bit-tech Shopping: Nintendo Planet Puzzle League (DS)

Rating: 10

Time with product:

Strengths: Challenging puzzle games, WiFi multiplayer capable

Weaknesses: None apparent

Summary: Planet Puzzle League is one of the best puzzle games on the DS, which involves matching blocks which drop from the top of the screen. There's numerous modes of gameplay in single player, as well as multiple types of multiplayer gameplay, including over WiFi connections. Puzzle game fans must get this great title.

Rating: 8

Time with product:

Strengths: fun, well designed, addictive

Weaknesses: bland presentation

Summary: This is the next iteration in a series that is usually branded by cutesy kids characters and as a part of nintendo's touch generation effort to pull in casual gamers that might be turned off they've shedded that image and present a straight forward sleek (if not bland) puzzle game. The single player game is great fun and easy to pick up and put down at a whim. The game can be played quite casually but also the strategy can be quite complex and interesting for those that want to put their full attention into the game.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 10 Days

Strengths: Challenging Tetris like game.

Weaknesses: If you don't like Tetris, you probably won't like this cartridge.

Summary: Unlike the classic Tetris where you you eliminate horizontal rows (1-4 rows at a time), this game you eliminate pieces 3+ at a time, that are the same color. Because you eliminate pieces instead of whole rows, this game is a bit more challenging than classic Tetris in my opinion.

Rating: 10

Time with product:

Strengths: Addiction, online play

Weaknesses: Addiction

Summary: I have to say this is one of the best puzzle games on the DS next to Tetris DS. Planet Puzzle League is addictive. You can play this game online versus against many people in the world. It also has ranks to show how good or poorly you played online. In this game, you can use the control pad or use the stylus which is preferred to play. Drag the blocks and connect at least four in a row or in a column to clear the blocks. You can make combos and throws garbage on the other player to fill up the screen. I recommend you to get this if you like puzzle games.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 1

Strengths: Excellent update of a solid forumla, great multiplayer options (single card, multi-card, and WiFi), spot-on controls, addictive gameplay, great for all ages and skill levels

Weaknesses: Doesn't add much to the existing formula as far as actual gameplay goes

Summary: Planet Puzzle League is really more about creating a modern update to a puzzle classic than about reinventing the wheel. If you've ever played any of the Puzzle League (or Panel de Pon) style games, then you already know what you're in for. Those new to this style of game will be delighted though. This is one of the best games in the puzzle genre easily. Planet Puzzle League takes the standard gameplay created by its predecessors and modernizes it with fleshed out multiplayer, stylus-based controls, and a simple yet snazzy graphical polish. For those who've never experienced any game in the series, it is a block stacking puzzle game, much like Tetris or Meteos. However, rather than rotating and moving falling blocks like in Tetris, or moving block vertically as in Meteos, PPL involves moving blocks strictly horizontally. Blocks continue to rise up from the bottom of the screen and the player must slide blocks from side to side to try to form 3 or more continuous blocks of the same color. If the stack reaches the top of the screen, its game over. The trick here is to create lines of 4 or more blocks and to form chains of lines for extra points. PPL includes various modes of play such as time attack and garbage attack. In time attack, you simply try to get the highest score possible in a set amount of time. In garbage attack, you are faced with large solid blocks on top of your stack that can only be broken up into individual blocks by clearing blocks that are adjacent to it. Also, an endless mode is available where you simply play for as long as you can without failing as the blocks progressively fill in faster and faster. One of the major enhancements of Planet Puzzle League over its ancestors is the addition of more multiplayer modes. PPL gives you the ability to play with other DS owners locally whether they have the game or not and also play online via Nintendo's WiFi Connection. As usual, random matches are the norm but if you trade unique friend codes with other players, you get some extra features. In the case of PPL, you can actually have a voice chat while playing, which is a nice addition to be sure but its still a pain to swap friend codes with people. All in all, Planet Puzzle League is an extremely welcome addition to the DS puzzle game lineup. Its somewhat slower paced and more focused on strategy than Meteos and is an entirely different beast from Tetris DS. If you're looking for the next great puzzler, this my friends is it. I highly recommend this to all DS owners that have even the slightest interest in puzzle games.