stu Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 The DS Puzzle Guide! Official sites provided where possible for your assistance in choosing the best puzzlers out there. Logic Puzzlers Brain Age (the Sudoku bit) Official Website The Game – It's Sudoku! The Features – Fantastic interface and touch screen controls, excellent Hand Writing recognition. The Verdict – Brilliant, probably the best implemented Sudoku on the DS. Essential Sudoku DS The Game – 1000 Sudokus along with 1000 picross puzzles. The Features – Very basic design, sometimes dodgy hand writing recognition, poor implementation of the Picross puzzles, the screen isn't as precise as it needs to be, but it does feature multi-coloured picross, which is nice. Also has a design mode for both types of puzzles which you can share via local WiFi. The Verdict – Great value, 2000 puzzles and well worth it if you can see past the minuscule presentation. Kuru Poto Official Website The Game – A Japanese Logic puzzler unlike anything else on the DS. You have to rotate a grid to reunite the yellow thing to his erm, thingy thing. Bonkers. The Features – A huge story mode, with lots of puzzles that will always keep you challenged, along with a strange desire to collect gold medals for each level. Good controls and charming design. The Verdict – Good stuff this, it wouldn't hurt anyone's collection. More Brain Training (The Sudoku Bit) Official Website The Game – Almost exactly the same as the first game, but with 100 new puzzles! The Features – See above The Verdict – Once again, the best Sudoku interface, and it's a joy to have a new load of puzzles to play using this set up. Brilliant! Picross DS Official Website The Game – The greatest Picross game ever, Mario's Picross, gets updated for the DS! The Features – Brilliant stylus control, vivid and clear graphics, 3 local WiFi modes, over 300 puzzles, Nintendo themed bonus puzzles, fantastic WFC battle mode, wonderful level designer! Also allows you to download new puzzles over WiFi via the Nintendo server. The Verdict – Excellent stuff, the best Picross game on the DS with added bonus downloadable content! Essential purchase. PikuPiku: Toku to E Ninaru 3-tsu no Puzzle Official Website The Game – 3 different types of logic puzzles in this one, Maze-a-Pix, Link-a-Pix and Fill-a-Pix. Click the links, as that will explain them better then I can! The Features – Over 400 of each puzzle, all laid out in a clear and stylish way. Great stylus control and some nice hints and tips, understandable in any language! The Verdict – This is a really good collection of Japanese logic puzzles, which aren't the usual Picross or Sudoku. Very addictive and great value. Polarium Official Website The Game – A logic puzzle of sorts, where you have to turn the black squares into white ones, and vice versa, by running a single line through them all. The Features – 2P local WiFi along with a huge amount of puzzles and some challenge modes, comprehensive is the word that springs to mind. The Verdict – I personally couldn't get into this, but it's a great package if you fancy something a bit different, and has a wonderful design. PuzzleManiak Official Website The Game – A collection of 6 different logic puzzles are included in this Home-brew game. Some are obscure, others less so, after all, it includes Picross puzzles and Minesweeper! The Features – Infinite number of games possible thanks to random generators. Also has a brilliant Daily play feature where you can connect to the server using WFC and download a new challenge everyday, then upload your score back to the serve to see how awesome you are. The Verdict – For a Home-brew game this is magnificent. More please. Puzzle Series Volume 1 - Jigsaw Puzzle Official Website The Game – Jigsaw puzzles! On your DS. Hell yes. Much better then the concept makes you think... Although this does include Bomberman jigsaw puzzles and moving ones too. The Features – As with all Hudson Puzzle series games, presentation is rather minimal, not many features, but everything is easy to use, stylus control is spot on and you get a huge number of puzzles, along with an excellent tutorial. The Verdict – This shouldn't work, but it really really does, it's ace. Puzzle Series Volume 4 - Kakuro Official Website The Game – Kakuro is like the result of an experiment to mix maths, crossword puzzles and sudoku. You get a grid, that looks like a crossword, with numbers in black at the top of rows, you simply have to write in the numbers to add up to that number, but making sure all the rows and columns work logically! The Features – As with all Hudson Puzzle series games, presentation is rather minimal, not many features, but everything is easy to use, stylus control is spot on and you get a huge number of puzzles, along