Gunpey DS (Nintendo DS) Review

Presentation definitely seems the be one of the main draws of this particular game, with mention of the music element adorning the front cover and large, brightly coloured characters almost literally jumping out at your face. However, sadly the over exuberant visuals detract from the main game considerably, something that definitely should not be the case with a highly intense action puzzle game. Things can became confusing enough as they are without the need for swirling colours and frankly annoying characters distracting you from the main on-screen action. As for the music element, whilst it all sounds very nice it is hardly the spectacular aural experience you might be led to believe. Instead it proves to be purely functional in the main game, although very pleasing when it comes to the (limited) music-editing mode that is included.

The basic idea behind the game is to line up five lines in a row to make them disappear. You start up a new game and are faced with five columns, with lines appearing from the bottom in each separate column, moving slowly up the grid layout one grid space at a time. Every line is slightly different in shape and your task is to match one end of one line to another line in the next column, then the next again, until you form a full chain across all five columns. You match these all up by dragging lines up and down vertically until chains are completed...and that is about it. The game sounds simple and, sadly, it most definitely is. Addictive in some ways, yes, but it all proves to be too overly simplistic and ultimately limited.

When playing against a computer opponent in the bare bones story mode (in other words there is no real story, you are just pitted against various easily forgettable computer-controlled adversaries), there is hardly any time to look at the top screen to check on their progress as you are busily attempting to set up chains as quickly as possible, thus preventing the lines from reaching the top of your screen and thus leaving you with only defeat to your name. It must be pointed out that there are only four types of lines on offer during play, two that point diagonally upwards in a left or right direction and two that form a v-shape, one pointing up, the other down. When lines appear in each of the five columns it is a complete breeze to make chains and thus the game's challenge becomes redundant, as it is a matter of just biding your time and clearing the grid until the computer inevitably loses. This leads to you most likely getting through the first difficulty level in less than an hour...maybe even just half an hour if you get combination chains.

Yes, combination chains...a blessing and yet a curse at the same time. When a chain is created, the completed line flashes for a few seconds, allowing you to quickly add appropriate shaped lines to this flashing chain and keep the chain enclosed (meaning all edges must either be touching the flashing chain or outside wall). Sadly, though, it all becomes very hit and miss as you rapidly scramble to randomly flick lines at the flashing chain before times runs out. In doing this, you will probably mess up a nice chain you had lined up lower down the screen...Another annoyance is how the only real problem that arises and may cause you to lose the game is when nothing appears in one particular column for a long time. So it is not exactly a challenge anymore, as you are just waiting for anything to turn up in the empty column before anything can continue. It feels like the computer is cheating just to make the game last longer.

Also, when moving a line up or down it does not skip over another line. Instead it pushes that line out of the way, meaning once you have positioned that line, you must go back and reposition the previous one. It is such a small thing, yet causes much frustration during play. All of this is sounding quite negative, right? Well, the game does have the old puzzle edge that keeps you addicted to some degree, but sadly it does not hold a candle to other great efforts that have been released on the DS, with examples being Mitchell's duo of Polarium and actionloop, and even Q Entertainment's own Meteos! Luckily the game improves during (single-card!) multiplayer and the separate music-editing mode redeems matters a little bit, but not enough to recommend this for a full