a quick DS update


Eyeweiss received three new DS titles: Meteos, Daigassou Band Bros and Elektroplankton.

Yes, finally the DS is gathering some Momentum in Terms of unique Innovation. All three games would have been impossible on previous systems, each for unique reasons.

Let me start with Meteos : This game is a classic dexterity puzzle game, quite as frantic as most other japanese titles from this area. However, it really uses the stylus as the interface tool of choice, but doesn't exist to justify it's existence. This has been amiss as the other DS titles have only tried to provide game play for as opposed to with this device. It's also incredibly addictive, deep and features a great, if a little unnerving soundtrack that adjusts to the game play. Not surprising, isn't Q entertainment the company where Tetsuya Mizuguchi works, the creator of the eardrum busters Space Channel 5 and Rez. Don't miss this when it is finally released in your country.

Next up: Daigasso Band Brothers . This is a real blast, provided you have some friends who own a DS and Headphones or a quiet room. (You may also use an amp if you want to impress as many people as possible) First off: you only need 1 copy of the game to play with an infinite number of players. wow! The power of downloadable game content.
The game itself is a rhythm-action music game, quite similar to the Dance Dance Revolution games. You just don't get to dance on top of your DS, but instead are to use the D-Pad and the YXBA buttons.
The music ranges from crappie J-Pop (sorry but it's true) to classical medleys (ouch) and video game sound tracks. Everybody can hum the Zelda theme, and the Mario Medley works well too. Oh. And then there is the obnoxious Smoke on the Water. Start out with this, it's easy for everybody....
Sounds boring? It isn't, once everybody gets going on their instrument of choice.... and they try hard, as it really shows if you don't hit the notes on time.

Elektroplankton arrived yesterday. This software is not a game per se, but rather a music creation toy. It comes in a beautiful metallic blue package along with a set of transparent blue headphones. The initial impression reminds you of a classical music CD, which isn't really that far from the truth.



Elektroplankton comes in the shape of 10 totally different creatures, each with their own sound creation and recording abilities. The manual, which incidentally was created by the designer and producer Toshio Iwai features wonderful simplistic drawings that make it easy for non-japanese customers to get a basic idea. The game itself doesn't feature any written words, so it's safe to import this if you are eager to get a crack at producing music.



The music you can create range from minimalist abstract synths to harmonic xylophone sounds and sampled loops. The software is designed in a way that prevents disharmonies, so it's easy to get something enjoyable out of it. Of course, serious music composers will find this limiting, but let's not forget that this package is intended to quickly fascinate and entertain. My only critique is that the game doesn't feature a cooperative synched mode, which makes it a little hard to play together and maintain a single rhythm.



People are already uploading their creations , I hope there'll be interesting crossovers in the future. Big thanks to Melanie for scanning the manual!

Posted: Thu - April 14, 2005 at 09:54 PM         |

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