with an excellent tutorial. The Verdict – These puzzles are hard, but once you get it you won't be able to put it down! Puzzle Series Volume 5 - Slither Link Official Website The Game – With Slitherlink, you have to create a continuous loop using a few cleverly placed numbers, and of course, your noggin! You see, all the puzzles can be solved logically and you never need to guess. After a while, you become a god, you start solving the puzzles quickly and you're never sure why, its just that the logical clues become implanted on your brain. So damn addictive too. The Features - As with all Hudson Puzzle series games, presentation is rather minimal, not many features, but everything is easy to use, stylus control is spot on and you get a huge number of puzzles, along with an excellent tutorial. The Verdict – A fantastic game, highly addictive and packed with puzzles. Essential. Puzzle Series Volume 6 - Illust Logic Official Website The Game – Over 200 Picross puzzles, including multi coloured ones. The Features - As with all Hudson Puzzle series games, presentation is rather minimal, not many features, but everything is easy to use, stylus control is spot on and you get a huge number of puzzles, along with an excellent tutorial. The Verdict – Good, as with other Hudson puzzle games its nicely presented although rather bare, but unlike Slitherlinks, this has competition, and Picross DS is the better all round package. Touch De Uno Official Website The Game – Nothing at all to do with the card game Uno! This is a collection of 15 minigames designed to test your brain in a puzzly/brain age kind of way. It's from Sega and is full of charm. The Features – This is obviously all in Japanese, so I'm struggling to get around it at the moment, but I've so far discovered 15 different game types, several modes of playing them and an awesome local WiFi mode! There seems to be loads of goodies to unlock too. The Verdict – Another one of those games that came from nowhere. This is top notch fun, some of the minigames are puzzlers well worth their own game, all unique, and mostly all playable, except for that wants you to put Kanjii in order, which I can't do Well recommended though! Touch Panic Official Website The Game – You have to slide tiles around, which contain channels for your ball to move around. Collect some other balls and reach the goal! Kind of a cross between those sliding puzzles and Pipe Mania on the C64. The Features – Nice design throughout, easy to get the hang and WFC battles! Loads of puzzles and several game modes too. The Verdict – Another great puzzler, hopefully this will get a Western release too, great stuff. Block Games Bust-A-Move DS Official Website The Game – Shoot bubbles to other bubbles, get groups of 3 or more and they disappear. Yep, it's the same as it's ever been. The Features – Basic modes, shit controls, awful stylus implementation and overall a poor version of a game that just will never be a patch on Tetris. The Verdict – Avoid really, there are are so many better puzzlers on the DS. Gunpey DS Official Website The Game – Created by the inventor of the Game Boy, this is a puzzler where you have to create horizontal lines, it's very touch to describe, and damn challenging to play. The Features – Lots of levels and local WiFi along with tons of un-lockable's, this game also hides an extremely powerful music sequencer, upon which many hours of my life have been wasted! The Verdict – A good time waster, though not as good as other games out there, although the music thing included is brilliant. Magnetica/Actionloop Official Website The Game – Available free on the net as Zuma, in this game you have a series of loops through which balls slowly move to the centre. You have to shoot your ball to balls of the same colour to make them disappear. The Features – Nice design and great stylus controls, along with tons of play modes and truly awful music! The Verdict – This is great, and if you see it cheap it's well worth getting, especially as it comes with a DS rumble pack thing. Meteos Official Website The Game – You have to arrange blocks along horizontal lines to blast them off through gravity and into the ether! Challenging, addicting, and above all, fucking awesome! The Features – Local WiFi, loads of play modes, tons of stuff to unlock and stats for everything. It also has some of the best stylus controls yet in a DS game. The Verdict – Brilliant. One of the best DS games out there. Meteos : Disney Magic Official Website The Game – Like Meteos, but with Disney stuff instead of aliens, which kind of sucks. Also, you can now move vertically, which makes the game much easier, although it is still challenging. The Features – Pretty much the same as the original, but this time with tons of Disney