G4TV

Those flashy cats at Q Entertainment have served up a bit of an ode to the late Yokoi Gunpei. The man behind gaming innovations like the Game & Watch, Game Boy, Wonderswan, and more also has an addictive little puzzler named after him. The first release for the Wonderswan (a system that came out after his death) was a puzzle game also named Gunpey. Q is taking the honorific puzzler to the Nintendo DS, creating a fantastic title that Gunpei-san would have been proud of.

Line 'Em Up!

The premise of Gunpey DS is really quite simple. You have a grid of boxes and a bunch of lines filling up the boxes. The lines can run in the two diagonal directions or as arrowhead-like shapes pointing up or down. You can change the position of any of the lines. Your job is to create an uninterrupted string of lines to that the whole thing runs from the right to the left of the screen. While you can choose the most direct path from left to right (or right to left depending on your political point of view), you can net bigger scores by creating unwieldy mishmashes that occupy a great deal of the screen.

As you're gleefully creating lines, more panels rise from the bottom of the screen. There are two variations of the game on this DS cart. In original mode, empty panels are left in place of any boxes your clear when forming a line. In break mode, the panels above cleared boxes fall down to fill out the space. The cart has a slew of modes in which both variations of the game can be used.

Like any puzzle game that's worth a damn, Gunpey DS is simple to understand and very addictive. Combine that with Q's penchant for visual and aural delights and you have a game that's very much worth buying. Anyone can play this game and most will enjoy it.

Comparing Versions

Although the PSP version of the game is much flashier, both visually and aurally, the DS version is better overall. The touchscreen controls add a layer of connection that you'll never feel on the PSP. In exchange for better graphics, the DS flavor features cute characters that serve as your avatar in this puzzler. You and your character will have to eke out every last bit of cerebral energy to beat the other features characters in the game.

Furthermore, the DS version has more modes of play to choose from. While the core gameplay is essentially the same, the modes are different enough to allow for a good amount of variety and value to the mix. Perhaps the greatest differentiator of them all (which is quite similar to the greatest love of all) is the fact that two players can enjoy Gunpey DS through one cartridge. The single-cartridge sharing is a great way to introduce your friends to the game and get them addicted to it.

While the kiddy graphics and styling might turn off some players to Gunpey DS, it would be a mistake to dismiss the game based on looks alone. The addictive gameplay of Gunpey is featured in a way more complete package on the Nintendo DS. If you have both systems and are stumped over what version to get, go with the DS. The variety and control are greater and you can share it with your friends that don't own the game.

Article by: Raymond M Padilla
Video produced by: Michael Leffler