There is certainly no lack of great DS puzzlers. Over the system’s soon-to-be three year lifespan, great titles such as Planet Puzzle League, Picross DS, and even puzzle hybrids á la Puzzle Quest have drained countless hours of power from our DS li-Ion batteries. Anyone finished with the previously mentioned games, or perhaps someone interested by the title might assume that Jewel Quest Expeditions isn’t as polished or well-designed as it should, and although that is the case, the game still holds its own and could very well be worth adding to your collection, bearing its limitations. Continue reading to find out just how well Jewel Quest ranks amongst DS puzzle masterpieces.
PC adventure game fans will immediately recognize this oddly-named title from a few years back. What you might not know, however, is that European developer Pendulo Studios has been hard at work on a handheld version of the classic PC game. The amount of work that has gone into getting this fully-animated adventure to run on the DS hardware is a story in itself: the developers have innovated new compression technology to cram almost a half hour of animated cutscenes onto the cartridge. Without giving too much of the (quite creative) story away for folks who haven’t played the game, the plot centers on an attractive young couple named Brian and Gina who are thrust into an international puzzle-solving adventure after their plane crashes during vacation on a tropical island. For players of the classic Lucasarts SCUMM games, the controls should be immediately simple to pick up. Most actions in the game require simply ‘clicking’ on an appropriate object or person to initiate an action. Thanks to some innovative technology developed by the wizards at Pendulo, the game actually features TWICE the resolution of a standard DS game, to allow players to zoom in and investigate objects more closely. All of the additions on the DS version sound excellent, so we can’t wait to revisit this island when the game ships in Spring 2008.
Features:
The fabulous adventures of Brian Basco and Gina Timmins for the first time on console
Discover 6 great chapters of an unforgettable adventure full of surprises and meet more than 30 eccentric 3D characters!
Up to 100 locations from all four corners of the world, all rendered in lush graphical detail.
A unique graphical experience due to a perfect combination of animations in 3D and the traditional 2D design of adventure games.
Never seen before on DS, the game offers one hour of amazing animated sequences that will advance the plot. This true technological wizardry has been made possible thanks to the advanced VX2 codec.
Enjoy the great experience of “Point and Click” gameplay on DS thanks to exclusive use of the stylus
An intuitive zoom system offers an excellent visibility when exploring the adventure environments.
Thanks to the DS double-screen, a highly-optimised navigation system gives you the possibility to switch from the inventory to the game screen at any time.
Integrated help system making it easier to solve the most difficult puzzles.
As more and more DS titles flood down store shelves, certain games are inevitably overshadowed. Some games easily get lost in a whirl of titles such as New Super Mario Bros., Metroid Prime Hunters and Final Fantasy III. Some of these overlooked DS games are great, and totally worthy of a second serving. We have compiled a list of sequel-deserving DS titles; consider picking them up if you haven’t, and keep your fingers crossed for further installments on a few, if not all, of them!
Star Fox Command: After a great Zelda-esque adventure and a not-so-good space shooter for the GameCube, Fox and the gang flew right into the DS with some gameplay enhancements. Touch screen controls worked perfectly, a strategic battle system was introduced, and online dogfights kept us playing for weeks. Multiple endings and a great soundtrack made Command even better. A sequel could expand on the strategy elements of the game and provide an even more satisfying experience, perhaps with a longer single-player quest to spice things up. It’s very likely that we’ll see another Star Fox installment on the DS; question is, will it be a sequel to Command, or a port of the SNES original? We’ll have to wait and see.
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time: Nintendo consoles have enjoyed the Paper Mario series, while handhelds have seen two Mario & Luigi RPG jewels. Partners in Time offers a lengthy, enjoyable quest that puts you in control of Mario, Luigi, and even their BABIES!…well, the baby versions of them, that is. As usual, Peach managed to get herself kidnapped, so it’s your job to get her back from Bowser and other mean little punks. The intricate yet successful button controls could be substituted with touch screen input on a sequel. Tapping, dragging, or drawing shapes on the lower screen with perfect timing would really enhance the addictive battle system of the franchise, and who wouldn’t want another great Mario adventure? Nintendo, make it happen.