wallpapers/icons/sounds to unlock. The Verdict – It's good, as it still has that basic Meteos magic, however, this isn't a patch on the original. Mr Driller - Drill Spirits Official Website The Game – You play as Mr Driller, who has to drill down into the centre of the Earth for some reason or another, collecting oxygen and little strange creatures. The Features – Whilst stylus control isn't as good as standard controls, this is still packed to the rafters with game modes and puzzles and above all charm. The Verdict – A good game, probably my favourite Mr Driller yet. Panel De Pon DS/Planet Puzzle League DS Official Website The Game – Remember Tetris Attack? Or maybe Pokemon Puzzle League? Well, both of those games were versions of Panel De Pon, and this is the DS version. Kind of like Tetris, mixed with Zoo Keeper. This game is all about the Combos The Features – As with Picross DS, this game features wonderful stylus controls and awesome WFC battles. Presentation is clean and futuristic, and there are loads of game modes and skins available from the off. Also, you can choose to hold the DS like a book, or normally, which I think is a nice option to have. The Verdict – The best version of this compulsive puzzler yet, and the WFC modes only make things better, another essential! Pokemon Link/Trozei Official Website The Game – Kind of like Zoo Keeper but with the added incentive to Catch 'Em All! The Features – Typical Pokemon graphics, a few game modes, local link up and a nice story mode. The Verdict – Good, but not great. Games can go on far too long sometimes but as ever with Pokemon games, you do get the urge to fill up the Pokedox, and as such it's hard to put down. Puyo Pop Fever Official Website The Game – Remember Dr Robotniks Mean Bean Machine on the Mega Drive? Well, that was this! The sadistic choice of block game! Move pairs of falling blobs to form groups of 3 or more. As with Panel De Pon, combos are the way forward here. The Features – Several play modes including a story mode and local link, the Japanese sequel, 15th Anniversary, includes WFC play too, and is possibly the better option if you tolerate the heaps of Jap text. The Verdict – Great game, with added Fever mode which is just bonkers, recommended. Puzzle Quest Official Website The Game – Bejewelled, but with much much more strategy involved. It's basically an RPG where you puzzle it out instead of fighting. It's turn based and bloody addictive! The Features – A huge single player, complete with story! Loads of spells to find, tons of characters and a huge game map. Add in a great 2P local WiFi mode and you have a great all round package. The Verdict – Up there with Meteos, Tetris and Panael De Pon as one of the greatest DS games. Brilliant! Soroeru Puzzle Douwa Oukoku Official Website The Game – A bit like Zoo Keeper, but with more limiting control which changes the game play drastically. You can slide your lines up or down if a move is on, so you have to think several steps ahead and try to get combos. Also, the playing area changes size and shape with every level, so a strategy on one level may not work on another. The Features – Very Japanese design, lots of cute animals and quite a lot of text, although it has great graphics and great stylus control. Also has a lot of puzzles and several game modes. The Verdict – This is good, but not a patch on very similar games like Zoo Keeper or Puzzle Quest. Tetris DS Official Website The Game – It's Tetris. For the DS. The Features – Loads of new modes, which surprisingly mostly work, great local WiFi as well as awesome WFC battles. Lovely skins and themes, it's all about the retro Nintendo love here. The Verdict – It's Tetris, it's internet ready, it's unmissable! Trion Cube Official Website The Game – You have to fly through space, and the only to do that is by playing a crap re-imagining of Tetris. You get sets of 3 blocks falling, and instead of lines you have to makes cubes (clue is in the name people!) The Features – Great design, but no stylus control is shocking. Also, the music is crap and there's not too much in the options to tinker with. The Verdict – Not a fan of this one, the games are far too easy and it has none of that awesome addictiveness that I demand from my puzzlers. Word Up Official Website The Game – A little home-brew game this one. Kind of a cross between Tetris and Scrabble. You have to clear lines of blocks by spelling out words. Much better then it sounds. The Features – As it's home-brew, there aren't many features, however, the single game mode is enough to keep you going for hours as it is truly addictive and I can't wait for a more complete version in the future. The Verdict – Brilliant, if you can play home-brew games then this is one of the most essential games to