Tetris Party Deluxe brings the classic puzzle game to the Nintendo DS with a twist: party! It ditches the traditional Tetris story, focusing purely on fun and competition. You can play solo in various modes like Marathon (clear the most lines) or Sprint (clear 40 lines as fast as possible). But the real fun lies in the multiplayer modes. Up to four friends can compete locally using download play or online through Wi-Fi (though online functionality is no longer supported as of 2012). The game throws in unique Tetris variations like Bombliss (tetris with bombs!) and Shadow Tetris (plan your moves based on a future piece preview). Tetris Party Deluxe received generally positive reviews, praised for its classic Tetris gameplay with a fresh multiplayer twist. While some reviewers felt the solo options were a bit limited, the variety of multiplayer modes and unique Tetris variations made it a great choice for puzzle fans and partygoers alike.
Sealed
2088
£4
Big Brain Academy – Nintendo DS (2005)
Big Brain Academy for the Nintendo DS ditches the traditional storyline and focuses on brain-teasing fun. You’ll train your mental muscles with a variety of quick-fire minigames designed to test your memory, logic, math, and analysis skills. These bite-sized challenges, each lasting under a minute, use the DS’s touchscreen for intuitive controls. The game awards you points based on your performance, tracking your progress and awarding honorary brainpower titles. While there’s no overarching story, the friendly Professor Lobe guides you through the Academy, keeping things light and encouraging. Big Brain Academy received mixed reviews, praised for its accessible pick-up-and-play nature and engaging multiplayer mode for up to eight players using a single game cartridge. However, some reviewers found the short bursts of gameplay repetitive.
Secret Files: Tunguska is a point-and-click adventure game for the Nintendo DS. The story follows Nina Kalenkov, who dives into a search for her missing father. Teaming up with her father’s colleague Max Gruber, Nina chases clues that lead them to the Tunguska region of Siberia, a place shrouded in mystery due to a massive 1908 explosion. The gameplay unfolds from a third-person perspective with a classic point-and-click interface. A “snoop key” helps you find hidden objects in the environment, and unlike some adventure games, you can’t get stuck in an unwinnable situation. The game also features moments where you switch between Nina and Max to progress the story. Reception for the DS port was mixed. While some praised the inclusion of the “snoop key” and the multiple character mechanic, critics noted repetitive puzzles and uneven voice acting.
