Boing! Docomodake DS – Quick Review

So my girlfriend Ivelisse finally got her DSi (enjoyable new tidbits but otherwise just an overpowered DS lite…for now at least. DSi Store FTW o-o) and one this new title interested her enough to get her to purchase it. So I spent a little time playing it. Here are my thoughts:

Boing! Docomodake DS is one of those games that just completely fits the Nintendo DS style. It’s a great puzzle game mixed with some simple platforming. The player takes control of Papa Docomodake, whose in search of the rest of the Docomodake family. Every level consist of different puzzle types that force the Papa Docomodake to split into mini Docomos to pass challenges such as getting through a small passage, pressing down a switch while being in a different spot, using levels, or collecting all your Docomos to bring Papa Docomodake back into his normal size to push large boulders. Graphics are very simplistic anh really don’t need to shine for this style of gameplay. It takes just a few minutes to get the learning curve down, and once you have that it becomes an addictive little adventure. I found myself for example, trying to get a better grade rank with each next level and the level designs themselves give just enough of a challenge to make you rush to the very next one. Since I don’t have a NDS (yet), we weren’t able to try out the multiplayer, but if it’s anything like the normal gameplay, then it should be great.

The only problems I see is that longevity of this game. What’s going to make me play the game after all 40 or so levels are beat? This is where I think the DSi could really be a dominant handheld system. Think if the developers added a map building section. Allowing players to create their own puzzles and share them like the PS3 hit game Little Big Planet. With the DSi’s stronger cpu, ram, os, and expandable storage, doing tasks like sharing user created files should be simple and could really add a lot more play time to DS games like Docomodake (roughly a 4-5 hour game.) I just feel that if the developers and gamers could connect in this fashion that new ideas can be formed. That’s really what we’re all in for right? Gaming.

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Rating: 4/5

Pros: Based off a cell phone mascot…like seriously…not off some game idea, just a mascot…awesome, $20 price tag, interesting puzzles, cute charm.

Cons: Sadly, being a short game really hits hard.

I do recommend this game even if it is short. I got me hook for the small amount of time I played, and really, I feel that puzzle games and platformers and the strong points of the NDS. Boing Boing! :3