BlackPete
02-28-2009, 04:00 PM
I'm aware that this game shipped for multiple platforms, but I figured I'd create this thread for the DS version at least...
I played the XBLA version and it took a while to get used to the hex playing grid and wrap my head around having to think about what direction I'm swapping in to control the direction of fall-in after breakups.
However, one thing I didn't like about the XBLA version was how everything is crammed onto a single screen so it got overwhelming at times and sometimes it gets tricky figuring out what I'm looking for and where to find it.
When I picked up the DS version I was surprised at how different it plays compered to the XBLA version -- I like the interface better and it's easier to tell just what's going on. Plus the story is for some reason more engaging than the XBLA version -- probably due to the cleaner interface in general?
Another thing that was a HUGE improvement is using the stylus over the analog stick for swapping pieces. The stick is a major pain when you're able to swap in six directions, especially on the timed hacking puzzles.
It's frustrating because the DS came oh so close to being the superior version if not for a few crippling bugs:
1) The loading times. This game has the worst loading times I've ever seen in a DS game. Just WTF is taking so long during the loads? It's a 2D game for crying out loud! I've worked on a couple of DS games in the past and I find that you'd have to be extremely sloppy to have load times that long on a DS.
2) The map is glitchy as hell. I'm seriously blown away by the fact that this game shipped in this state -- it's THAT buggy. When you leave the solar system to bring up the interstellar map, sometimes tapping the screen causes the map to jerk to some random location, making you have to scroll back to your location so you can try again at selecting a destination.
Even worse is when you're in a solar system -- often when you're trying to enter a planet and you have to make a choice in the pop-up menu... tapping on the menu often makes it go away and your ship inexplicably flies off to a random corner of the map -- which forces you to click on the planet/base/station you just left so that you can circle around and fly back to it so you can try again. This is incredibly annoying because at one point I've had to click on a leapgate EIGHT times before I was able to select "Hack this gate". Considering how slowly the ship flies and have to circle around, this took me about 3-4 minutes just to choose the fucking "Hack this gate" option when it should've worked on the first try!
There are other glitches but these two are the worst I've run across.
Bottom line:
While this game is fun and addicting (I'm already level 16) I still kinda wish I can return this game and wait until D3 ships an updated version with the bugs fixed and the load times eliminated.
I played the XBLA version and it took a while to get used to the hex playing grid and wrap my head around having to think about what direction I'm swapping in to control the direction of fall-in after breakups.
However, one thing I didn't like about the XBLA version was how everything is crammed onto a single screen so it got overwhelming at times and sometimes it gets tricky figuring out what I'm looking for and where to find it.
When I picked up the DS version I was surprised at how different it plays compered to the XBLA version -- I like the interface better and it's easier to tell just what's going on. Plus the story is for some reason more engaging than the XBLA version -- probably due to the cleaner interface in general?
Another thing that was a HUGE improvement is using the stylus over the analog stick for swapping pieces. The stick is a major pain when you're able to swap in six directions, especially on the timed hacking puzzles.
It's frustrating because the DS came oh so close to being the superior version if not for a few crippling bugs:
1) The loading times. This game has the worst loading times I've ever seen in a DS game. Just WTF is taking so long during the loads? It's a 2D game for crying out loud! I've worked on a couple of DS games in the past and I find that you'd have to be extremely sloppy to have load times that long on a DS.
2) The map is glitchy as hell. I'm seriously blown away by the fact that this game shipped in this state -- it's THAT buggy. When you leave the solar system to bring up the interstellar map, sometimes tapping the screen causes the map to jerk to some random location, making you have to scroll back to your location so you can try again at selecting a destination.
Even worse is when you're in a solar system -- often when you're trying to enter a planet and you have to make a choice in the pop-up menu... tapping on the menu often makes it go away and your ship inexplicably flies off to a random corner of the map -- which forces you to click on the planet/base/station you just left so that you can circle around and fly back to it so you can try again. This is incredibly annoying because at one point I've had to click on a leapgate EIGHT times before I was able to select "Hack this gate". Considering how slowly the ship flies and have to circle around, this took me about 3-4 minutes just to choose the fucking "Hack this gate" option when it should've worked on the first try!
There are other glitches but these two are the worst I've run across.
Bottom line:
While this game is fun and addicting (I'm already level 16) I still kinda wish I can return this game and wait until D3 ships an updated version with the bugs fixed and the load times eliminated.