My reviews of the NDS-games

[The Compiler]

View: Apps | Games

My reviews of the NDS-games
First of all, my English isn't that good, because I'm Swiss, so sorry for all mistakes I make.
But let's start with the reviews:

Game Melody Oratorio by DesertDog
A game that teaches you how to play game melodies from several games (Super Mario Bros, Sonic the Hedgehog, Tetris, Bubble Bobble and The Legend of Zelda) on a keyboard/piano.
pros and cons
+ Nice and polished UI
+ Good samples
- Only 5 Songs
3.5/5

graphics
Very nice UI, everything looks very polished.
4.5/5

sound
Good samples, all the sounds it needs.
4.5/5

ideas, innovation
It´s a completely new idea to teach piano on a ds!
5/5

usability
Everything good, too!
3.5/5

motion support
No (but it won't make any sense)
0/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
Yes, I´ve got a keyboard some time ago, but I can´t play anything on it, so I´m going to let me teach the Zelda music
What I would improve/add

• More songs

overall ranking
22.5/30





ChessNET by CYBER_Aeon
This is a online or local chess game for two players (online via "play-by-mail")
pros and cons
+ Nice and polished UI
+ Online gaming in a new form
- No En Passant/Castling implemented
3/5

graphics
Very nice UI, everything looks quite polished
4/5

sound
There isn't any.
2.5/5

ideas, innovation
Chess on the ds isn't new, but it's a great idea how to play it online.
3.5/5

usability
The icons in the GUI should have a label, but bedide of that it's good.
3.5/5

motion support
No (but it won't make any sense)
0/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
No, because I can't play chess (I really should learn it!)
What I would improve/add

• Probably a CPU-mode to play against the DS (maybe you could take the one from DSChess)

overall ranking
18/30





Chocobo World Deluxe by DavGav
I couldn't really rate this, because I haven't got a way to play .gba-homebrews. So it's non-competitive.

Super Mario : The Last GBA Quest by omg[/url]
Same here.



Puzl by SiW

A puzzle-game where you can puzzle with your own images.
pros and cons
+ Cool GUI
+ You can puzzle with your own images
+ Love that penguin
- Image-previews load slowly
- All the pieces are visible on the screen, so that's a little bit a mess
3.5/5

graphics
Quite nice gui, puzzle-pieces also look good.
4/5

sound
Many music-tracks, nothing that's annoying, so simply excellent.
5/5

ideas, innovation
Well, a puzzle is nothing new, but you can puzzle with your own images on your ds!
3.5/5

usability
It's a little bit messy when you're puzzeling with many pieces, all other things are good
3.5/5

motion support
No (but it won't make any sense)
0/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
No, I don't like puzzle games!
What I would improve/add

• It would be cool if you add the grayish features in the menu

overall ranking
21/30





DiceSoldiers by t4ils

A "risk"-like game.
pros and cons
+ Nice graphics
- Messy GUI
2.5/5

graphics
I like them, good graphics for a "minigame" like this
3.5/5

sound
First not bad, but it's getting annoying after some minutes.
3/5

ideas, innovation
The idea is not new, but it's something like a "port" to the ds.
3/5

usability
The GUI is quite messy, and you need to read the readme before you really can enjoy playing.
2/5

motion support
No (but it won't make any sense)
0/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
Yes, I like playing this.
What I would improve/add

• A clearer GUI

overall ranking
15.5/30





LoneWolfDS - Flight from the dark by Michoko

A port of a gamebook to the DS

pros and cons
+ Very very nice graphics and sounds
+ Great port to the DS
+ 3 save slots
5/5

graphics
Wow! Simply WOW! (Nah, I don't mean World of Warcraft, and even not the Windows Vista-Ad). Looks like a commercial game does!
5/5

sound
Fits to the book, and also smooth, so it doesn't interfere with the reading.
4.5/5

ideas, innovation
Well, the first port of a gamebook to the ds. The story isn't new, but anything other is
4/5

usability
Couldn't be simpler and more intuitive! 5/5

motion support
No (but it won't make any sense)
0/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
No, but only because I already play throught this
What I would improve/add

