Death to DS owners

Death comes to us all, so it's only fitting that its remit should include the world's most popular handheld console. And thus it is that this winter, Death, Jr will shuffle across from its PSP birthplace and onto the DS.

But rather than attempting to port the PSP original or the sequel, Death, Jr: Root of Evil, Konami has opted for a brand new adventure designed specifically for Nintendo's console.

The action surrounds a botched school science fair experiment, which has inadvertently led to the unleashing of the all-powerful evil-doer, Moloch.

It's up to you, playing as Death, Jr and his friend Pandora to set things straight by exploring the crazy world of failed science experiments, collecting souls and generally dispatching evil minions using scythes, guns and special combo moves.

The latter sound particularly interesting, as they look set to make the most of the DS's touchpad, requiring players to draw gestures with the stylus in order to pull off special attacks.

A series of special mini-games promises to add further variety and longevity, especially as they can be played competitively over a local wi-fi connection.

Will this be enough to ensure the game reaps the benefits of the DS platform to score a Pocket Gamer award? Or will it just turn out to be grim for all the wrong reasons? Only time and our reviewer will tell.