EDGE magazine has an interesting rumor lurking inside its pages. Apparently, Nintendo is hard at work on an official DS flash card, which would allow DS owners with internet access via Wi-Fi to purchase old-school Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, in a fashion very similar to the Wii’s Virtual Console. Not only that, but Nintendo’s upcoming WiiWare Channel, which will allow developers to produce low-budget, downloadable games, would see a similar revision on the DS. Such a possibility could seriously stir the DS homebrew scene. Potentiallygreat hombrewed games could see commercial release, and other content could be made available for the 50 million DS systems around the globe. These rumors sound great, but they are rumors nonetheless, so keep your eyes peeled for an official confirmation / denial in the not-too-distant future.
In a revealing interview with Castlevania director Koji Igarashi, the game designer had some juicy tidbits for fans of his 2D adventure series. Igarashi expressed admiration for the direction that Metroid has taken on home consoles (notably moving into 3 dimensions) and confirmed that he would like to do something “similar” with the next console installment of the Castlevania series. While the thought of flailing around with a whip controlled by Wiimote has us excited, the news that the company is working on another DS sidescroller has us equally intrigued. Igarashi was relatively tight-lipped about the new title, saying only that he plans to take the artistic design in a new direction, and that additional info on the game would be forthcoming soon in an official press release.
Personally, I liked the anime-inspired design of the two last DS Castlevania games, so I wonder what new ideas Igarashi has up his sleeve for the handheld. A 2D sidescroller with 3D characters (like New Super Mario Brothers) would be cool, but the old hand-drawn art had a certain charm of its own. Check back soon for more info when Konami issues an official press release about the game.
Judge: Court proceedings will begin for the review of Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Trials & Tribulations for the Nintendo DS. Bailiff, please bring the defendant, sergioalb64, to the stand.
sergioalb64: Your Honor, I would like to testify about this game, and prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is a great end to the series. As this court knows, the Gyakuten Saiban series in Japan was a big hit on the GBA, as much as to grant budget-priced re-releases of the three games for the Nintendo DS in the Land of the Rising Sun. Thanks to that move, Capcom was kind enough to bring the series to America, and it was very well received by many gamers and has become quite a cult classic.
J: What exactly do you do in this game?
s64: Naturally, as in the previous two installments, PW:T&T puts you in the role of Phoenix Wright, an ace defense attorney helping the innocent no matter how bad the situation is. As you investigate crime scenes and their surroundings, collect evidence, question witnesses and suspects, and break Psyche-locks to discover hidden truths, each of the game’s five cases unfolds smoothly and keeps you glued to your DS. The game takes between 15-25 hours to finish, and although it features very little replay value, it remains a great adventure game just like its predecessors. Everything can be intuitively done with the stylus, from menus to scrolling through text and checking the Court Record for evidence and character profiles.
Try not to hyperventilate, kids, but news has broken that Aksys Games will be bringing a Western localization of Super Dogeball for the Nintendo DS. In a press release, the company stated that we can expect the game as early as this spring. Fans of the original have probably known that a Japanese language version has been in the works for some time, but this is the first confirmation that the game will definitely be brought to North America. As the name suggests, Super Dodgeball Brawlers puts added emphasis on kicking the crap out of your opponent if things aren’t quite going your way. Other features include local wireless and gamesharing for up to 8 players.
The original Super Dodgeball by Technos (The same company responsible for River City Ransom) easily ranks among the top 10 games ever released on the NES for many people. If the new developers have remained faithful to the spirit of the original game, this will undoubdedly be a smashing success on the DS.
Features:
• Over 100 ball-busting special attacks! Dish out a variety of pain with over 100 special attacks with their own special animations and effects, like the Cactus Attack, Panda Shot and Spear.
• Finally, an open season for violence! There are some new rules on the playground this time around. If the old-fashioned way doesn’t work for you, you can now use punches, kicks, and even weapons against the opposing team.
• Introducing the Super Gauge System! Activate a “Team Upgrade Attack†with the Touch Screen when your Super Gauge reaches its maximum level. Boost a team member’s status or unleash an “Instant Kill†special attack to turn the tide of battle.
• Create-a-character mode! Create and customize your own dodgeball dream team.
• The perfect game for multiplayer mayhem! Compete in a traditional game of dodgeball against a friend or take part in a multiplayer street brawl with up to 8 players.
