Asphalt Urban GT		Grade: D-
	Publisher: Gameloft (2004) Reviewed: 2005/11/19 Rating: Everyone

I think it's safe to say that Asphalt Urban GT isn't going to get much playing time on my DS. It's a very generic racer that's not particularly well suited to the system. The touch screen isn't used at all, and the overhead map on the lower screen is pretty useless. GT's graphics are about Playstation One quality, so they're not likely to impress. It's difficult to see upcoming turns, but this is remedied by arrows displayed on the top of the screen. The scenic locations, including New York, Miami, Paris, and Cuba, make superb use of color, but the scenery suffers from a serious case of pop-up. There's a Gran Turismo-inspired "Evolution Mode" for people with too much time on their hands, and an arcade mode for more casual gamers. The racing itself comes off pretty flat. The camera angle changes to capture jumps and crashes, but even these are boring to watch. I didn't really enjoy playing this, and it actually made me feel nauseous during extended play. I can't seriously fault Asphalt Urban GT in any way, but there's nothing here to get excited about. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players

Brain Age		Grade: B+
	Publisher: Nintendo (2006) Reviewed: 2006/9/21 Rating: Everyone

When you consider that my wife could generally give a [expletive] about video games, you have to give Brain Age a lot of credit for holding her interest over the span of several weeks. Unlike any other game ever created, Brain Age manages to be educational, fun, and competitive at the same time. Designed to be "played" on a daily basis, Brain Age supplies a series of short mental exercises and carefully tracks your performance. These "games" include rapid-fire arithmetic problems, speed-reading, and memory puzzles. Under most circumstances, completing these would be an unpleasant chore, but Brain Age makes superb use of the DS hardware. You hold the system like you would a book as you play, which feels remarkably comfortable. Voice and handwriting recognition are effectively used to provide an intuitive, responsive user interface. But what really makes the game addictive is how it maintains high "scores" and compares your performance to other players. And Brain Age is loaded with surprises. One day it asked me to write down what I had for dinner, and a few weeks later it asked me remember what I had on that particular night (I guessed right - chicken!!). In addition to "Daily Training" exercises, Brain Age also offers a well-executed Sudoku mode. If you've ever tried these "numeric crossword puzzles", you know how madly addicting they can be. Brain Age has a few quirks, but no showstoppers. The talking head "Doctor" is a bit verbose at first, but gradually becomes less disruptive. The voice and handwriting recognition aren't perfect, but in general they're surprisingly good. I'm not sure if Brain Age can improve your mental abilities, but it certainly can't hurt, and you'll have fun in the process. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Break 'Em All		Grade: C
	Publisher: D3Publisher (2006) Reviewed: 2006/9/21 Rating: Everyone

Since the dawn of mankind, 1977, man has aspired to fling balls at walls, inflicting massive damage and loving every minute of it. Taking its cue from Breakout and Arkanoid, Break 'Em All is pure wall-smashing satisfaction. Adding its own twists to the ancient formula, the game features different types of bricks, random wall configurations, and a Gradius-style power-up system. Before each game you'll select from a list of possible power-ups, including extra-wide paddles, multi-balls, a "bomb" that blasts groups of bricks, and a "laser" that rips through an entire wall. Better power-ups gradually become available as you progress, and combining them is an effective strategy. You actually have some degree of control over the ball caroms, and the ball speed gradually increases to prevent boredom from setting in. Break 'Em All held my attention for a while, but maybe the game should have be titled "Break A Few", or "Break One or Two Later On If It's Not Too Much Trouble". Once you become proficient, the games tend to be drawn-out and repetitive. Even the random walls all tend to look the same. The Quest mode is worth checking out because it offers occasional "bosses" to defeat, but the ill-advised Survival mode (Breakout meets Asteroids) is worthless. Break 'Em All's ultra-modern visuals are plain but clean, and the electronic background music reminds me of an old Genesis PGA Tour game. It's pleasant enough at first but does get tiresome after it loops a few hundred times. Break 'Em All will never monopolize your DS, but if you're looking for a simple change of pace, you could do a lot worse. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 8 players

