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Setup & Timing
The setup is simple for Trioncube (pronounced tree-un-cube). The Bandai Namco Games title screen stays up a little long, but that's not really
that important. The download is fairly quick, which it should be considering what is being sent over. The game does not really explain the purpose of
the art and the effects until you discover it on your own after the game starts. To change the art and/or effect, the guest has to power their system
off, power it back on, and reconnect.
Menus & Navigation
The menus are well organized and the zones are big enough (you can tap them with the stylus without accidentally tapping the wrong thing).
There is an option on the main menu for multiplayer ("VS Play"). Four options are then presented: two for playing a mult-card game ("Host Game" and
"Join Game"), the option for Single-Card Download play ("Single-Card Play"), and an option to play against the computer ("VS CPU").
Ease Of Use / Play Control
Play control is simple: rotate the piece and drop the piece into place. The controls are all done with the "A", "B", "L", and "R" buttons and
the direction pad (no use of the touch screen), so fans of traditional controls can rejoice. It's not a bad thing to avoid the touch screen (unless
all you want is touch screen games). In Trioncube, the touch screen really wouldn't provide much of a benefit. An option to select with buttons you
want to use ("A" and "B" buttons vs. "L" and "R" buttons) because if you prefer to use the "A" and "B" buttons, the "L" and "R" buttons can cause
problems if you hit them accidentally, so be careful how you're holding your Nintendo DS system.
Content
Trioncube's look is very cartoony-cutesy. Everything in the game is drawn in the same style, regardless of art and effect style. The look
works for Trioncube - it's not too feminine or too masculine, it's not repulsive and it's not sugary in a sense that would drive anyone away. It just
is... Trioncube. Take it and love it, or don't After all, it's a puzzle game - you don't have to look at the animations while playing, and you
probably won't, but it's a fun art style. The sound changes based on the selected effect. Certain effects can get annoying, and others can make
people laugh out loud. It all depends on each person's sense of humor. If you arfe the host, pick what you like (or, if you're generous, pick what
you think the guest will like). If you're the guest and don't like what was selected, turn off the sound and turn up the stereo. The sound isn't
essential, but it does set a nice competitve mood when you can hear how your opponent is doing based on the number of sound effects they're generating.
As far as options are concerned, Trioncube is a little lite. You can select the art, effect, and distance traveled. That's it.
Overall Fun
Review... Continued Interest?
Trioncube is fun. The single-player experience is noticeably short in story mode, but that's not what I review here. I review Single-Card
Download content. Trioncube is a puzzle game. If you like Tetris, you'll like Trioncube. Trioncube offers a unique take on Tetris-like pieces and
uses them in a whole new way to create a game that is unique (and NOT a Tetris clone), but one that will still appeal whole-heartedly to Tetris fans
and afficionados alike. If you don't like puzzle games, this was never a consideration for you in the first place, but if you do like puzzle games,
Trioncube will give you hours of play before you can even get everything unlocked, let alone purchased. The difficulty level for puzzle players is low
compared to some games like Puyo POP FEVER. This game doesn't provide that strategic
thinking challenge, but it does give you a fun little game you can delve into when you don't have a lot of time, or don't want to think too deeply
about a video game. And, as an additional bonus, anything you do in the game works toward unlocking the art and effects, no matter how little you
play. I plan to continue playing Trioncube until everything is unlocked and purchased, and then I plan to continue playing from time to time after
that. Trioncube is a good game for puzzle game lovers, and a great game for both Tetris fans and casual gamers.
Challenge Mode where one person plays and the other person can watch on their own DS screen and decide which piece they have to deal with next!
Overall Single-Card Download Rating: 82 / 100 (a.k.a. 41/50)
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