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Setup & Timing
Using the buttons to navigate the main menu, "Multiplayer" is one of the options. The opening credits sequence is not totally skipable, but it is short. Download time was 25-30 seconds.
Menus & Navigation
Navigating through the menus of Totally Spies! 2: Undercover was pretty simple, with all of the Single-Card Download functions located within the "Multiplayer" menu. While there is a way to navigate the menus using the touch screen, it's not as obvious or as easy as using the buttons.
Ease Of Use / Play Control
Different mini games have different levels of control quality. "The Winning Combination" and "The Waltz" require tapping on the screen to play, with "The Waltz" additionally requiring timing. "Puzzles" requires the dragging of puzzle pieces with the stylus. "Blow The Game!" includes simple use of the microphone, but the flying is sloppy and poorly programmed (apparently, space suits prevent the spies from bending to avoid obstacles). "Connections" has probably the worst vontrols of any of the mini games - not because it's hard, but because the only challenge (not hitting the walls) is challengeless if you're pay attention.
Content
There's a lot left to be desired in Totally Spies! 2: Undercover. Graphically, it's not as low as GameBoy Advanced levels, but it's nowhere near what the Nintendo DS is capable of, with some persistent pixelization and a lack of great detail. Audibly, the game isn't bad. There's some nice elevator music in the background (could be a whole lot worse) and no annoying sound effects. The only features available are five mini games and there are no settings for any of them. In fact, there's no interaction between the two players. Why can't players choose the goals their opponents have to complete in Connections? Why can't players select the code for The Winning Combination?
Overall Fun
A lot of times, games throw in the Single-Card Download feature simply because they can, without putting serious thought and consideration into any of the content. Apparently, with Totally Spies! 2: Undercover, Single-Card Download was added in and the graphics were improved slightly from the GameBoy Advanced version of the game as a means to differentiate it, but it looks like no real effort was made to make it more fun, or a better game. There're games with worse efforts put forth, but this one could have been better. Classic puzzles and challenges like Puzzle and The Winning Combination are included, but they allow for no customization or ability to make them an actual challenge. The programmers took a nice first step, but then fell down and forgot to get back up. I know that noone - the programmers included - expected this title to become Game Of The Year, but when you have the opportunity to improve a game and make it better, why not take advantage of it?
Encorportate some player interaction.
Allow players to select each other's goals.
Offer difficulty settings for each of the games.
Overall Single-Card Download Rating: 54 / 100 (a.k.a. 27/50)
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