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow		Grade: A
	Publisher: Konami (2005) Reviewed: 2005/11/20 Rating: Teen (Blood and gore, fantasy violence)

You really can't go wrong with a 2D Castlevania game, and Dawn of Sorrow is nicely suited to the DS. Instead of having to constantly switch to the map screen (as you do in every other Castlevania game), it's conveniently displayed on the upper screen at all times. Dawn of Sorrow even makes use of the touch tablet, letting you crack ice with the stylus, or draw patterns to open "magic seals". Yeah, it's a gimmick, but at least it's something. Other than that, the gameplay is pure Castlevania. Playing the role of a vampire hunter, you collect items, activate abilities, and upgrade attributes while plowing through legions of undead minions and gigantic bosses. The snowy village scenery looks absolutely stunning, although the modern cars seem a bit out of place. The graphics are slightly upgraded from the Gameboy Advance, but I had to hold them up next to each other to see a difference. There are a few eye-catching effects, including slashed zombies that cleanly split in half, and mirrors that reflect the walls you're looking through. Also included is a two-player mode that involves racing through custom-made castle rooms. Dawn of Sorrow is as enjoyable as any Castlevania game I've ever played, and it will probably clock more time on my DS than any other title. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin		Grade: C+
	Publisher: Konami (2006) Reviewed: 2007/10/21 Rating: Teen (blood and gore, mild language, suggestive themes, violence)

I tend to enjoy these Castlevania games, but this one is overrated. At its core, Portrait of Ruin follows the standard Castlevania formula with expansive castles to explore, a wide range of demonic foes, and tons of special weapons and magic items. In an attempt to try something new, Portrait lets you control two characters at once using a "tag team" mechanic. You can switch between Jon and Charlotte at the touch of a button, or have them fight side by side. This opens up possibilities for more elaborate puzzles and team-based attacks. I've seen this gimmick employed many times before (Knuckles Chaotix on the Sega 32X comes to mind), and it's usually not very effective. In this case it adds a layer of complexity at the expense of the fun factor. Non-intuitive controls make solving even simple puzzles with your team inordinately complex (the mine cart switch comes to mind). Charlotte's primary weapon is a book - yes a book! Maybe in the next game she can attack monsters by hitting them with her purse! Otherwise, there's not much to fault with Portrait of Ruin. The graphics are rich and well defined, with a few unusual enemies like the guy who professes his love for Charlotte and explodes into roses upon his demise. Typical of the mammoth bosses, you'll face an enormous knight with a hideous disembodied blue head. It's fun to upgrade your characters with new items you find, and I like the way portraits are used as gateways to new "worlds". Portrait of Ruin is not my favorite Castlevania title, but fans looking for something new may enjoy its novel approach. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Contra 4		Grade: A+
	Publisher: Konami (2007) Reviewed: 2008/1/9 Rating: Teen (blood and gore, fantasy violence, language)

Contra 4 represents a triumphant return for the classic franchise, mainly because it remains so faithful to the original 2D, side-scrolling formula. As in the original Contra (NES, 1988), you play a soldier forging his way through hostile jungle, harbor, factory and laboratory environments. As you blast soldiers and aliens, you'll need to dodge large projectiles that are slow but tend to create nasty crossfire traps. Thanks to the dual screens of the DS, you'll need to contend with enemies on both the top and bottom screens, so keep an eye out! Power-ups abound, including weapons that fire lasers, fireballs, and homing missiles. But just like old times, the "spray" weapon totally rules. Firing that thing from the bottom screen towards the top inflicts wide-spread devastation. With that kind of firepower, blasting through each stage should be a piece of cake, right? No, not when you have to negotiate perilous platforms at the same time. The environments are reminiscent of the original Contra, but more detailed and expansive. Likewise, Contra 4's electronic soundtrack has a distinctive old-school quality. Humorous voice samples include "Let's party!" and "Lock and load!" Best of all, the classic controls have been retained, resulting in a simple yet madly challenging experience. Holding the shoulder button lets you fire in place, making it much easier to aim diagonally. Another new wrinkle is your ability to toggle between two weapons. Since you don't lose your reserve weapon when you die, it's a good idea to tuck a powerful weapon away for later use against a boss. You'll always begin the game on stage one, but many continues are available and the replay value is high. As you revisit each perilous stage you gradually discover the best techniques, weapons, and routes to employ. Although Contra 4 is brand new, its stages are inspired by the original game, including the psuedo-3D "run into the screen" levels. Your high score is saved automatically, and a bonus "museum" provides information and screenshots of past Contra titles. Konami has taken a winning formula and elevated it to new heights, and the result is a fantastic new addition to the DS library. © Copyright 2008 The Video Game Critic.

