With Kaleido, designer Hinata Origuchi and publisher Ouyuuan might have threaded the needle, finding a setting that bounces between the extremes, as players are called by the Shogun to compete (common!) because they are all master kaleidoscope designers (kooky!) and he wants to determine who is best in the field. You get a bit of the ol' regal desire to push people around and make them dance, while the competition itself merges surprisingly well with the gameplay.