[DS] Picross DS

Well, Picross DS came out today. In a word: amazing.

(Then again, if you don't like puzzle games or picross...)

The one way they could have fucked this up is to have poor controls, like so many of the Flash picross games across the web, but the controls are absolutely perfect. So far, I finished the easy mode and the first 10 puzzles of normal mode.

I think there are a couple hundred puzzles in the single-player mode, plus all the puzzles for online, plus you can download other people's puzzles, plus you can make your own. When you finish enough puzzles, you get little mini games, like draw this picture real fast or touch all the moving dots real fast.

I'm having trouble putting it down, it's that fun. Highly recommended anyone who likes these sorts of puzzle games. Especially at $20, it is a must buy.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Yeah, as you read in my journal, I'm planning to get it.

I tried the demo at Gamestop and loved it. When I found out it was $20, I was sold on getting it.

Can't wait to pick this up tomorrow.

Damn you, Target.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Can't wait to pick up this one tomorrow after work. I was going to import the japanese game until it was announced for a North America release. Believe me, you don't want to know how much I drooled.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Yeah, I've been a fan of the game for a long time via emulation - I was so glad it 's come stateside. I've been playing it since this afternoon - the only gripe I have is the draging controls you use for larger puzzles - other than that it rocks.

How ya doing, buddy?

Man, this game is so awesome. So far I've done all of the Easy Mode puzzles and a couple of the Normal Mode, along with one of the original puzzles they had on there. I also tried out Daily Mode, which was alright, but I think I'll like it better when I unlock all the games.

So yeah, this game is totally worth it for $20. So much fun!

Oh, and I guess I'll post my friend code as well, just in case anyone wants to play online or something.

Friend Code: 322229 248300

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by BlueMikey

The one way they could have fucked this up is to have poor controls, like so many of the Flash picross games across the web, but the controls are absolutely perfect.

I like the stylus control for filling in squares a lot, but I wish there was a way to switch between pen, x, and all that using buttons instead of having to make the long, difficult trek from the playing field to the top left corner of the screen.

But wait, efficiency: you can use the D-pad if you're left-handed or ABXY if right to choose between the four tools! Success!

but wait

When you release a direction or button, the tool deselects. It doesn't stay in that tool, no. Instead, you get put into a state of no tool at all, unable to do anything until you select another tool with a button or on the screen. So, in order to fill in blocks with this kind of control, you need to hold up/X the entire time. Wanna cross some blocks out? Move your thumb down and hold down/B the whole time.

I find this dreadfully annoying. Why can't it just stay in that mode?

Otherwise, .

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

You know, it took me a game or two, but now I like that it deselects. On the bigger/harder puzzles, I like to count out squares, and sometimes I accidentally tap the screen. If the thing auto-selected, I'd get all kinds of time demerits. :P

Also, when you get into the 15x15 puzzles, when you deselect, it automatically goes back into drag mode.

FELIPE NO

Yeah, I'd only played up to 10x10s when I made that post. With the 15x15s, deselecting so that you can drag works very well. Probably the best way that part of the gameplay can be controlled.

However, I don't really like the zooming at all because I much prefer to be able to see the whole board at all times. It might be better if the screen autoscrolls when you fill in blocks and try to go past the edge of the screen, but having to stop, then drag the screen over, and then continue drawing is a pain. Plus, I like to see more numbers than just three on each side of the board at once, and tapping back and forth between columns or zooming in and out got really old really fast.

I ended up just going back to D-pad controls on full zoom out. Kinda hard to see everything because of the screen resolution, but I'm used to playing it like that through years of emulation, so it works for me and I'm happy so far. Gonna be interesting to see what happens when I get to the even bigger grids.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I find the game absolutely addicting. Can't stop filling out those squares. Every time I go to the loo? Gotta fill squares.
The only thing I miss is internet access now. I still haven't pulled myself together to buy the adapter

Jam it back in, in the dark.

This game's bitchin'. Get yourself online foos. Oh, and look what I started doing again: Picross DS Friend Codes.

And my code: 000106-917162

How ya doing, buddy?

I can't stand the stylus controls, actually. And it seems like some of the minigames are a tad broken, not always detecting where you tap fast enough. Plus they're just not fun.

But the puzzles themselves, when combined with D-PAD control, is just *awesome*.

Any idea on how many unlockable tiers there are? I just unlocked level 5 under normal picross.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Eh, I think there are ten levels. The last one is 20x25 grids with space theme. The astronaut one is still irritating me...

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I like the stylus controls, but I agree with the notion that the scrolling is not done right. My biggest complaint is that you can't see the numbers for every row, only the one you're on and one above and below. I've become accustomed to using the top screen a LOT when I get down to having to count more.

Agree on the minigames too. Sketch is alright.

