POKEMON:TROZEI
Posted: August 2nd, 2006, 2:36 pm
POKEMON:TROZEI! Nintendo/DS gradeA!
Being a huge fan of the POKEMON "Tetris Attack" clone (can't recall the name-?) on GBColor system, I was enthralled to see the big "N" put the little besties into ANOTHER favorite Puzzle genre of mine, the "Bejeweled/Zookeeper" genre! POKEMON:TROZEI is a LOT like a speeded up version of zookeeper but with enough differences and new levels and animations to make it one of the best DS puzzle games yet-In fact I now put the top Ds puzzle games at: 1) TETRIS DS...2)POKEMON:TROZEI!...3)ZOOKEEPER...
4) POLARIUM and 5)METEOS....just MY preferances, mind you!
P:T Is much like Zookeeper: to clear a level you line up the same types of Pokemon in a vertical or horizontal row. But the differences are vast: The story mode is far deeper, with our gal heroine shown kicking A throughout the stages, in warehouses or sattelites or mobile labs shaped like huge scorpions (the game play screen is always the same though)....you choose the level on a world map. First thing you'll notice is the SPEED increase! Pokemon drop down like a dumptruck has dropped it's load all at once! At first it seems too fast but the game is actually very easy at first. In Zookeeper you lined up 3 animals, here you must line up FOUR or more pokemon by SLIDING sections on the screen. When you are successful you get TROZEI TIME-screen turns green and any two or more pokemon alligned ANYway dissapear, giving you bonus points and helping you clear the screen; plus there is the "wildcard" pokemon shaped like a purple blob that matches ANYTHING! You get "bonus coins" for clearing certain levels and can always go back to training camp if you get rusty!
As mentioned, the between-level animations are AMAZING stuff, real Cartoon Network quality! The ingame graphics are sparse but more than seviceable; puzzle games need not be complex and unlike ZOOKEEPER (which used small ICONS) here you do get real, full blown POKEMON to catch. The larger shapes are more fun to play with. Control is fine with the stylus, though you are prompted to "touch the screen" way too often to progress. There should be some cases of "just end the thing!", but I guess on the plus you get lots of PAUSES! My biggest gripe would be the Sound. Fine on the map and animated screens but VERY bland in-game; oh well, at least it does not grate on your nerves like ZOOKEEPER.
Bottom line: if you are looking for a great BEJEWELED/ZOOKEEPER or -stretching it a bit-Tetris-puyo-puyo type game(with some COLUMNS thrown in for good measure!) P:T! is for you. One of my MOST ADDICTIVE DS games ever, now supplanting ZOOKEEPER-to ME, that sez it all!
Nintendo: Now how about DS TETRIS ATTACK!?
Being a huge fan of the POKEMON "Tetris Attack" clone (can't recall the name-?) on GBColor system, I was enthralled to see the big "N" put the little besties into ANOTHER favorite Puzzle genre of mine, the "Bejeweled/Zookeeper" genre! POKEMON:TROZEI is a LOT like a speeded up version of zookeeper but with enough differences and new levels and animations to make it one of the best DS puzzle games yet-In fact I now put the top Ds puzzle games at: 1) TETRIS DS...2)POKEMON:TROZEI!...3)ZOOKEEPER...
4) POLARIUM and 5)METEOS....just MY preferances, mind you!
P:T Is much like Zookeeper: to clear a level you line up the same types of Pokemon in a vertical or horizontal row. But the differences are vast: The story mode is far deeper, with our gal heroine shown kicking A throughout the stages, in warehouses or sattelites or mobile labs shaped like huge scorpions (the game play screen is always the same though)....you choose the level on a world map. First thing you'll notice is the SPEED increase! Pokemon drop down like a dumptruck has dropped it's load all at once! At first it seems too fast but the game is actually very easy at first. In Zookeeper you lined up 3 animals, here you must line up FOUR or more pokemon by SLIDING sections on the screen. When you are successful you get TROZEI TIME-screen turns green and any two or more pokemon alligned ANYway dissapear, giving you bonus points and helping you clear the screen; plus there is the "wildcard" pokemon shaped like a purple blob that matches ANYTHING! You get "bonus coins" for clearing certain levels and can always go back to training camp if you get rusty!
As mentioned, the between-level animations are AMAZING stuff, real Cartoon Network quality! The ingame graphics are sparse but more than seviceable; puzzle games need not be complex and unlike ZOOKEEPER (which used small ICONS) here you do get real, full blown POKEMON to catch. The larger shapes are more fun to play with. Control is fine with the stylus, though you are prompted to "touch the screen" way too often to progress. There should be some cases of "just end the thing!", but I guess on the plus you get lots of PAUSES! My biggest gripe would be the Sound. Fine on the map and animated screens but VERY bland in-game; oh well, at least it does not grate on your nerves like ZOOKEEPER.
Bottom line: if you are looking for a great BEJEWELED/ZOOKEEPER or -stretching it a bit-Tetris-puyo-puyo type game(with some COLUMNS thrown in for good measure!) P:T! is for you. One of my MOST ADDICTIVE DS games ever, now supplanting ZOOKEEPER-to ME, that sez it all!
Nintendo: Now how about DS TETRIS ATTACK!?
