Filed under: Gaming to Go

Ready to slow things down a bit? Sure, sitting down with a good ol' crossword puzzle might not get the blood pounding, but there's something simple and serene about filling in the grids at a leisurely pace. It's a game of patience and dedication, not to mention smarts -- not the typical fare for today's high-adrenaline gaming, but definitely a worthy alternative when you want a pleasant distraction next time you're on the go.

Crosswords DS, yet another Nintendo entry in the Touch! Generations lineup, provides such a distraction. It's simple, fun, and caters to crossword puzzlers of all skill levels. Add to that numerous word searches and anagrams and you have a pretty well-rounded package, one that even a staunch anti-puzzler could find something to like in. Want to hear more? Check out this week's edition of Gaming to Go and see for yourself if it's time to switch out the Sunday paper for your trusty DS.

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Sometimes the stylus is a beautiful thing. Such a tiny white stick has infinite potential for interaction, introducing new control schemes and input methods to a industry clinging dearly to its buttons. Nintendo clearly has no qualms taking a risk with its input devices, if that semi-popular magical remote thing is any indication, though its more diminutive sibling demands its own share of the limelight. When it works, it works, and the stylus becomes an indispensable part of the gameplay.

Sometimes it doesn't work as well as it could. For exhibit A we have Exit DS, a poster child for the "Buttons are Best!" camp. Call me picky, but the option to select a more traditional button control scheme is Exit's saving grace, since I don't think I would have made it very far in were I forced to wield the mighty stylus through all one hundred and fifty levels. It helps too that there's a pretty interesting game behind it all, one that's easily worth checking out if you don't mind putting up with a few control quirks. That game happens to be very well-suited for Gaming to Go, as you might have guessed. Want to hear more? Hit the A button to advance to the next screen!

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You've played this game before. Probably. See, here's the thing -- The Quest Trio isn't a singular title so much as it is a collection of games, as an in-depth analysis of the title would probably suggest. For your money you'll get a variant of Bejeweled, an interesting version of Solitaire, and a pretty decent take on Mahjong, three classic games that should be fairly familiar to just about every person ever. The Quest Trio gets interesting, however, when you consider that two of the titles in the package have been previously sold as standalone products -- and for everyone's favorite handheld, no less!

It might sting a wee bit to discover you already own one member of the trio. It might hurt a hell of a lot to discover you already own two of them, in which case I'd advise you sit this one out and find a warm corner to cry in. For everyone else who loves the sound of three great games bundled together for your gaming pleasure, click that big button down there and see if this week's edition of Gaming to Go covers just the sort of puzzle compilation you've been questing for.

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My fingers hurt. If Space Invaders Extreme is anything, it's an absolute workout for the fingers, a test of endurance, passion, and an opportunity for developer Taito to take an old formula and crank things up to 11. Very rarely does slapping on the word 'extreme' actually mean anything, but this latest incarnation of Space Invaders is an exception to that rule, as my sore thumbs can attest.

Did you miss out on the original Space Invaders? The classic was before your time, perhaps, or deemed unworthy for whatever coins you could bleed out of your piggy bank. Dry your tears, friend! This extreme update of a retro classic is your greatest chance to find peace in these discordant times. Come along with this week's edition of Gaming to Go to see why saving quarters all those years ago might have been a good idea after all.*

*So now you can buy this, see? Not because the original was bad or ... nevermind.

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This is the other occasion where you're allowed to roll your eyes and say "Well, duh." A Sonic the Hedgehog game being featured for its emphasis on speed? Yeah, it's not a revolutionary concept, but it's still not quite the immediate conclusion one might have drawn some ten or fifteen years back. Where the much-maligned hedgehog used to be known for ultrafast platforming, recent entries in the series have introduced all kinds of kooky new gameplay elements, often stealing the spotlight from eye-melting rollercoasters and placing it firmly on beloved new characters like Big the Cat.

Sonic Rush, however, is a throwback to the olden days, when a typical Sonic level had twists, turns, and strategically-placed spikes after every freaking loop. That's the precise formula the series built its name on, and it's this exact same formula that makes Sonic Rush such a thrill ride to play. It's pretty possible to blaze through some of these levels in under three minutes, especially early on in the game, making it a title pretty well-suited for this week's edition of Gaming to Go. Thinking of giving Sonic another chance? Click that big button down there and see for yourself if it's worth bringing this hedgehog along on your daily commute.

