GBA's Mazes of Fate finds its way onto DS

Best known as the first game for a Nintendo gaming system to be developed in South America, Mazes of Fate proved to be a surprisingly enjoyable, if retro-themed, turn-base role-playing GBA experience when it received a limited release in the US at the end of 2006.

Our reviewer put it like this: "Sure the game has many generic features that fogies old enough to remember the Might and Magic PC series will instantly recognise, but the harmony with which they work together helps Mazes of Fate transcend its numerous borrowings."

On that basis, the news it's making the switch to DS should be welcomed. That the original Argentine developer Sabarasa Entertainment doesn't seem to be involved is less of a progressive development, although the fact the company's website hasn't been updated for 17 months means that's not entirely surprising.

Instead publisher Graffiti is taking over game-making duties, too.

These involves crafting new quests, dungeons and characters, including three new player avatars. All the 2D sprite-based graphics for the dungeons, monsters and items will also be overhauled and properly animated, with the game's main 3D view being shown on the DS' touchscreen. This will enable you to open doors, pick locks and pull levers using your stylus. The topscreen will feature character stats and a bigger version of the GBA game's automap.

(Note: The screens above are mock-ups Pocket Gamer has cunningly made, combining these elements from the original GBA title.)

Mazes of Fate DS is due to be released in the US during October. No European publisher or release date has yet been lined up, but it has been confirmed that the game will include five language options: English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian.