The other game on our list this time around is Spirited Heart. This game belongs to a very specific genre; I'm not sure what to call it. It's like a life simulation, The Sims-style, but with a very backed-away control mechanic. You don't move the character around directly, there is no actual animation to speak of -- you merely issue directions. It's like an RPG in the sense that there are tons of stats to consider, and that's how progress is measured. So I guess it's ... an RPG Simulation?

You play as a young girl of one of three races: human, elf, or demoness. I chose the demoness because she was dressed the most saucily. Your choice of race affects your starting stats, which are substantial indeed. In general, you've got health, wealth, and morale. These will determine your ability to take on different jobs, but more on that in a bit. The other stats are grouped into Attributes, which are personal traits, and Skills, which are how well you fare at various tasks. 8 attributes, 12 skills.

After a bit of backstory, the game begins with you trying to find your place in the town in which you've decided to settle down. Everything is done from the same interface, with its four options: Job Options, Train Skill, Relax, Relationships, and Character Sheet. To earn money, you have to go out on jobs, your choice of which is limited by your stats. To be a Builder, for instance, the main Attribute required is strength. So if you don't have the basic level of strength, you can't take the job. Other jobs require various combinations of Attributes: Gardener requires strength and dexterity; Merchants need wisdom and social; Sexy Girl requires charisma and stamina. It's not quite as it may sound; being a Sexy Girl is basically being a hostess in a nightclub.

Going on different jobs is a dicey affair. There is no guarantee of full compensation, even with the proper level of Attributes. The success of a week's work (the game progresses in weekly increments) is dependent upon a variety of things: your health and morale, which change regularly, and also upon random phenomena. For instance, if there's been an earthquake, your job as a Builder might be compromised somewhat, overstressing you to the point where you underperform, leaving you with having made less money that week than other weeks. Or, with your health and morale way up high, you might perform so well at your job that you get full pay and a bonus besides.

You're also encouraged to take time off for yourself. This is where the Relax section comes in. Your options for relaxation include staying at home (which is free); shopping; or going to the mountains, beauty farm, or seaside, all of which cost varying amounts of money. The reason you'll want to Relax is to boost your health and morale back up to the levels required to do well at your jobs.

There's a lot more to Spirited Heart, but only a limited amount of room here to discuss it. If this sounds like your kinda thing, do check it out for Mac and PC.