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Setup & Timing
Navigation within the game is extrememly simple. The programmers expected casual players to pick the title up and programmed the game accordingly. Opening credits aren't too long. "Multiplayer" is right on the main menu.
Menus & Navigation
Menu options are structured in lists, with each tapable area shaped like a rectangular bar. The options are large, negating the need for massive buffer space, and the menu is extremely (appropriately) reactive.
Ease Of Use / Play Control
Gameplay is entire based on the traditional grab-and-drag-and-drop mechanic. While the items being dragged around are a little small (a function of the size of the board and the size of the Nintendo DS's screens), they're big enough to target successfully. Prism: Light The Way is also pretty intuitive. Missed your "grab" by a little? The game's got a good chance of helping you grab it. Keep in mind, you have to be close. Also, if you're close to more than one object, the game may or may not help in that situation.
Category Score: 13.5 / 15
Content
Prism: Light The Way includes a random puzzle generator in its Single-Card Download content, meaning that there's plenty of variety. The game's graphics vary from animated backgrounds to small icons. Some look great and some are a little too small to be able to make out distinct details, but everything on the board is distinct enough to be distinguishable. The music is a... how do I describe this... "peppy-goofy-8-bit-retro" I guess. The title includes a Cooperative mode. The title includes a Versus Mode. The title is lacking a Single-Card Download single-player Demo.
Overall Fun
I've played a lot of puzzle games in my day. In fact, this is the 36th puzzle game I'll have reviewed. While there are several types of puzzle games (including "brain games", there are two main types of puzzle-focused games. The first puzzle-centric category is made up of action-styled puzzles, where time is of the essence and you're rushing to "do the most" like Meteos or Tetris DS. The other main category of puzzle games includes the ones with a more casual feel, where you can take your time to consider all options like Polarium and even The New York Times Crosswords. Without a doubt, Prism: Light The Way fits into the more casual category. What's great about puzzle games that fit into that category is that it gives players the opportunity to jump in (and jump out again) when there isn't time to sit and prepare to "do battle" against the puzzle. There are times that this type of puzzle is exactly what I'm looking for when a quick challenge is in order.
Prism: Light The Way is a charming little puzzler. The game involves taking items from around the screen and arranging them just so in order to provide the right colors of light beams to the right targets. Along the way, the light is reflected, split, and re-colored (sometimes each is done repeatedly). Prism a highly traditional type game that is right along with what casual gamers are looking for, while hardcore gamers (that love puzzle games) will find a solid challenge (particularly in the later boards). The game is well designed and executed with a cute - but not sugary or feminine - basis. The icing on the cake is that the game features both Vs and Co-op, the later of which is entirely too rare in Single-Card Download content. Not that I really think I need to say itm but I'll definitely be playing this game again.
Provide a downloadable Demo featuring a random puzzle generator and/or a series of pre-set puzzles (20?).
Include a puzzle designing feature, with the puzzles accessable in Single-Card Download.
Feature an option for larger (more than the size of one or both screens) puzzles.
Add an option for zooming in.
Offer an optional 3D perspective.
Overall Single-Card Download Rating: 89 / 100 (a.k.a. 49.5/50)
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