Bomberman

Bomberman

Even with 100 levels the single player mode is still a breeze to complete. Fortunately, there is a nice meaty multi-player mode for you to sink your teeth into. With up to eight players being able to play from a single cart this is excellent value for money and will keep you playing for quite some time.

Gameplay: You really need to play this in multiplayer to get the most out of it.

Graphics: Bright, colorfull and very retro looking.

Sound: Typical Bomberman stuff

Nelly Cootalot: The Fowl Fleet

Nelly Cootalot: The Fowl Fleet

With its quirky sense of humor, interesting cast of characters, and plucky protagonist, it is hard not to be charmed by Nelly Cootalot: The Fowl Fleet. While the puzzles are somewhat easy, the game always had us smiling and even had a few laugh-out-loud moments. The Monkey Island series has obviously influenced it, but the game has enough unique charm of its own. If you are a genre fan, The Fowl Fleet should definitely be on your wishlist.

Gameplay: Easy enough for newcomers, but even experienced players will enjoy the quirky setting and characters.

Graphics: The blend of 3D characters and 2D backgrounds works well, and the overall art style is very good.

Sound: The soundtrack is nice, but the voice acting steals the show thanks to some great performances

Beat Blades Haruka

Beat Blades Haruka

Nukige titles are not really known for their story or gameplay, but Beat Blades Haruka definitely bucks this trend. As implausible as it is the story is actually quite neat and training the girls to fight in battle is very addictive. Of course, seeing as it is a nukige title there is an enormous amount of H-content as well and fans will be happy to hear that it is all completely uncensored. It is not a game for the easily offended or sensitive, but fans of the genre should definitely add it to their collection.

Gameplay: The stat raising and battles make it a lot more engrossing than a typical nukige title.

Graphics: Excellent character designs and a ton of CGs.

Sound: Good voice acting and lots of music

The Emerald Maiden: Symphony of Dreams

The Emerald Maiden: Symphony of Dreams

The Emerald Maiden: Symphony of Dreams borrows some elements from Bioshock and Abyss, but the underwater complex still makes for an interesting setting. To break up the gloominess of the deserted facility you also get to visit a few dream locations, such as Paris, Prague and the Amazon jungle. So while it doesn’t really break any new ground, it did keep us entertained throughout.

Gameplay: Nice hidden object scenes and interesting puzzles, but nothing truly unique.

Graphics: The setting is rather familiar, but the dream elements do allow for some nice new locations.

Sound: Overall, not too bad

Pharaoh Rebirth+

Pharaoh Rebirth+

Pharaoh Rebirth+ is a Metroidvania style platformer that oozes charm and playability. Even with the low resolution visuals the pixel art remains brilliant and each location is packed with detail. The story is another surprising highlight and you’ll encounter plenty of humor along with interesting twists. You really can’t go wrong with this title if you are a fan of the genre and it manages to shine despite some technical limitations.

Gameplay: The game has a surprising amount of depth for a platformer and plenty of replay value as well.

Graphics: The resolution is rather low, but this doesn’t diminish the brilliance of the pixel art visuals.

Sound: Catchy tunes and decent sound effects

Bike Rider DX

Bike Rider DX

Bike Rider DX features a very simple premise, but pulls it off in a very polished manner. It features plenty of levels that are not only very colorful, but also very addictive to complete. Levels are short enough that you can finish one or two on the go, but there is also enough replay value to keep you coming back for more. Apart from the 3D effect it is not much different from the other mobile versions, but it is still a very fun game.

Gameplay: Very simple to play, but surprisingly addictive.

Graphics: Colorful and the 3D effect is actually a good match for the visual style.

Sound: Upbeat and catchy

Silent Hill: Downpour

Silent Hill: Downpour

Technical issues aside, Silent Hill: Downpour lacks the atmosphere of earlier titles in the series. The scares just isn’t there and while the monster encounters have been toned down considerably the combat is still clunky and the creatures uninspiring. I had fun with the game, but it could have been so much better.

Gameplay: Let down by technical issues and a lack of scares.

Graphics: Looking very dated.

Sound: Good but not great

Mr. Driller Drill Spirits

Mr. Driller Drill Spirits

Mr. Driller is not a bad game and it certainly has some addictive qualities, but there’s just nothing here to justify buying it on the DS. Better puzzle games that make full use of the DS capabilities will soon come along so only get this if you are really a fan of the character and genre.

Gameplay: Arcade gaming with a puzzle twist.

Graphics: Bright and colorful but that’s about it.

Sound: Bad voice acting and annoying sound effects

Indiana Jones® and the Fate of Atlantis™

Indiana Jones® and the Fate of Atlantis™

This is obviously a must-have title for Indiana Jones and Point & Click Adventure fans alike. Although showing its age it’s still a great game from a company that was at the pinnacle of the genre back in their heyday. No self respecting adventure gamer should pass up on this one.

Gameplay: Pure point & click goodness.

Graphics: Pretty good back in the day but obviously dated now.

Sound: A nice soundtrack and good effects for the time

Eventide: Slavic Fable

Eventide: Slavic Fable

Unlike other hidden object games that are fond of featuring the usual supernatural suspects like ghosts, Eventide contains plenty of creatures from Slavic fables. Their inclusion, along with the colorful hand-drawn visuals, provides the game with a unique look and feel. The story is still a bit clichéd, and the game isn’t very long, but it is a lot of fun while it lasts. This makes it a good choice for newcomers to the genre, but the charming visuals and interesting locations will also appeal to veterans.

Gameplay: Although it is an easy title, it is also a lot of fun while it lasts.

Graphics: The game features vibrant, colorful visuals and cool creature designs.

Sound: The voice acting could have been better in spots, but overall, the audio is good