Nintendo re-arranges the blocks for Puzzle League DS
It's kinda like Meteos but without rockets
We've been predicting it for months, but finally it seems that puzzle game designers really have run out of ideas when it comes to game mechanics.
In Puzzle League DS, you have to slide multi-coloured blocks around with your stylus to line up three or more of the same colour as they rise up from the bottom of screen.
That's right, this is exactly the same as what happens in Meteos, (minus the space theme), which in turn has just been remade as Meteos: Disney Magic. (Puzzle League DS also follows Meteos: Disney Magic in screen configuration, as you hold your DS like a book to play – hence the strange way we've had to display the screenshots above).
So how will the third DS game in this niche try to tempt gamers?
Well, first up it's being retailed at the pocket-friendly price of £20. Nintendo's also marketing it in a typically Touch! Generations manner, as 'My First Puzzle' game, although it's not clear whether it will be officially included in the European Touch! Generations campaign, as it was in America.
Also helping in this casual first approach is the game's Daily Play mode, which in a Brain Training-stylee challenges players to complete tests from each of the three modes every day.
Those are: the Garbage Challenge, which involves clearing falling garbage blocks while aiming for a high score; Vs.com, which sees you playing against the DS; and Time Attack where you have to race against the clock to clear the screen.
For more experienced gamers, it will likely be the multiplayer modes that will differentiate Puzzle League from the competition. Up to four players can go head-to-head from one game cart in the ad hoc mode, while the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection is supported for global multiplaying.
Adding to the variety are the in-game battle items: Reflect, where all your garbage is sent to your opponent; Twitch, which makes your opponents' blocks shuffle for a short time; and Paralyse, where one of your opponent's rows is made immovable.
Puzzle League DS will slide across Europe on June 29th. Puzzled? Click 'Track It!' to wait for our review.
