg |
| Banana Milk | Banana, Milk |
| Strawberry Milk | Strawberries, Milk |
| Avocado Egg Toast | Bread, Avocado, Fried egg |
| Meat Veggie Plate | Meat, Broccoli, Carrot |
| Natsumi Bento | Maki, Fried egg, Broccoli, Carrot |
| Fruit Parfait | Milk, Strawberries, Banana, Biscuit |
Shortcut: 2, 0
Go to the restaurant; Natsumi must be at least 16.
Eating at the restaurant sets Hunger to 4 and increases Grace by 1, up to the maximum of 4.
Shortcut: 2, 1
Order food using the Orderibi phone app.
Receiving the order sets Hunger to 4 and increases Grace by 1, up to the maximum of 4.
Shortcut: 2, 2
Go to "Conbimart", the local convenience store (conbini).
Shortcut: 2, 3
Go to the singing school for a lesson. Catch 30 notes and you're good!
Completing the training increases Performance by 1, up to the maximum of 4.
Shortcut: 3, 0
Walk to the dance school and work on your moves. Get it right 30 times in a row to score a perfect training.
Completing the training increases Performance by 1, up to the maximum of 4.
Shortcut: 3, 1
Go to the swimming pool and dodge 30 sharks.
Completing the training increases Fitness by 1, up to the maximum of 4.
Shortcut: 3, 2
Go to the fitness club for a good workout. Wash the equipment once you're done.
Shortcut: 3, 3
Jogging is always good, especially early in the morning.
When the run ends, Fitness increases by 1, up to the maximum of 4. In the current implementation this also happens after a failed run.
Shortcut: 3, 4
It's not all about sport, the mind also needs exercise. Go to the local library to read a book.
Completing the library activity increases Culture by 1, up to the maximum of 4.
Shortcut: 3, 5
Natsumi sets up a flower stall at the local market; that's a very good way to make money fast. You need flowers though. Fortunately, you have a garden!
Natsumi can select the price she wants to sell her flowers for; the cheaper they are, the faster they sell.
Shortcut: 3, 6
Access to competition is only possible when the following conditions are met:
- Hunger, Hygiene, Energy, Performance, Fitness, Culture and Grace must be at 4 (their maximum),
- The competition level you are trying to enter has been unlocked,
- Natsumi has to become the best version of herself by maxxing out her stats,
- She must also train a lot and be good at it, as 3 perfect (no miss) training sessions are required to unlock a competition level
- Completing a competition with no missed notes sets Popularity directly to 4
Shortcuts:
- 4, 0 for local
- 4, 1 for departmental
- 4, 2 for regional
- 4, 3 for national
Set the temperature of the shower right before Natsumi steps in.
A successful shower sets Hygiene to 4.
Shortcut: 5, 0
Send Natsumi to the doctor for a checkup; her general health will be checked, then the doctor will tell you what could be improved.
Shortcut: 5, 1
Take Natsumi to the temple so a priest can pray for her and provide guidance.
Shortcut: 5, 2
Take Natsumi to the public hot bath (onsen) so she can regain her energy (and wash herself).
Entering the Onsen sets Hygiene to 4. While Natsumi remains there, Energy can increase by 1 on five-second pulses until it reaches 4; recovery is probabilistic.
Shortcut: 5, 3
Natsumi can sit in the lotus pose and slowly let her spirit regain strength.
Completing meditation increases Spirit by 1, up to the maximum of 4.
Shortcut: 6, 0
Natsumi goes to bed for a good nap so she can be full of energy again.
While sleeping, Energy can increase by 1 on five-second pulses until it reaches 4; recovery is probabilistic.
Shortcut: 6, 1
Natsumi can grow flowers in her very own garden, pick them once they are ready and sell them at the local market to make some money.
Natsumi can store 24 flowers max.
Shortcut: 7
Enter the local Matsuri festival where you can taste some traditional street food, enjoy a Kakigori or play Garapon, a gambling game with nice prizes (Matsuri tickets, money, food, drinks, cards...). Eating the available Matsuri food sets Hunger to 4.
Shortcut: 8
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Natsumi can win and collect 32 illustrated cards while playing the Garapon game at the Matsuri festival.
Review your collection, browse through your cards.
Shortcut: 9