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Following the 1984 release of an earlier title also called simply Barbie, the game became the second in the Barbie series.
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Development and release īarbie was designed by Hi Tech Expressions in an attempt to get more girls to play video games, although the developers tried to make the gameplay appealing to boys as well. At the end of each section a boss battle occurs with the boss usually being overcome with the help of an animal. that Barbie must evade by leaping over them. Enemies are all normally inanimate objects like tennis rackets, kites, shoes, pizza, water, popcorn, etc. If the command reaches the animal, the animal will perform the command requested. Pressing the B-button then throws the command. Barbie can also request help from animals by selecting one of the charms on her charm bracelet to signal what sort of action the animal should perform. Barbie's levels are "dreams" and each "dream" has Barbie walking left to right while avoiding obstacles to keep her "Zs" from dropping which would make her wake up and have to replay the level, or sometimes restart the entire game. Unlike other Barbie games, Barbie is designed as a platformer. Barbie returns to the Barbie Dream House to get ready for the Fantasy Ball, and as she descends the stairs wearing all of her accessories, a dapper Ken awaits to dance with her. Finally, in the 1950s-style Soda Shop Barbie must collect gold records that she uses to make a stairway into the sky to collect the last accessory, a charming pair of sparkly high heels. In Underwater World, Mermaid Barbie and a few helpful dolphins search for pearls that Barbie returns to a giant oyster in exchange for an elegant pearl ring.
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In Mall World, Barbie goes on a shopping spree for Barbie coins that she uses at the wishing fountain to acquire an exquisite pink ball gown.
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Along the way she meets a veritable menagerie of animal friends and searches to find Dream-Ups, Glamor Items, and Charms for her bracelet that will help her along her way. She travels to three different worlds to gather accessories for the big night and a chance with Ken. Barbie dreams that she has been invited to the Fantasy Ball, but in her dream she has nothing nice to wear.
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