• I can't wait for LoneWolf 2....

overall ranking
25.5/30




Legion by smealum and Lobo

It's a mix beetween an RPG, an action game, and a shooting game in a isometric perspective

pros and cons
+ 3D
+ Polished GUI
+ Nice jokes at the topscreen while playing
- I can only see a yellow ground at the beginning.
3.5/5

graphics
Looks good in the menu, but in the game it could be better. But hey, it's 3D!
4/5

sound
Not bad, but also not that good.
3.5/5

ideas, innovation
Some new ideas in it, but all others are not new.
3/5

usability
Well, you can't do more than walk and shoot, so it's usable
3/5

motion support
No
0/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
No, because it hasn't got a story or something. If a want a shooter, I rather play doom or so.
What I would improve/add

• Better graphics

overall ranking
18.5/30




ASCIIWAR by Samel

A completely sick mix beetween adventure and shooter, but in ASCII

pros and cons
+ Sick idea
+ ASCII is cool
- Not very usable
3.5/5

graphics
Uhhmmm, graphics? What's this? I only know what ASCII is! And I like ASCII.
3/5

sound
There isn't any, would be cool if there would be some beeps or so
2.5/5

ideas, innovation
A very different story, and very sick and new ideas.
5/5

usability
You have to use the keyboard and type a command if you want to do something. Cool for nerds, but confusing to non-nerds.
2/5

motion support
No.
0/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
Yes, of course!
What I would improve/add

• A simple GUI (or TUI - text based interface) for selecting the spells, etc.

overall ranking
17.5/30




Star Wars battles by space1

A battleship-game with a starwars look-and-feel.

pros and cons
+ Nice idea to mix battleship with starwars
- Very buggy
2/5

graphics
Nice graphics and ideas, but the need some more polishing.
4/5

sound
Yay, Star Wars sounds!
4/5

ideas, innovation
Everyone knows battleship, but you mixed it with starwars, included a mini-game, and so on.
4/5

usability
You easly can do everything you have to do.
4/5

motion support
No, but it won't make any sense
0/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
Probably. It would, if it would include some more features.
What I would improve/add

• A 2-player-mode
• Probably more mini-games to determinate who has won the battle

overall ranking
19.5/30




Snake Dual Screen by edddy

A dual-screened snake-game

pros and cons
+ Very good graphics for a snake
+ Dual screen
+ Chicken!
- Horrible sounds
4/5

graphics
Very very nice for a snake!
4/5

sound
Just put your hand to the volume control and move it to the left. Or for non-ds-owners: Mute it.
1/5

ideas, innovation
Snake is nothing new, but this one is dualscreen (and it has got CHICKEN!)
4/5

usability
Well, you need to start the game and collect the eggs...
3/5

motion support
Yes
1.5/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
Yes, this is the best homebrew snake for the ds.
What I would improve/add

• A mode without the clock
• Better sounds...

overall ranking
19/30




Piztog Tower Defense by Shoog

Yet another tower-defense for the ds.

pros and cons
+ No need to switch the screens as in Warcraft Tower Defense for the DS
3/5

graphics
Quite good!
4/5

sound
Errr... Quite good!
4/5

ideas, innovation
Some new things are here, but the idea was there before.
3/5

usability
You should know the subject of the game before playing it, then it's... ... quite good!
4/5

motion support
No
0/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
Yes, because it's better than Warcraft tower defense in my opinion.
What I would improve/add

• Nothing!

