We're in an unexpected golden age for retro re-releases, and [Milano's Odd Job Collection](https://amzn.to/454qRlM) might be one of the most surprising to resurface. Originally a Japan-only PS1 game, this little bundle of minigames has finally made its way West after more than 26 years. It was quirky back then, and it's just as quirky now.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/tbijYnZ--vs
You play as Milano, an easygoing 11-year-old who ends up spending her summer at her uncle's house. When a scheduling mix-up leaves her without adult supervision, she decides the only reasonable option is to pick up part-time work. That thin premise is a frame for a set of fast, simple jobs that feel cut from the same cloth as Bishi Bashi Special.
Most of the action takes place in a handful of minigames. In one, you serve a steady stream of customers in a fast-food shop. In another, you match ingredients to build cakes. They're straightforward, but higher difficulty tiers keep them from going slack by piling on more to track. The loop is quick: learn the pattern, do the job, chase a better score.
Evenings shift into a light life-sim. You choose two tasks for Milano — cooking, cleaning, feeding the cat — and small stat boosts follow. Earned money buys new items like a TV or a stereo, each of which opens up a few more things to interact with. It's not deep, but it's pleasant, and the steady drip of small improvements suits the game's short length.
Implicit Conversions handled the PS5 version using its Syrup engine, and the work shows. There's an optional English voiceover, a rewind feature, and a gallery of concept art that's more interesting than it has any right to be. These additions smooth out the rough edges without sanding away the original tone.
The game only lasts a couple of hours, and repetition does creep in. The progression system never grows into anything substantial, and once you've mastered the minigames, there isn't much left to uncover. Still, it's hard not to smile at the chunky sprites and the small, thoughtful animations that defined this era of PlayStation games.
It feels like opening a sealed time capsule: a snapshot of the 90s, complete with its loose structure, its charm, and its innocence. If you have any fondness for PS1 oddities, this one is worth a look on novelty alone.
• Charming retro presentation
• Fun, unusual minigames
• Strong hit of PS1 nostalgia
• Smart quality-of-life additions
• Cute life-sim elements
• Repetitive over time
• Shallow progression
• Short overall runtime
https://www.youtube.com/embed/tbijYnZ--vs
You play as Milano, an easygoing 11-year-old who ends up spending her summer at her uncle's house. When a scheduling mix-up leaves her without adult supervision, she decides the only reasonable option is to pick up part-time work. That thin premise is a frame for a set of fast, simple jobs that feel cut from the same cloth as Bishi Bashi Special.
Most of the action takes place in a handful of minigames. In one, you serve a steady stream of customers in a fast-food shop. In another, you match ingredients to build cakes. They're straightforward, but higher difficulty tiers keep them from going slack by piling on more to track. The loop is quick: learn the pattern, do the job, chase a better score.
Evenings shift into a light life-sim. You choose two tasks for Milano — cooking, cleaning, feeding the cat — and small stat boosts follow. Earned money buys new items like a TV or a stereo, each of which opens up a few more things to interact with. It's not deep, but it's pleasant, and the steady drip of small improvements suits the game's short length.
Implicit Conversions handled the PS5 version using its Syrup engine, and the work shows. There's an optional English voiceover, a rewind feature, and a gallery of concept art that's more interesting than it has any right to be. These additions smooth out the rough edges without sanding away the original tone.
The game only lasts a couple of hours, and repetition does creep in. The progression system never grows into anything substantial, and once you've mastered the minigames, there isn't much left to uncover. Still, it's hard not to smile at the chunky sprites and the small, thoughtful animations that defined this era of PlayStation games.
It feels like opening a sealed time capsule: a snapshot of the 90s, complete with its loose structure, its charm, and its innocence. If you have any fondness for PS1 oddities, this one is worth a look on novelty alone.
Pros
• Charming retro presentation
• Fun, unusual minigames
• Strong hit of PS1 nostalgia
• Smart quality-of-life additions
• Cute life-sim elements
Cons
• Repetitive over time
• Shallow progression
• Short overall runtime