Planet Puzzle League
Although the name has changed, the basic premise behind Puzzle League has not. You are presented with a screen of different colored block with the goal of matching up three of more of the same color by switching blocks. The catch is that you can only switch the blocks horizontally. The use of the stylus to control moving the blocks is far superior (and more intuitive) than using the D pad. By simply selecting the desired block and gliding it across the screen, as opposed to the original mechanics that required comparatively cumbersome taps of the D pad to select and then move the blocks, can now move the blocks. This is the idea behind much of the success of Nintendo’s Touch Generations games. The object of the game is quite intuitive and the interface so natural that anyone can pickup the game and play.
The game feature six different play modes: Puzzle, Endless, Time Attack, Garbage, Clear, and Vs. Computer. However, Daily Play is probably the best feature of the game. It allows you to track your progress in the different play modes by challenging you to a quick two-minute game that you can play once per day. The graphics of the game are pretty simple, consisting really of just colored blocks. However, the block sets are quite varied and there are numerous backgrounds that make the game visually interesting.
Of course like any good puzzle game, although the object is deceptively simple, the skill comes in being able to quickly find patterns to create chains and combos. Once you master these skills you can go online using the Nintendo WiFi connection and play against other from around the world. However, here comes the biggest oversight of the game. No Online ranking system! This was one of the best features of Tetris DS and is quite a disappointing omission from Planet Puzzle League. Another annoyance, which only effects those lefty gamers, is that the game always starts in right hand mode even after you select left handed as your game preference. Perhaps this should be a system wide setting instead of an in-game setting so that I don’t have to switch my system around three times to start the game!
For the puzzle aficionado, the game can’t be missed. The online play gives the game significant value; however, the lack of the ranking system really hampers its potential. Aside from its small quirks, Planet Puzzle League is one of the most addictive puzzle games available on the portable platform.
Michael Petnuch is a graduate math student who enjoys walking on his hands, drinking diet coke, solving math problems, and being silly!
