Game Review - Picross for Nintendo DS

Entry posted by Robert M June 27, 2008

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Picross is a fun set of logic puzzles in the same genre as Sodoku. Each puzzle consists of a grid of blank squares and a set of numbers for each row and column in the grid. The numbers indicate the sets of squares that must be filled in that row or column to solve the puzzle. For example, if the numbers are {1 2 3} then a single square must be filled, followed by 2 squares then 3 squares. At least one square must remain unfilled between the filled squares. The number of unfilled squares between the filled squares is the missing information you must deduce logically.

You have an hour to finish each puzzle. Making mistakes will cause a penalty of several minutes to be added to the elapsed time. Solving the puzzle completes a picture. If you finish the puzzle in under an hour you get an animation of the picture as a reward. Solving multiple puzzles will unlock simple mini-games and harder Picross puzzles.

This game is a lot of fun, and with the ability to save your current puzzle it is easy to pick up for a few minutes at a time. The puzzles are a fun challenge, and the reward animations are cute.

I have only one gripe and it is about the controls. On larger puzzles you must zoom in to fill squares. As you fill squares the zoomed puzzle will pan automatically. In my haste to get a good time I often find that the puzzle will pan and I will miss the square I was aiming for and suffer a penalty. I wish there was a way to turn the automatic panning off.

Other than that I think the game is very excellent and is very enjoyable for anyone who likes puzzle games. If you like Sudoku puzzles you will really enjoy Picross.

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