Also, I have one other complaint: I'm not a fan of Normal Mode. Sometimes I slide the stylus one over too far on accident and I get dinged. I mean, in free mode, I can just reverse the accidental mistake I knew I made. Free mode is more like doing it on paper.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by 2401 Penitent Tangent

And it seems like some of the minigames are a tad broken, not always detecting where you tap fast enough.

Yeah, I noticed that Hit doesn't seem to register in some cases unless I try multiple times to get a tap on squares. I do kind of like Sketch for a quick break, but I hope there are more than just a few of those puzzles.

Originally Posted by BlueMikey

Also, I have one other complaint: I'm not a fan of Normal Mode. Sometimes I slide the stylus one over too far on accident and I get dinged. I mean, in free mode, I can just reverse the accidental mistake I knew I made. Free mode is more like doing it on paper.

I actually am not a big fan of Mario's Picross 1 & 2 because they only have puzzles in the mode with the time limit and penalties for mistakes. Mario's Super Picross has the Wario mode which is like Free Mode, though, which is why I <3.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I've been enjoying this since buying it on a whim (good reviews plus cheap price usually means I'm grabbing it). I was a newbie to Picross, but I do enjoy logic puzzle games like this.

I'll be adding my info to the wiki, but just in case I forget:
098891-359837

I'm definitely wondering if my stylus needs to be resynched...I've been getting a lot of mistaken entries registered by the game =/ Despite that little prob aside, I'm having a lot of fun.

FELIPE NO

I love paint by numbers/nonograms/whatever, so I've been looking forward to this for awhile. The WiFi features will make this thing last for a long time.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

This game failed the touchscreen, basically for the reasons CHz mentioned. Using the dpad is fine, but since you're asked to zoom in on larger puzzles, this is extremely annoying.

There's also times where you're going to miss a block thanks to the stylus. Perhaps if they took some time and effort into making the blocks larger, to compensate for the angles in which the touchscreen would be pointed at, this problem wouldn't exist. But it does exist, and it's very annoying.

Secondly, the music is very repetitive and forgetful. You're not going to have the music stuck in your head after you've turned the game off.

The difficulty level however, is very good. It's hard, and there's a bunch (200+ puzzles I think) of puzzles to solve. It's a mixed bag when it comes to this game, but I would recommend trying before buying, if you bother to buy at all. One for the more puzzle-centric fan.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I don't think I'd want puzzle music stuck in my head after I finish. I do with there were more songs, but I'm glad it's forgettable. It's just supposed to be background noise, after all.

I honestly haven't had any problem with it registering blocks I didn't mean to hit. When I accidentally step over the bounds, it's because I'm moving too fast, not because the squares are too small. Maybe your calibration is off? I dunno. I noticed when I tried out the game at Circuit City that I couldn't hit the screen for shit.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

This is one of those games I somewhat fancy picking up, but I already have a backlog of titles, including a puzzler of a similar ilk that I'm only half-ish way through.

From the comments, I'm guessing you guys would recommend this to someone who like logic puzzles then.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Wow. I want this game now! I've been playing the online version (http://www.wiipicross.com/puzzle.php), and I've gotten up to level 8. ( =O )

And here's an informative tutorial for those who never played before: http://www.thonky.com/cazgridz/tutorial1.htm Lovin it..

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I've switched to the D-pad controls myself now too, just because I don't like making mistakes I've been more prone to it using the stylus. =/ So addictive!

I was speaking idiomatically.

Another convert for Dpad controls. Accidental touches are highly likely for me on 15X15 and higher grids with all the silly zooming issues.

Wifi picross is sort of different. You seem to be allowed to be much sloppier since the only penalty is 5 seconds. I also don't like the matching as for my first bout online I was paired up against a champion.


FC:
365179
047831

Send me your puzzles please!

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Never played Picross before, so I was kind of interested in trying this out. I tried playing some games online and got terribly confused, but I'm glad that the game turned out to be fairly easy to pick up.

Controls seem allright to me, though I have occasionally hit two blocks at once (DS's fault) or gone over too many when sliding the stylus (my fault). So far it hasn't resulted in me missing the time cutoff, so whatever. I would probably switch to D-pad controls, but I like how quickly you can scroll around using the stylus, even if I do have to reference the top screen any time I need to do some thinking.

Friend code to come later -- I haven't made any puzzles myself, but I'd be interested in seeing what other folks have come up with.

How ya doing, buddy?

Very addicting, but also very hard later on

I really dislike Sudoku but love this game. Other haters of Sudoku, don't be afraid to check out Picross DS!

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Oh hay, so I checked for updates on the ol' Nintendo Buttfuck Connection today and oh god they actually put up some classic puzzles.

About fucking time, Christ. Anyway, two puzzle packs from Mario's Picross are up, as of the 3rd of this month, according to the date on them.

Packs contain a piddly 10 puzzles each. 7 are Normals, 3 are Free Modes. They are easy ones for now, and they tend to stick to a theme. First pack is Mario enemies, for example.

They aren't hard, but at least it's something.

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