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CALAMITY! The light is gone!

In the dark? You aren't the only one. The cute little story sequence at the beginning of Prism: Light the Way speaks of Bulboids, Glowbos, and an even stranger assortment of words, describing some horrific process wherein a star monster is totally crashing an intergallactic party or something. The thread-bare plot in Prism isn't the greatest thing you'll read this week, but the solid puzzle mechanics beneath it sure make the whole thing much easier to bear, especially if you're interested in trying a puzzle game that doesn't involve matching up three or more blocks of the same color.

One look at Prism's interface and accompany soundtrack might make you change your mind, admittedly, but persevere and you'll find a fairly satisfying adventure awaiting. With over 100 different puzzles to conquer and a few additional modes to mix things up a bit, Prism: Light the Way is definitely worth a more in-depth look, so why not come along with this week's edition of Gaming to Go and see if this unknown puzzler will tempt you to lighten your wallet a bit?

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Touchmaster? It's a great game, sure, what with the twenty-three different activities packed tightly into that tiny plastic cartridge. I can scarce imagine the marketing ploy that lead to naming it something quite so charming as Touchmaster, though, which invokes imagery of things totally not appropriate for a family-friendly console. Still, if you don't mind the curious choice of name, the game offers quite a bit of value for its price, and -- here's the best part -- it's pretty well-suited for gaming on the go!

It's also pretty similar to previous favorite Clubhouse Games, though there's enough difference here to make both titles worth picking up. Where Clubhouse offered digital versions of classic card games, Touchmaster expands the concept a bit, introducing some quirky clones of popular games otherwise not seen on the DS. Sound like a good time? Touchmaster has a lot of things worth checking out, so come along with this week's edition of Gaming to Go and see for yourself what the fuss is all about.

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Zoo Keeper did two things I frankly never expected the moment I finally got my mitts on the cartridge. The first was a highly distressing personal evaluation delivered to me by a balding man with a suit and a cigar: "You are a total failure." These words stand alone in a sea of poorly-translated lines he throws out during the course of the game, being both completely accurate and completely depressing. Thanks, Ignition Entertainment, for properly translating only one part of Zoo Keeper -- the part that completely ruined my life.

The second thing was to raise an interesting question about an-oft expected aspect of portable gaming on the DS. Is sleep mode, wherein you close the DS's lid and go on with your day, absolutely necessary? In every case I would say yes, as putting the handheld in a low-power state is the best way to conserve energy for repeated gaming throughout the day. The question then becomes whether I can truly recommend Zoo Keeper for this week's edition of Gaming to Go, as the game is completely lacking in that vital feature. What do you think? Click the big button down there and decide for yourself if Zoo Keeper is worth picking up despite such a glaring flaw.

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A game revolving solely around time-consuming, tear-inducing brain teasers likely isn't anyone's first guess for the kind of quick gaming the DS so clearly excels at. Layton might be an unusual choice for this week's edition of Gaming to Go, but it's most certainly not a bad one, as the unique hybrid of puzzling and adventuring makes a number of concessions that'll help even someone who is pressed for time advance through the game unhindered.

Skipping freely through the game's myriad puzzles is hardly ideal, of course, but what can you do? Some of Layton's 135 brain-destroyers can make even a grown puzzle-solver cry, so it's a testament to the solid game design that you can still feel the satisfaction of completing the game even without experiencing all of the content it has to offer. In the mood for a fantastic puzzle game but not so keen on spending hours just to slog through every challenge? Click that big button down there and see why Professor Layton and the Curious Village might be exactly what you've been searching for.

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Surprised? The Castlevania series typically isn't associated with speedy, high-intensity gaming, so I can say with utter honesty that I had no intention of writing about IGA's latest delicious Metroidvania whenever I finally got my hands on Order of Ecclesia. The game has surprised so far in being pretty different from its immediate predecessors in both combat and environments, the combination of which is like a clean, refreshing punch in the face.

It's hard, guys. Really hard, in fact, but with the kind of irresistible challenge that'll have you firing up your DS at every free moment to try and beat that next boss or just make it through the next level without failing too miserably. In that regard Order of Ecclesia is surprisingly well-suited for this week's edition of Gaming to Go, as in at least the first half of the game you'll encounter numerous levels which can be run through and completed without losing vast amounts of time. Whether you'll make it to the end of that level alive is an entirely different matter, mind you, but that's half the fun! Want to hear more? Click the big button down there and see why masochism is good.

