Product Rating

NEVES (DS)

Neves, another puzzle game for the dual screened wonder (its not like th system is devoid of the genre) so my stereotypical impression was another game set to fall into the pile of shovel ware that the DS has become regularly unaccustomed to, and this is unfair. Neves is a very good game, it manages to tick many boxes, including its suitability for both casual and regular gamers. Bet you didnҒt see that one coming, eh? Im glad it did.

One of the reasons why Neves manages to be appealing to a wide audience is its very simple concept. Developer Yukes, (who are most notably know for their long work with the Smackdown! Series) have chosen to build a game based on a tangram. For those with a puzzled look on your face, remember getting plastic 2D shapes in Primary School maths and being asked to make 2D objects (like people, or animals) Җ thats what this game is about.

Game play typically involves the player being given a number of different shapes and being asked to fit them into a bigger shape underneath, the bigger shape representing a crane, a straw hat, someone practising yoga or any other of the weirdly wonderful designs. Obviously the things you have to create can sometimes require a little imagination but its part of the fun and you have to remember that the design team is limited on which shapes can be made when the smaller ones are combined.

To match the shapes, players simple drag shapes across the touch screen with the stylus, letting go of them will snap a shape to the board. However, itҒs not quite that simple, players will have to use their wits as pieces will need to be flipped to the other side, and twisted around before being dragged into position. Flipping simply requires a simple tap in the middle of the shape, whilst twisting the shape requires tapping small circles on the vectors of the shape when it is selected, turning it clockwise.

Being a puzzle game, the variety in modes isnt too varied. The basic mode, silhouette, simply gives the player the shape they need to make and lets them run free. Time Attack is fairly self-explanatory; it gives you the shape to make but limits you to how long you have to complete it. Next along is 7 mode, which challenges the player with just seven moves to complete the shape. Also included is wireless one-cart multi-player but Iґll come back to that later.

Given its simple aesthetic, and its budget price, (it varies between 17-ã20 depending on the retailer) would usually tell me that it is built primarily for the casual market. But Neves' addictive, often difficult gameplay tells a different story. Neves is one of the few games that manages to be perfectly suitable for both casual and regular gamers. Within ten minutes of me popping the cartridge in my DS, my girlfriend and her mother were leaning over my shoulder, giving me pointers and genuinely having fun. When I went to college, I came home to find said Mother playing Neves sat on the sofa. The very same woman cannot turn on a computer, but was compelled to work out how to turn on the DS for the addictive game play. And I myself fell into the trap of addictive game play. Leaving my DS at home when I went to college felt like a mistake. The very basic principle, which many might criticize, is exactly what helps this game have such a wide audience.

Although you should not presume the game is easy either, its difficulty is fairly steep. Its simplistic game play allows the developers free rein with the difficulty; you will often have just two pieces left to fit into the shape and will hit a block. In fact, most of your time will be spent climbing over these walls, and you get an enormous sense of release when the solution finally pops into your head.

Graphically, the game is what you come to expect from a DS puzzle game, although developers Yukes havent used an overly bright pallet. Simple colours, primarily white, black, silver, brown and a strong green make up the majority of the colour scheme, its graphical style is fairly similar to 42 All Time Classics. Nothing particularly special, but it does the job and is smooth and consistent.

Itђs the same story in terms of animation, its clean and simple. Once again you will find a clear lack of truly ground breaking effects here, but itҒs a puzzle game. There isnt going to be any real animation to begin with so the fact that the animation present works perfectly is fine for me.

The music in Neves is better than the standard puzzle game affair. ItҒs melodic and very in-fitting with the games' whole aesthetic. The music has a special quality to it that prevents it from becoming monotonous, much like music from the Mario and Zelda franchises. Its at a nice sound quality as well; a puzzle game generally wonҒt fill a DS cart so the extra capacity can be put to a higher bit rate in terms of sound quality. It doesnt sound half bad, especially considering the quality of the speakers built in to the DS. Sound effects are fairly generic, but then what do you expect really? They keep to the tone of the game and donҒt become a nuisance of a distraction.

One of the bonus points for any game is the built in function of wireless multi-player, added to that with Neves is the addition of single cart play. I do like the fact that this mode is simply called Bragging Rights Mode. This mode simply involves two players having a race; each round involves both players attempting to complete the same three puzzles. The standby screen between rounds has a simple graphic and three numbers; win loss and draw.

Pros: -Good use of the touch screen -Its budget price is perfectly suitable -Nice clean graphics -Funky, melodic music -Plenty to do -Fun for all ages and abilities -A game for both casual and general gamers, at last! -Really good multiplayer

cons: -Better in short bursts, you cant really play for more then thirty minutes -Lack of WiFi

conclusion: A great game for all the family, it's a true testament to the developers to create a game that is addictive for practically everybody in the household. Its another one of the casual games that doesn't deserve the casual label because of its truly excellent game play. Whilst not a field of flowers to look out, it has clean lines and chirpy music. In a word - Superb

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