overall ranking
19.5/30




Ultimate Sliding Puzzle Pack Ecchi/Arcade/SciFi by kuklcan

The first dual-screen sliding-puzzle for the ds

pros and cons
+ Dual-Screen
+ Many images (50 per pack)
4.5/5

graphics
Good.
4/5

sound
It rocks
4.5/5

ideas, innovation
It's the first dual-screened sliding-puzzle ever!
4.5/5

usability
You haven't got anything more to do as move the pieces.
3/5

motion support
Yes
1.5/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
I don't know. I want to see the Ecchi pics, but I can't solve these puzzles...
What I would improve/add

• Nothing!

overall ranking
23.5/30




PongClassicsDS by Minishlink

Another Pong for the DS.

pros and cons
+ Much features
+ Wifi
- Uncomfortable GUI
3.5/5

graphics
The old boring pong-graphics.
3/5

sound
It's too psychadelic!
2.5/5

ideas, innovation
It has got many modes never seen before.
4/5

usability
The menu isn't very usable.
3/5

motion support
Yes
1.5/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
Yes!
What I would improve/add

• A clearlier menu

overall ranking
19/30




MarbleMan: The Arena by MagNet

A game where you have to touch the red squares with a marble, but brickable walls are blocking the way, and the sqare is getting smaller.

pros and cons
+ New idea
+ Nice physics
3.5/5

graphics
All it needs.
3.5/5

sound
It's boring after a couple of minutes.
2.5/5

ideas, innovation
It seems to be a new idea from scratch!
5/5

usability
It's good, and very simple
4/5

motion support
Yes (I think it makes way more fun with Motion)
1.5/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
Yes, I'm going to order a Motion Pak

What I would improve/add

• Nothing!

overall ranking
21.5/30




Electro by chris28
This is a puzzle game with a new concept.

pros and cons
+ New idea
- The font on the topscreen is to small to read it
- The rom is overloaded with music
2.5/5

graphics
It looks very good and polished.
4/5

sound
I don't like classical music, but it has got many different songs, so the rom is quite big.
3.5/5

ideas, innovation
It seems to be a new idea from scratch!
5/5

usability
It's good to use.
4/5

motion support
Yes.
1.5/1.5

original enter
Yes.
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
No, as I already said, I don't like puzzle games

What I would improve/add

• Nothing!

overall ranking
22/30




jaPongG by leinad
A pong-game with a 2 or even a 3 player mode on one ds

pros and cons
+ 3-Player-mode
+ All modes vs. CPU
- Strange way to select the settings in the menu
- Weird behavior in the menu, sometimes it says "Baelle" ("Balls" in German), and sometimes it says "Balls".
3/5

graphics
Again the old boring pong-graphics...
2.5/5

sound
There isn't any.
2.5/5

ideas, innovation
Some ideas like the 3-player-mode are new, all others aren't
3/5

usability
Quite bad, you have to read the instructions at the upper screen until you know how to select the modes.
2/5

motion support
No
0/1.5

original enter
No
0/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
Yes!

What I would improve/add

• A better menu

overall ranking
13/30




Noob Mini Games by tiancai
A "Spot the Differences" game

pros and cons
+ All pictures are selfmade and free!
+ Polished look for a such small game

4/5

graphics
Good, there are some comic-style pics, and some photos.
4/5

sound
Cool sounds, but no music while playing
3.5/5

ideas, innovation
Dunno how old "Spot the differences" is, but now it's on the DS!
3/5

usability
Good.
4/5

motion support
No
0/1.5

original enter
Yes
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
No, I don't like to search differences beetween images.

What I would improve/add

• Music while playing

overall ranking
21/30




Escape from Island by Ben2303
A point&click adventure for the DS

pros and cons
+ Good additions to the flash-version
- Very short

2/5

graphics
All the graphics are from the flash game, but they are good
3/5

sound
Good sounds and nice music.
3.5/5

ideas, innovation
It's only a port of the flashgame, the only new thing is the music.
2/5

usability
You can control everything with the stylus and most of the things per drag&drop
4/5

motion support
Yes!!
1.5/1.5

original enter
Yes
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
Not anymore, because I'm done with it.