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Wario is weird. Anyone who has ever given Mario's portly nemesis a spin in his numerous games can easily agree with that, though it's a truth most evident in the Warioware series of titles. Touched is Wario's first appearance on the DS and something of a landmark for the handheld, utilizing the stylus for almost everything and showcasing the unique strength of the system. It's also pretty freaking strange. The admittedly odd design choices complement the gameplay pretty well, however, which involve a series of blindingly quick microgames designed to test both your reaction time and tolerance for utter silliness.

The sheer speediness of it all makes Warioware: Touched an ideal candidate for this week's Gaming to Go. Unfortunately, for everything Touched does to streamline the gameplay down to a few exciting seconds, it isn't a perfect experience. Want to hear why? Click that big button down there and see what all of the fuss is about.

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Perhaps you've heard of N+. It's been covered only a teeny bit here on DS Fanboy, so it's pretty unforgivable if this is your first encounter with the masochistic Ninja platformer. Masochistic may not even be a strong enough word, honestly. N+ has built up a reputation all across the vast internet as being ridiculously difficult, much like its web-based predecessor. Whether N+ is a solid recreation of the original N's gameplay is a somewhat controversial subject, but anyone who's given it a whirl can probably agree on one point: it is awesome for gaming on the go.

Your miniature ninja is blessed with amazing speed and skill, though it comes at a heavy price: a lifespan of precisely 1.5 minutes. As you might imagine, this makes N+ perfect for quick bursts of play, as you'll never spend more than a few minutes trying to clear a set of levels. Sound interesting? Stab that big button down there and come see why N+ is a beautiful thing indeed if you're looking for some quick ninja-flavored challenge in your daily commute.

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The beach is awesome. The life of a game blogger is a difficult one, my friends, so it's nice to step away from the monitor, sink into the white sands and catch up on that glorious invention known as sleep. Such a relaxing week could only bring good things, and I'm incredibly pleased to say it did: it gave good David a chance to talk about Electroplankton, one of the DS's most eccentric titles, and it gave me a chance to give the Kirby series a go.

You can imagine my delight, then, to finally gets my sandy hands on one of the DS's premiere platformers, to see how one cute and cuddly pink ball can inspire so much adoration. Kirby has made a number of appearances on everyone's favorite handheld, but this week's edition of Gaming to Go will be focusing on the first time the prolific cake eater showed his face on the portable. Kirby: Canvas Curse, in case you haven't given it a go, is all about drawing. You'll use the stylus exclusively to fling our spherical friend through many different adventures, all of which are short, colorful, and an absolute blast to play. Want to hear more? Point your stylus at the big button down there and race on to the next page!

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"Wha? Who is this impostor in my beloved column," you ask? Well, I kindly asked Matt if I could step in and guest write the column this week. Luckily, Matt is a fan of not working and allowed me to do so. I imagine he's sitting on a beach right now, complaining about the salt in his drink.

So, Electroplankton. Many of the longtime readers will know it's one of my favorite DS games. But, what's it all about? Well, it's a pick-up-and-play music game by Toshio Iwai, where you can create a variety of looped tracks for your listening pleasure. And utilizing the headphone jack, you can take your musical creations and export them to your computer or some other device for saving. For those who crave an overall goal or some end to work to, then Electroplankton might not be the game for you. The game may seem a bit shallow to those that aren't intrigued by the prospect of simply making music, but I assure you it's a charming and fun game, and one that is perfect for gaming on the go for any lover of the quirky and unique. If there's one thing you can say about Electroplankton, it's that there isn't any other game on the planet like it.

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Tick tock of the clock ringing in your ears? Tell your timepiece to shove it! We live busy lives, but remember this: there's always time to game. Check back with Gaming to Go every week for the latest and greatest titles you should spend your precious few minutes with. And if you're looking for more original content from DS Fanboy (bless your heart), then check out our Point/Counterpoint feature and Bury the Shovelware.

The Collapse! series of puzzle games has been around since 1999, though Super Collapse! 3 is the first title in the lineup to make the jump to the DS. Reviews generally suggest this incarnation does little to improve or mix up the basic gameplay of the series, though that's perfectly fine if you've never given the games a spin. I hadn't even heard of Collapse! until about a week ago, but what I've played since has been a pretty solid amount of fun, so why not come along with this week's edition of Gaming to Go and see if you might enjoy it too?

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