G4TV

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but in Picross DS, a picture is worth a thousand brain cells. By studying groups of numerals positioned along the columns and rows making up a grid, players use logic to either fill in or cross out squares, gradually revealing a picture. This is Nintendo's second crack at the game after 1995's Mario's Picross on the original Game Boy, which was embraced by U.S. audiences like a rabid skunk. It's hard to imagine a same fate with Picross DS, given the overwhelming popularity of Sudoku and Nintendo's casual-friendly Touch Generations series. Picross DS is far from a work of art, but its challenging puzzles and high replay value belie its budget-friendly price.

Hip to be Square

Those new to the cerebral puzzle game shouldn't feel intimidated. The developers ease players into the action, opening with an interactive tutorial and including a slate of "easy" puzzles ranging from a quaint 5x5 to 10x10 in size. An optional hint feature is available that automatically fills in one random column and one row, giving players a helpful boost when starting a puzzle. The "normal" difficulty level offers a nice mix of 165 themed puzzles with some stylus-driven mini-games as an added bonus. In both the normal and easy modes, filling in a wrong square results in a time penalty, so you instantly know when you screw up. The "free" mode, which features another slate of 165 puzzles, does away with the mistake alerts, forcing players to use their gray matter instead of trial and error.

Bad Touch

You'd think a game like Picross DS would be significantly enhanced by stylus-driven controls, but sadly that's not the case. Since the squares forming each grid are small, it's easy to tap a wrong space by accident. Unless you happen to be a tattoo artist, tailor, or a brain surgeon; you should expect to miss the mark at least once on each puzzle. The touch-screen interface is especially unwieldy on the larger grids, such as the 25x20 monsters in the later groupings. Instead of seeing the whole grid at once, you are presented with a zoomed-in view and have to tap on-screen icons to move, zoom out, or to switch functions. The directional pad controls are far more streamlined and accurate, making them the clear, "safe" choice for Picross puzzling.

Connect the Dots

While the touch-screen interface is a downer, the amount of play options in Picross DS is uplifting. In a nod to games like Brain Age, players can participate in daily doses of fast-paced fun with a series of short puzzles designed to sharpen your wits. Wrinkles on the traditional format include puzzles that have some numbers hidden, puzzles filled with errors, and more. Yet the more intriguing features are the ability to download additional puzzle packs via Wi-Fi connection and the option to design custom puzzles to share with friends. The editor is a snap to use, as players can simply draw a picture and have the game automatically assign numerals to match your checkered creation. Factor in some simple yet entertaining multiplayer battles, and you have a game that belongs on any brainteaser buff's bookshelf.

Review by: Scott Alan Marriott
Video Produced by: Michael Benson