Freshly Picked Tingle's Rosey Rupeeland (Hands-On) (Nintendo DS) Preview

By Adam Riley 10.01.2007

What can you say about Tingle? Well, he definitely is one of Nintendo's most talked about creations, which can only bode well for his future. Weird, when done properly, does indeed lead to a cult following on most occasions. Anyway, when it was revealed that the strange green 35-year-old man would be getting his own RPG adventure on the Nintendo DS in Japan, people were not only stunned that it was not an early April Fools joke, but nobody expected it to either be popular or ever see the light of day outside that country. And yet here we are today, with the Japanese version now over the 200,000 sales mark and a full English translation available to play on. And play on it we sure did...

Having already dabbled with the amazingly confusing Japanese version, firing up the DS and finding the game has been fully translated into English was a major relief indeed. But hey, the game is still as confusing and strange as ever before! However, that is definitely the point and Nintendo definitely drives that point home hard. It certainly does manage to keep itself within the boundaries of the Zelda universe, yet Tingle has definitely carved out his own niche in the gaming world and does not look like giving up his space any time soon...especially if those rumours of a Tingle game coming to the Wii hold any weight.

So how does it hold up? Well, the game does not appear to have lost anything obvious in the translation, meaning that the quirky storyline remains firmly in place. This middle-aged man, known as Tingle, who wants to be a fairy (hence the disturbingly tight green romper suit), wakes up one morning to the sound of a distant voice calling him. Off he wanders to the local spring, which just happens to be by the side of his abode (his house is basically the inside of a tree, rather like Link's in Zelda) and is greeted by an apparition of an aged man with a large head in the shape of a Rupee

Screenshot for Freshly Picked Tingle's Rosey Rupeeland (Hands-On) on Nintendo DS

Cue lots of amusing images popping into Tingle's mind, such as scoffing away at all his favourite foods, lounging around without having to do any work and being surrounded by a group of gorgeous women (that last image is particularly funny simply due to the Tingle looking so completely out of place with lovely ladies around him!). So anyway, this sets up the basis of the game

Screenshot for Freshly Picked Tingle's Rosey Rupeeland (Hands-On) on Nintendo DS

Other than puzzles, there are maps that you can collect and battles to partake in. An old lady, for instance, hands out the first map and requires you to fill in the blanks. To complete it, you must first mark on the map where the grave stone you are stood next to should be on this map, thus completing it 50%. If you traipse around further and regularly keep an eye on the map on the top screen, you will quickly find another location that needs to be drawn and bingo, the first map is all sorted! Once each map is all sorted you are rewarded by a little old lady in town. Talk to her again and she promptly takes a chunk of money back from you! I was more interested in getting through to the first dungeon, though, so was not too bothered by the cranky-looking hag.

On the way there you are likely to encounter wandering enemies, not random battles, though. These are little critters (or not-so-little ones in some cases) that you run into and start tumble around on the ground with. The aim is to rapidly tap on the enemy until it dies, normally leaving behind an ingredient or some rupees. Whilst tapping on enemies might sound repetitive, it was fun in the time I had with the game as you could roll into other enemies and whilst energy is lost quicker, you can receive a much bigger bonus at the end for your plight.

Screenshot for Freshly Picked Tingle's Rosey Rupeeland (Hands-On) on Nintendo DS

After playing around with these little fights, saving the girl's doll and meeting her where she tells you to do so, it is time to start the first main dungeon...but guess what? Yes, you have to pay entry! Finally inside it all becomes more Zelda-like again, but with a twist. Tingle cannot use a weapon, so to break jars he jumps inside them to smash them open and since he is a bit of a weakling, you have to hire a body-guard part the way into the dungeon, who helps defeat enemies much quicker as well as solve familiar 'standing on switches' puzzles. He also whips out a boom box that plays the celebratory tune from regular Zelda games (like when you solve a puzzle or gain an important item). Which brings me to a quick diversion

Screenshot for Freshly Picked Tingle's Rosey Rupeeland (Hands-On) on Nintendo DS

Final Thoughts

Are you surprised? I know I was! Sure, it looked humorous and quirky, but those factors do not ensure a good game. Thankfully, though, Nintendo has geared the development of Rosey Rupeeland in the right direction and made it a worthy addition to the Zelda universe. Now all we need is a release date firmer than '2007'...

Developer

Vanpool

Publisher

Nintendo

Genre

Adventure

Players

1

C3 Score

Rated $score out of 10  6/10

Reader Score

Rated $score out of 10  10/10 (24 Votes)

European release date Out now   North America release date None   Japan release date Out now   Australian release date TBA   

Comments

I was turned off so much by how hard the DS game was! Really spoilt the game for me overall...But this update won me over very quickly.

Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses

This is just wrong...you have to be slightly peverted to EVER want to play a game where the aim is to preform surgery on them.

Enoch Powell was right, and you know it.

But your saving peoples lives!
Didn't get the DS one so might pick this up some time.

XBL Gamertag: James2t3

This is going to an awsome game on the Wii. It looks so much better than the one on the DS, can't wait. counting the days for its release .



SuperYoshi6 PSN name
3DS friend code 2878-9581-8999

I'm gonna look into this game, it's the kinda of Wii-specific game that I've been waiting for. My girlfriend would probably like it too ^^ and shakey hands is all part of the challenge! I just hope it doesn't sell for

This game reminds me a lot of Don Quixote for some odd reason. It would be awsome if it captures the same feel.

This looks like it is going to be a lot mature for the older generation of gamers. it is going to be a lot more difficult than the DS version because you have to use the Wii remote and nunchuck to do the operations. i wonder if the story is going to be different.



SuperYoshi6 PSN name
3DS friend code 2878-9581-8999

This is so mine when it's released here, luvz the Tingle!. {LS]

Posted the japanes ad in the thread :lol:

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