""Space is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind- bogglingly big it is""

"I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to space." - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Puzzle games have quickly become one of my favorite genres of video games. I've played countless hours of Tetris and Tetris Attack in the back of my French and World History classes. I've been complimented at my near-unbeatable status at Dr. Mario and bust-a-move. Now, a new generation of puzzle games has started, starting with Meteos for the Nintendo DS. At first, you're presented with a screen of blocks, and you wonder how good this game could possibly be. Is it just a Tetris clone? Will it have the same sense of urgency and intensity that is somewhat mandatory for puzzle games? I was asking myself all these questions after opened my copy of Meteos, and thankfully, it delivered.

---

Gameplay:8

Meteos was the very first stylus driven game that I purchased, and in all honesty, I was a touch worried about how it would control. Would the blocks be too big/small? Would the stylus be too inaccurate? Thankfully, it seems the minds at Q entertainment had the same concerns as I did. The blocks seem to be just right for the stylus, and I've yet to misfire any Meteos, in all the time that I've played this game. The action is surprisingly fast and frantic, an interesting concept for a puzzle game. It reminds me of Tetris attack more than any other game. They're similar in the fact that the blocks build up quickly, and sometimes you have to manage two fronts to keep yourself alive. That results in some intense puzzle action, comparable (some say) to that of super smash bros. You might think you have no real incentive to win the games, but there really is. They've implemented an interesting way to unlock new worlds and new items: When you beat a planet, it gives you elements. Using the elements, you can fuse them and unlock new things. It really pushes you to beat certain enemies, since all planets give different elements. There are several modes you can play: The quasi-story “Star Trip” mode, the Simple mode, as well as the Time War and Deluge. You'll probably be spending most your time on Star Trip or Simple, the main bulk of this game.

---

Graphics:8

Since when do graphics matter on a puzzle game? Never. But I guess I still have to rate them. There are various backgrounds in Meteos, as there are plenty of planets. Each is well designed, from the robotic looking levels, to the natural looking planets. Each is actually very well drawn, and has a sort of modern art flair to it. I was duly impressed with them. Of course, each planet has a matching set of blocks, which just adds to the “atmosphere”. The menu screens are easy to navigate and should provide no problems. In fact, they're quite similar to those of Metroid Prime: Hunters: Large and colourful.

---

Sound: 7

Not a very strong point of handheld gaming, sound once again is average for this puzzle game. There's a wide variety of it: uplifting and cheery to frantic and rushed, it's all to captivate you just a little bit more. The music seems to be designed for a space mission, carrying that adventurer/explorer feel to it. It kind of resembles the Star Trek theme in that sense (I'm sure hardcore Trekkies would disagree). The sound effects are barely noticeable. The sound of the blocks launching is just minor, and soon becomes background noise. Overall, the sound is just plain average.

---

Multiplayer/Replay:9

Ah, now here's where puzzle games really shine. What's the fun in practicing for hours, honing your skills until they become second nature, if you can't show them off to your pals? Grab your DS, and go find 3 friends, because Meteos offers some of the most intense multiplayer puzzling (is that even a verb?) that you'll ever experience. With various planets with various gravities, you'll be trying to beat them on all the different levels, and gloating when you do. It's interesting how this puzzle game becomes like a fighter, or a sports game. You might even find yourself taunting them, mid-game. Even if your friends don't have a copy of Meteos, you can use download play to send them a small demo. Sure, all the planets won't be unlocked, but it's a good sampling, and it might convince them to join your cause. If you have no friends, never fear, there's a few options anyways. With so many planets and things to unlock, you'll find yourself replaying the Star Trip mode as much as you can to try and fill out your roster. Of course, you're going to have to work extremely hard if you want to get that expensive last planet.

---

Overall (Not an average) 8

Meteos was one of the first games I purchased for the DS. I really didn't know much about it, but it was a steal (10$ Canadian, thanks to a glitch at Wal-mart) so I couldn't refuse. Thankfully, it paid off well, and I was rewarded with one of the best puzzle experiences I've had in a long time.
Even if you have to pay full price for this game, It really might be worth it.

-Dougmoto (Busy Smashing Planets)

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 07/25/06