Last year Fox News aired an investigative report into the hidden dangers of molestation posed by the innocent-looking DS. This year, conservative bloggers want us all to be aware of the potential threat lurking underneath the Christmas tree. Aptly-named “journalist” psycheout from the unofficial Sam Brownback campaign blog wants conservative parents everwhere to know that the DS (Devil Screen) is in fact ground zero for every filthy and vile predator that might be lurking within the 100 meter wifi range of your child’s pictochat.
“And get this (brace yourselves): the slogan for this evil piece of hardware is “Touching is good.†How’s that for hiding the truth in plain sight? In fact, all marketing slogans around the world for this product aimed at young children revolved around the word “touch.†There’s something seriously wrong here.“
Never mind that we have never even used pictochat here at PVG, let alone idled there for hours at a time hoping to be chated up by some random passer by. The biggest question raised by this utterly ludicrous article is, ‘why all the hate for vidoegames, repubs?’ Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that paranoid scaremongering about the evil effects of video games was the domain of Democratic candidates like Hillary Clinton.
Gabe Logan and his team of agents are back, this time to save the world from middle-eastern terrorists bent on global domination. If you feel like you have played this game before, you are definitely not alone — most of the aspects that made the previous Syphon Filter games so enjoyable are present here, with a few notable additions. The game’s plot, taken directly from post- 9/11 headlines and then sufficiently altered so as not to offend anybody, is utterly convoluted and forgettable. But what really shines in the Syphon Filter series has always been the tactical stealth gameplay, and there is plenty of that here to appeal to fans of the genre. Include top-notch production values and a solid infrastructure multiplayer mode into the mix, and you’ve got all the ingredients for an impressive PSP game. Continue reading to find out what is new in this sequel, and why PSP-owning fans of the genre should consider signing up for Gabe Logan’s latest mission.
Casual, ‘Minutes a Day’ training continues on the Nintendo DS. After the tremendous success of brain training games worldwide, Nintendo takes a stab at a new gaming approach; vision training. Flash Focus: Vision Training in Minutes a Day is intended to enhance your perception and observation skills through short daily exercises, much like the Brain Age titles aimed to train your brain. If you have played either Brain Age title you should know what to expect, seeing how extremely similar this title is to them. Unfortunately, this means that Flash Focus shares the downfalls that the brain training games suffer from. Continue reading to find out just how Flash Focus is like Brain Age for your eyes.
Flash Focus hardly get any more similar to the Brain Age titles. The same foundation is retained; exercise daily for just a few minutes to improve your visual skills. The game offers an Eye Age Check, which consists of a series of five short vision-training mini-games, after which your results are analyzed and your eyes are given a numerical age. The lower your Eye Age, the better your visual perceptions, with the lowest age being 20. You can also try the game’s Recommended Training mode, which gives you some more exercises to practice based on your Eye Age results. Also, you can always decide what exercises to try and how many times to do so via Custom Training mode, although your daily scores are only recorded the first time you try a given exercise. A single copy of the game can hold profiles and performance graphs for up to four players, and the game’s Quick Play mode is perfect to show off to friends and family as a demo, which you can also send wirelessly to other DS owners.
There is certainly no lack of great DS puzzlers. Over the system’s soon-to-be three year lifespan, great titles such as Planet Puzzle League, Picross DS, and even puzzle hybrids á la Puzzle Quest have drained countless hours of power from our DS li-Ion batteries. Anyone finished with the previously mentioned games, or perhaps someone interested by the title might assume that Jewel Quest Expeditions isn’t as polished or well-designed as it should, and although that is the case, the game still holds its own and could very well be worth adding to your collection, bearing its limitations. Continue reading to find out just how well Jewel Quest ranks amongst DS puzzle masterpieces.