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1 or 2 players

Cooking Mama		Grade: D+
	Publisher: Majesco (2006) Reviewed: 2007/1/26 Rating: Everyone

Cooking Mama is a cute little cooking simulator, but is there really an audience for this? I sure many gamers have multiple hobbies, but how many would profess a passion for cooking? Playing games rarely puts me in the mood to chop onions or fry chicken. Cooking Mama's gameplay challenges you to concoct a series of delicious dishes including Salisbury Steak, Spring Rolls, Pork Cutlets, Potato Salad, and Octopus Dumplings (yum!). As you methodically prepare, slice, dice, mix, and fry your way through the recipe, each stage plays out like a timed mini-game. Controlled entirely with the stylus, Cooking Mama offers audio and visual cues to prod you along. Most games are intuitive enough, but you'll need to be quick. Some steps, like sautéing vegetables, are less obvious than they should be, which can lead to frustration. Chopping and slicing are moderately fun, but other tasks, like peeling potatoes, are as tedious as they are in real life. Completing a dish rewards you with a score and unlocks a new recipe. I assumed my wife would like Cooking Mama, considering she enjoys cooking and has shown interest in other DS titles like Zookeeper. But while she was intrigued at first, Cooking Mama couldn't maintain her interest. She struggled to keep up with the fast-paced games, and often had a hard time figuring out what she was supposed to do. She was also annoyed by some of the game's more arbitrary rules, like having to toss ingredients into a bowl in a particular order. Personally, I had no problem figuring out the games, but I found the subject matter boring and repetitive. I guess a few gamers out there might appreciate this one (young girls perhaps?), but this isn't my idea of a good time. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Diddy Kong Racing DS		Grade: B
	Publisher: Nintendo (2006) Reviewed: 2007/4/29 Rating: Everyone

Looking suspiciously like the original Diddy Kong Racing (Nintendo 64, 1997), this DS edition brings back the same Mario Kart-style racing action with a few original DS touches thrown in for good measure. You can race in cars, hovercrafts, and planes, and there's an assortment of bright, colorful locales. I particularly like the cheerfully festive snow and ice tracks. As you win races and complete challenges, you collect balloons that gradually open up more and more areas. The action is pure arcade fun as you speed boost, launch missiles, and use magnets to overtake your opponents. Diddy Kong's controls are intuitive enough, but I did find it awkward to use the L button to deploy special items while steering. The DS stylus is used periodically, including rubbing the screen to "rev up" your vehicle. Magic carpet rides serve as bonus stages and add some variety. As you automatically fly around a course, the stylus is used to pan the camera 360 degrees while popping as many balloons as you can. At first I didn't know what the hell was going on in these stages, but once I got the hang of it, I thought they were a lot of fun. You can even "drag" coins into a pouch at the bottom of the screen. Diddy Kong Racing is just as fun as the original game, but this DS version does come up short in some regards. The graphics are surprisingly mediocre, with a lot of ugly textures and some serious clipping problems. The water looks like a pixelated pattern of blue and white squares, and the "fog" in certain stages (unintended or not) can make it hard to tell where the track is heading. Technical issues bring down the fun factor of an otherwise charming, addictive game. In terms of audio, Nintendo has managed to put together a collection of catchy, cheerful tunes that you can't help but like. Diddy Kong Racing could have been better, but its simple brand of racing fun has universal appeal. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 8 players

Dig Dug: Digging Strike		Grade: F
	Publisher: Namco (2005) Reviewed: 2006/8/8 Rating: Everyone

