Gaming to Go: Picross DS

by Matthew Madeiro { Dec 1st 2008 at 1:00PM }

Math is fun! Or something. Normal people likely don't put much stock in the words, but every now and then a complex equation or three can be a great way to get the mathy part of your brain up and going. You could also just play Picross DS, an interesting take on the puzzle genre that emphasizes numbers and clever calculations over explosions and unbridled quirkiness. That probably paints Picross in one of the least interesting ways possible, but, uh, just run with it, okay?

Picross is fun. I didn't fully expect it to be the first time I fired it up, but wonders never cease when a refreshingly different kind of puzzle and the charm of Nintendo's Touch Generation series unite in nerdy, digital glory. With a ton of puzzles to conquer and numerous different modes of play, Picross certainly has a bevy of content to work with, transforming it into a title definitely worth snagging for your daily commute. Sure, some of those later puzzles might take longer than your lunch break, but Picross DS is still a supremely portable title, and one definitely suited for this week's edition of Gaming to Go. Want to hear more? Click that big button there and start believing in the power of numbers.

Gallery: Picross

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Tags: joystiqfeatures, jupiter, picross, puzzle, touchgenerations

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

pr0vidence @ Dec 1st 2008 1:40PM

Picross has been the single most used game of my 30+ DS carts. It has been in constant rotation since I purchased it when it was released. The continuously updated download-able puzzle packs make the game go on and on. I still haven't finished all of the built in puzzles as a result. Best $20 I've spent on my DS. Highly recommended if you enjoy puzzle games.

Master Marik @ Dec 1st 2008 2:36PM

This was my personal Game of the Year last year. Best puzzle game I ever played.

Alex Gorzen @ Dec 1st 2008 6:23PM

I had the equivalent of the Tetris effect. I'd think about Picross day and night. It was horribly awesome.

Gid @ Dec 1st 2008 7:52PM

I really love Picross. My only complaint is that the grid on the larger more advanced puzzles is soooo small. It was a game I like to play at the end of the day and some nights it was a headache.

aang1818 @ Dec 1st 2008 9:21PM

My only complaints about this game is that the larger grids (which are more common in the downloadable puzzles) essentially force you to use the d-pad instead of the preferable touch screen. The zoom in feature is nice, but doesn't do it for me. The other complaint is that you can't change the theme on hardly any puzzles. The game comes with some cool themes, so that when you fill in blocks you cut a chunk out the apple, mow that square of the lawn, pop that bubble on some bubble wrap, ect. These are pretty awesome effects for a puzzler like this, and I can't understand why the game forces you to use certain themes on virtually everything but the puzzles you make yourself (I really wish you could change themes on downloadable puzzles).

Anyways though the game is great, and I was particularly fond of the fact that the first couple of downloadable puzzles were based on Mario characters, apparently from some Mario Picross game that was on the GB.

foosnark @ Dec 8th 2008 6:33PM

I love this game. I *finally* got my WiFi working at home and have been going crazy catching up on classic puzzles. :)

karin @ Dec 28th 2008 5:22AM

Hi,
I like picross .Recently i enjoyed playing Gemsweeper, a nonogram puzzle game from www.lobstersoft.com. Great graphics, neat stoyline and the jungle theme makes you feel like Indian Jones. When i got stuck there was a cute old man to help me with hints. Gemsweeper tests your logical skills to the utmost. Its easy to learn starting from a beginners 5by5 to 30by30 puzzles. I enjoyed solving the 225 puzles available. I deal for kids as well. Worth playing!