PC adventure game fans will immediately recognize this oddly-named title from a few years back. What you might not know, however, is that European developer Pendulo Studios has been hard at work on a handheld version of the classic PC game. The amount of work that has gone into getting this fully-animated adventure to run on the DS hardware is a story in itself: the developers have innovated new compression technology to cram almost a half hour of animated cutscenes onto the cartridge. Without giving too much of the (quite creative) story away for folks who haven’t played the game, the plot centers on an attractive young couple named Brian and Gina who are thrust into an international puzzle-solving adventure after their plane crashes during vacation on a tropical island. For players of the classic Lucasarts 
As more and more DS titles flood down store shelves, certain games are inevitably overshadowed. Some games easily get lost in a whirl of titles such as New Super Mario Bros., Metroid Prime Hunters and Final Fantasy III. Some of these overlooked DS games are great, and totally worthy of a second serving. We have compiled a list of sequel-deserving DS titles; consider picking them up if you haven’t, and keep your fingers crossed for further installments on a few, if not all, of them!
Star Fox Command: After a great Zelda-esque adventure and a not-so-good space shooter for the GameCube, Fox and the gang flew right into the DS with some gameplay enhancements. Touch screen controls worked perfectly, a strategic battle system was introduced, and online dogfights kept us playing for weeks. Multiple endings and a great soundtrack made Command even better. A sequel could expand on the strategy elements of the game and provide an even more satisfying experience, perhaps with a longer single-player quest to spice things up. It’s very likely that we’ll see another Star Fox installment on the DS; question is, will it be a sequel to Command, or a port of the SNES original? We’ll have to wait and see.
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time: Nintendo consoles have enjoyed the Paper Mario series, while handhelds have seen two Mario & Luigi RPG jewels. Partners in Time offers a lengthy, enjoyable quest that puts you in control of Mario, Luigi, and even their BABIES!…well, the baby versions of them, that is. As usual, Peach managed to get herself kidnapped, so it’s your job to get her back from Bowser and other mean little punks. The intricate yet successful button controls could be substituted with touch screen input on a sequel. Tapping, dragging, or drawing shapes on the lower screen with perfect timing would really enhance the addictive battle system of the franchise, and who wouldn’t want another great Mario adventure? Nintendo, make it happen.
EDGE magazine has an interesting rumor lurking inside its pages. Apparently, Nintendo is hard at work on an official DS flash card, which would allow DS owners with internet access via Wi-Fi to purchase old-school Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, in a fashion very similar to the Wii’s Virtual Console. Not only that, but Nintendo’s upcoming WiiWare Channel, which will allow developers to produce low-budget, downloadable games, would see a similar revision on the DS. Such a possibility could seriously stir the DS homebrew scene. 
In a revealing 
Judge: Court proceedings will begin for the review of Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Trials & Tribulations for the Nintendo DS. Bailiff, please bring the defendant, sergioalb64, to the stand.
Try not to hyperventilate, kids, but news has broken that Aksys Games will be bringing a Western localization of Super Dogeball for the Nintendo DS. In a press release, the company stated that we can expect the game as early as this spring. Fans of the original have probably known that a Japanese language version has been in the works for some time, but this is the first confirmation that the game will definitely be brought to North America. As the name suggests, Super Dodgeball Brawlers puts added emphasis on kicking the crap out of your opponent if things aren’t quite going your way. Other features include local wireless and gamesharing for up to 8 players.
Casual, ‘Minutes a Day’ training continues on the Nintendo DS. After the tremendous success of brain training games worldwide, Nintendo takes a stab at a new gaming approach; vision training. Flash Focus: Vision Training in Minutes a Day is intended to enhance your perception and observation skills through short daily exercises, much like the Brain Age titles aimed to train your brain. If you have played either Brain Age title you should know what to expect, seeing how extremely similar this title is to them. Unfortunately, this means that Flash Focus shares the downfalls that the brain training games suffer from. Continue reading to find out just how Flash Focus is like Brain Age for your eyes.
Flash Focus hardly get any more similar to the Brain Age titles. The same foundation is retained; exercise daily for just a few minutes to improve your visual skills. The game offers an Eye Age Check, which consists of a series of five short vision-training mini-games, after which your results are analyzed and your eyes are given a numerical age. The lower your Eye Age, the better your visual perceptions, with the lowest age being 20. You can also try the game’s Recommended Training mode, which gives you some more exercises to practice based on your Eye Age results. Also, you can always decide what exercises to try and how many times to do so via Custom Training mode, although your daily scores are only recorded the first time you try a given exercise. A single copy of the game can hold profiles and performance graphs for up to four players, and the game’s Quick Play mode is perfect to show off to friends and family as a demo, which you can also send wirelessly to other DS owners.