Did you know that Mr. Driller is actually the son of the little man in Dig Dug? What's that? You don't give a [expletive]? That's how I felt paging through the endless lame text preceding this game's story mode. Digging Strike tries to expand upon the world of Dig Dug, but just needlessly complicates matters. You know, I can remember way back to the days when Dig Dug was a fun game. The original was a legitimate classic, letting you tunnel through dirt while "pumping up" bad guys and dropping rocks on their heads. Expert players could employ all sorts of risky strategies, and there was unlimited replay value. The lukewarm NES sequel, Dig Dug II, took an entirely different approach. Set on an island, the idea was to drill around and cause huge sections of land to collapse into the sea. This DS version unwisely attempts to combine the styles of both games, with the island displayed on the top screen and the underground areas on the bottom. Breaking up the island involves sinking strategically-placed spikes underground. The problem is, clearing out the dirt underneath the spikes is a tedious chore! The game attempts to incorporate all sorts of power-ups, but these can't elevate the tepid gameplay. In addition to rocks, you can unleash water, lava, and rolling mines. These new elements might have been interesting if the game had stuck with the original Dig Dug style. Certain power-ups trigger mini-games that are mildly amusing but inconsequential. I found myself searching in vain for some kind of "classic" Dig Dug mode, but it was nowhere to be found. In the end, Digging Strike did little more than bore the hell out of me. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Mermaids		Grade: NA
	Publisher: Take-Two Interactive (2007) Reviewed: 2007/11/30 Rating: Everyone

Dora the Explorer is an extremely popular Nickelodeon cartoon character, and this game takes her on an adventure through a series of tropical environments. Like its counterpart (Go Diego Go! Safari Rescue) this game is perfect for kids who want to play video games but aren't yet old enough to read. Dora Saves the Mermaids serves up a nice selection of mini-games complimented by bright visuals and pleasant steel drum music. On her journey Dora will dance the Conga, remove trash from a beach, call to animals, and blow away sand to locate a magic crown. Although most games are controlled with the stylus, occasionally you're prompted to speak or blow into the microphone. I advised my wife that if she heard me shouting "swipe!" or "squeak squeak" from the other room, I had not totally lost my mind (normally this type of behavior would be cause for concern). Each game concludes with a quick "positive reinforcement" screen, which leads straight into the next game. My little niece Brook (age 3) took to this game right away, but did get briefly stuck on one part where you need to drag garbage into a bag. Like a similar sequence in Go Diego Go, the game doesn't register stylus movements as well as it could. That's too bad, because otherwise this is very well constructed, albeit short game for young kids that requires little or no supervision from the adults. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.

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1 player

Elite Beat Agents		Grade: A-
	Publisher: Nintendo (2006) Reviewed: 2007/1/26 Rating: Everyone 10+ (cartoon violence, crude humor, lyrics, suggestive themes)

This may be the most insane video game I've ever played, and I absolutely love it. Elite Beat Agents is a quirky musical game that substitutes a dance pad with a touch pad. Its visual style is unlike anything I've seen before, with semi-animated comic-book style cels that leap off the screen with crisp lines and brilliant colors. Each selectable stage begins with an ordinary premise that takes a series of increasingly bizarre twists and turns. For example, a weather lady promises a sunny weekend to her son, but when the clouds roll in, she enlists the help of fighter pilots and forest animals to alter the weather conditions in ways that make absolutely no sense. You really need to see this stuff to understand just how wonderfully absurd it is. Elite's gameplay consists of tapping shrinking circles on the touch screen in time to the beats of songs. I'm never played anything like this before, but I like it a lot. Once you get into a groove, it really does feel like an interactive music video. There are plenty of familiar pop tunes like "Jumpin' Jack Flash", "YMCA", and "Material Girl", but even the more obscure songs sound great. There's even that dance song from Napoleon Dynamite, although the circles in that one seem oddly out-of-sync with the music. Also annoying is the big wheel you sometimes need to spin by moving the stylus in a circular pattern. Still, Elite Beat Agents offers something fresh and innovative, and I give Nintendo a lot of credit for taking a chance on this. Although best played in short spurts, the game's scoring system gives it some replay value. Clever and strikingly uninhibited, Elite Beat Agents is wacky fun you can only experience on the Nintendo DS. © Copyright 2007 The Video Game Critic.

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1 to 4 players