start off with. Zoo Keeper Official Website The Game – Basically it's bejewelled but with animals as the blocks. The Features – Awesome design and characters throughout along with great stylus controls and a nice little 2P local WiFi battle mode. The Verdict – Again, this is highly addictive stuff and whilst not as good as some of the puzzlers mentioned here, definitely worth a play. Spot The Difference Games Quick Spot Official Website The Game – A spot the difference from Namco-Bandai, and as such, it features lots of retro characters from their back catalogues. The Features – Daily play, measure your brain modes, and lots of lovely artwork along with some good stylus controls. Also a nice local WiFi battle mode. The Verdict – It's a good way to waste 5 minutes of your day, but not a patch on the next game.... San-X Chara Sagashi Land Official Website The Game – It's spot the difference, but this time with some of the greatest characters you'll never have heard of! San X is a Japanese stationary type brand, and features wonderful things such as kittens who hide as food, dogs with afros, bears who are sad that they are more burnt then others, sports loving bears and black animals! The Features – Lots of levels of play, with various factors being added into the spot the difference formula as you progress, such as sliding pictures, memory games and much much more. Includes over 300 images, and lots of collectable tat. Also has a brilliant 2P mode. The Verdict – It's very hard to choose just 1 spot the difference game, but to me, this one is the best by miles as the pictures are better, the presentation is adorable and overall it's a great package. Unou no Tatsujin Soukai Machigai Museum 2 Official Website The Game – The Japanese sequel to Quickspot. The Features – More of the same really but with over 100 new images. The Verdict – Good, but not a patch on San X. Other Games Konductra Official Website The Game – Tricky to get the hang of, a bit like Polarium in a way, however, much harder. You have to make lines of the same colour on a grid, then draw on them connecting the edges of the grid to make them disappear. The Features – Great design and nice graphics, the music is a bit annoying though. Several different game modes as well which is nice. The Verdict – Good stuff, not essential, but well worth a play. Labyrinth Official Website The Game – Imagine if you will a cross between Kuru Poto, Super Monkey Ball and Loco Roco. Now, add into that mix those old wooden table top maze games, and you end up this awesome little Puzzler. The Features – 4 difficulty settings, though there might be more, a customization section to make your own balls, collectable stuff and of a local Wi-Fi mode add up to a slim yet fulfilling package. You'll be wanting to beat your scores with different balls a lot. The Verdict – Excellent stuff, came out of nowhere with no press at all, but well worth picking up. I think it's around £15 most places, and well worth it Lemmings DS Official Website The Game – It's Lemmings! On the DS! This is a homebrew remake of the classic puzzler. Yes, Homebrew!!! The Features – All the levels from the Amiga original and it's sequel Oh No! Not More Lemmings. Fantastic stylus control, cart save and brilliant presentation. The Verdict – Exactly as you remember it, with amazing controls and to be honest, for a homebrew game, this puts most commercial software to shame, fucking awesome! Nervous Brickdown Official Website The Game – Is this a puzzle game? I'm not sure, but I'll include it anyway. It's like Arkonoid/Breakout from the past, but updated with power ups and fancy (allegedly) graphics. The Features – Power ups, loads of levels each with different themes, a load of collectable stuff to erm, collect too. The Verdict – I was looking forward to this one, but to be honest, it's crap. Some of the levels are just broken in that your ball can get needlessly stuck on various things. The graphics are horrible too. Avoid this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendo Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 Sweet Jesus. Is this where my tax money goes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted May 14, 2007 Author Share Posted May 14, 2007 lol, there's nothing I can say to that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlyEnemy 2.0 Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 This is superb Stu, well done. A linky to Word Up would be a nice addition Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Centy Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 Yeah stu man you have to do a homebrew list in there aswell i would say War of the Weeds, omalone, wordup,Setsuzoku no Puzzle and a few others deserve to be in here. Sly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted May 14, 2007 Author Share Posted May 14, 2007 Well, already the first update has been made, with Polarium and Jigsaw Puzzle being added, as well as a link to the official WordUp site. Sly - Nice one, glad someone thinks its worthwhile. Centy - Aye, as I play them I'll add them.