Publisher/Developer: Codemasters/Climax Studios
Genre: RPG/Puzzle
Price: $29.99
Rating: E 10+ for Comic Mischief & Mild Fantasy Violence
Verdict: If you like RPG/Puzzle games you could do worse but rent instead of buy. Once you finish this short game you won’t want to pick it up again.
Pros: Cute Puzzle game with an imaginative story.
Cons: Controls are inaccurate. Lack of replay value.
Mutant Fungus is plaguing the lands in this spin off portable platform from Codemasters. With Minion Master Gnarl as your guide you will control Giblet, Blaze, Stench & Zap through six different areas each with four levels of Puzzles. The cartoonish detailed graphics of each of these levels are well thought out. Completing the puzzles will rid the villages and forests of this Fungus and allow the evil Gnarl to rule the lands again. Gnarl will help you through the game with instructions and tips though text based scenes that are at times comedic but A wise sounding voice over would have been a better touch. Instead you get a repetitive musical sound track that’s a flash back to some older games. You are able to re-read these instructions by taping on Gnarl at anytime which is good if you play a little at time while on your way to work or school. Unfortunately, these instructions do not include everything you need to play the game. This is one game that you will need to have the manual close at hand when you’re required to do an advanced move.
The top half of the DS is your map which isn’t very detailed but is still helpful. It shows the all important resurrection points where you can revive a minion if one dies. But be careful, if they all die you will start back at the beginning of the board. It would have been nice to have save points along the way because playing a board from the beginning over and over can get very tedious and send you looking for another game.
The bottom half is the touch screen where you actually control your minions. Here is where I’ve had the most trouble. Using the stylus to move, fight and interact with your environment is not always as responsive as you need it to be. A combination of buttons and stylus would have given some of the actions a bit more accuracy.
The start of the game is very simple, more designed to teach you each of the minions strengths then to actually stump you with difficult puzzles or un-beatable foes. I almost didn’t bother continuing, but as the game progressed it did get a bit more interesting so give it some time if you decide to get this game.
Each of the minions has their own special powers, which will help you work out puzzles to continue on your quests. You will sometimes need to work alone or as a team which is an interesting feature, but since this is only a one player game you are the only one in control. Being able to connect the game and play with 2-4 friends would have added some much needing excitement and replay value. Because of that, I would suggest this as more of a rental than a buy because once you figure out the puzzles and finish the game you are left with no replay value.
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Overlord: Minions
Popularity: unranked [?]