What I would improve/add

• A map of the island
• Probably code a second part

overall ranking
17.5/30





Area ten by kukulcan
A puzzle-like game for the ds, you have to sort marbles.

pros and cons
+ Very polished look
+ Settings for DSMotion

4/5

graphics
Everything good
4/5

sound

4/5

ideas, innovation
Seems to by a entirely new idea
5/5

usability
You only control some kind of a panel, and the menu is usable.
4/5

motion support
Yes.
1.5/1.5

original enter
Yes
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
Yes, this is very cool!

What I would improve/add

• Stylus-control

overall ranking
24/30
Super Wings by eKid
One more GBA-Game. Sadly, non-competitive.



DualShooter by eadmaster
Yet another shoot 'em up for the DS

pros and cons
+ More than one weapon
- Unpolished graphics

2.5/5

graphics
A little bit unpolished in my opinion, but the backgrounds are very good!
3/5

sound
Not bad!
3/5

ideas, innovation
Nearly nothing is new.
2.5/5

usability
You have to remember which button is for which action, but you have to do that in nearly every game.
3/5

motion support
Yes.
1.5/1.5

original enter
Yes
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
Yes, probably I'll play this from time to time

What I would improve/add

• Better graphics

overall ranking
17/30




Scogger by scognito
A puzzle-like game, smiliar to SensitiveDS, but more puzzle and less action

pros and cons
+ Nice graphics
- Elevator music, everywhere?

3/5

graphics
Polished and...  just good
3/5

sound
Move your volume-controller to the left one more time
2/5

ideas, innovation
Some new ideas, some old ideas.
3/5

usability
Just start the game and let the frog jump! But you should know the rules before.
3/5

motion support
Yes.
1.5/1.5

original enter
Yes
1.5/1.5

Will this stay on my flashcard?
No, I rather play SensitiveDS, with more action and less puzzle.

What I would improve/add

• Nothing!

overall ranking
17/30




Ranking list

Place	Name	Author	Points
1st	LoneWolfDS - Flight from the dark	Michoko	25.5
2nd	Area ten	kukulcan	24
3rd	Ultimate Sliding Puzzle	kuklcan	23.5
4th	Game Melody Oratorio	DesertDog	22.5
5th	Electro	chris28	22
6th	MarbleMan: The Arena	MagNet	21.5
7th	Noob Mini Games	tiancai	21
7th	Puzl	SiW	21
8th	Piztog Tower Defense	Shoog	19.5
8th	Star Wars battles	space1	19.5
9th	Snake Dual Screen	edddy	19
9th	PongClassicsDS	Minishlink	19
10th	Legion	smealum and Lobo	18.5
11st	ChessNET	CYBER_Aeon	18
12nd	Escape from Island	ben2303	17.5
13rd	DualShooter	eadmaster	17
13rd	Scogger	scognito	17
14th	ASCIIWAR	Samel	15.5
14th	DiceSoldiers	t4ils	15.5
16th	jaPongG	leinad	13
----	Super Wings	eKid	--
----	Chocobo World Deluxe	DavGav	--
----	Super Mario : The Last GBA Quest	omg	--

Wow, done with all the reviews! Spend around 10 hours in it... Hope it was worth the time
Let me know if anything is uncorrect, I was very tired and had headache when I finished this 

Florian

[CYBER_Aeon]

.. Why do people keep making placeholder posts? What's so hard about posting when you actually have something to post? I hate going to check out a new post and finding it totally empty.
 

[The Compiler]

.. Why do people keep making placeholder posts? What's so hard about posting when you actually have something to post? I hate going to check out a new post and finding it totally empty.
 

I need it, because I want to have a preview for the code.
By the way: Can anyone tell me, when exactly the deadline is? At 5th, 00.01 at forum time, so in about 8 hours?

Florian