Picross DS

Nintendo exclusive

Fill in squares using simple hints to reveal the hidden picture. Players need both puzzle-solving skills and creativity to earn a picture reward.

Released: 25 January 2007
Platforms: Nintendo DS
Genres: Nonogram Puzzle
Developers: Jupiter
Publishers: Nintendo
Modes: Multiplayer Single-player
Perspective: Text
Country: Japan
Age ratings: PEGI 3 ESRB E
Languages: English

About

Picross DS (ピクロスDS) is a puzzle video game developed by Jupiter and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld video game console. It is the second game in the Picross series to be released by Nintendo in Europe and North America after Mario's Picross suffered a commercial failure in regions outside Japan, where many games in the series have been released for several Nintendo consoles. Like other games in the Picross series, it presents the player with a series of nonogram logic puzzles to solve. It was first released in Japan, and was later released in North America, Europe and Australia.

Keywords

time limit
blocks
nonogram
user generated content
bonus stage
touch controls
unlockables
downloadable content
optional touch control
difficulty level
nintendo wi-fi connection
training mode

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Gameplay follows traditional nonogram rules, where players use logic to mark each square as full or empty, eventually revealing an unknown picture. Additional modes allow players to create their own puzzles and send them to friends, download classic puzzles and compete in speed competitions with friends or random rivals via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, download classic nonogram puzzles from previous titles and complete up to five timed daily challenges.

In all modes except Daily and Online Challenge, the player is given the opportunity to receive a "hint" which reveals one randomly selected row and column, which does not impact the player's time. Also, three types of background music can be selected (except for Classic puzzles and the unlockable level 11 "extra" puzzles), or the music can be turned off.

Reception

Dan Ryckert of Lawrence.com gave Picross DS a 9.4 out of 10 saying that "I couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised with Picross DS. It ranks up there with the system's elite in terms of "pick up and play" gameplay. With so much content and such a great price, you'd be a fool not to add this to your DS library." Boys' Life gave the game 8 out of 10 praising fun and challenging puzzles but also criticized it for a short length and zero replayability.