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galactica Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 I been wanting some new puzzle games. Thanks for the guide Stu, might have to pcik up Meteos, Puzzle Quest and maybe Picross. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted May 15, 2007 Author Share Posted May 15, 2007 Hope the guide helps you make your decision. I would say all 3 of the games you mention are essential. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phooey Posted May 16, 2007 Share Posted May 16, 2007 Nice thread Stu. Are you actively 'collecting' puzzle games now or just DS ones ? My DS puzzlers/logic/falling blocks etc currently include: Brain Age Break 'em All Essential Sudoku Gunpey Honeycomb Beat Trion Cube Konductra Kuru Poto Magnetica Meteos Disney Meteos Monster Bomber Mr Driller Pokemon Trozei Quickspot Picross Polarium Puyo Pop Fever Puzzle Quest Slitherlink Soroeru Puzzle Douwa Oukoku Tetris Touch Panic Zendoku Zoo Keeper Plus another 120 across other formats. :woohoo: Have you read Stuart Campbells round up of puzzlers for the DS ? http://worldofstuart.excellentcontent.com/dsrev/roundup3.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted May 16, 2007 Author Share Posted May 16, 2007 Cheers Phooey I wouldn't say I'm actively collecting them, unfortunately being unemployed isn't very conducive to collecting games, however, a large proportion of my collection is made of them, and I only ever sell the odd one to fund the purchase of another. However, I do actively try to at least play as many as I possible can, even if I have the game only for a short period of time. When I'm in work again I will begin to collect them I think, as I simply adore puzzlers (as you can probably tell, although your collection pisses over mine from a very great height!) As for that link, yes, that's where I heard about Slitherlinks first. It's good, although not as comprehensive as perhaps I would have liked. My guide here will be constantly updated so hopefully it will be the definitive guide, lol! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phooey Posted May 16, 2007 Share Posted May 16, 2007 I don't know how PikuPiku: Toku to E Ninaru 3-tsu no Puzzle slipped past me. Never heard of it at all. I like the look of it going by those links you posted Stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted May 16, 2007 Author Share Posted May 16, 2007 It's excellent, definitely worth a punt! Anyway, a huge update today, I've added the following games - Kuru Poto Konductra Soroeru Puzzle Douwa Oukoku Magnetica/Actionloop Mr Driller - Drill Spirits Puyo Pop Fever Bust-A-Move DS Touch Panic Trion Cube and also added links for almost all of the games, so you can learn more about the games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phooey Posted May 18, 2007 Share Posted May 18, 2007 Cracking stuff Stu. Are you going to bother with M&M's Break 'Em? IGN scored it 5/10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted June 3, 2007 Author Share Posted June 3, 2007 Added - Labyrinth DS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phooey Posted June 7, 2007 Share Posted June 7, 2007 Is Labyrinth ever going to get a US/PAL release ? It keeps slipping & slipping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted June 13, 2007 Author Share Posted June 13, 2007 I saw it Gamestation last week, so I presume it's out? It might only have got a tiny release though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted June 13, 2007 Author Share Posted June 13, 2007 Update today. Added PuzzleManiak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phooey Posted June 13, 2007 Share Posted June 13, 2007 stu wrote: I saw it Gamestation last week, so I presume it's out? It might only have got a tiny release though. Weird, because their online site is saying 'out of stock' for both new & pre-owned. I wonder if they put it on the shelves by mistake ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted July 1, 2007 Author Share Posted July 1, 2007 updated! added - More Brain Training/Nervous Brickdown/Touch De Uno/Lemmings DS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phooey Posted July 1, 2007 Share Posted July 1, 2007 stu wrote: Nervous Brickdown ...but to be honest, it's crap. Avoid this one. Say it ain't so uncle stu. My pre-order copy has been shipped already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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