Gunpey DS (DS)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 3.5 stars Very good
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 7.7 (3.5 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Kevin VanOrd
• Reviewed on: 11/21/2006
• Updated on: 06/25/2007
• Released on: 11/17/2006
• Originally published on GameSpot: Gunpey DS (DS) Review

Puzzle game players have contended with cubes, spheres, and other geometric shapes over the years, but lines have been pretty scarce, which is part of what makes Gunpey such a refreshing change of pace. It was originally released on the Japanese WonderSwan handheld, so the gameplay concept is relatively unknown in the West. Thank goodness for the modern makeover, because the core gameplay is strong, and the presentation is delightful.

Gunpey's premise is simple: Lines pointing in various directions pop onto the gameplay grid from the bottom, and you must connect them from left to right. Once you've linked one side to the other, the chain is locked, and you have a few seconds to add more lines before it is removed. While you can use the D pad and buttons to play, it's far simpler to use the touch screen: Just touch the line you wish to move and drag it to the desired position within the column. If a line is in the top row when the next row is due to appear at the bottom, the game is over. It sounds easy, but the underlying complexity soon becomes apparent.

The first challenge you'll need to overcome is to only move lines vertically, so it doesn't take long for a single column to collect multiple stray lines that you can't do anything with yet. Because new lines constantly push what's already there toward the top of the grid, you're wrestling not only with connecting them but also with moving the ones near the top further toward the bottom. Making a complete connection doesn't just cause the chain to explode, though; it also buys you time. Once the connection is created, the lines within it will freeze. You can either eliminate the chain right away or leave it frozen until it explodes automatically. Not only can you add other lines to the chain, but you can also move them through it, and no additional lines will pop up while your chain is actively frozen. This downtime presents an opportunity for you to get your stray lines in order.

At first, a grid full of lines looks a little minimalist because you're likely used to the more visually appealing shapes common to this style of game. But it's a nice change that grows on you once the levels start moving along. If you've already arranged your lines and are still waiting for the next row to appear, all you have to do is tap the B button or the arrow on the touch screen to pull them up. The first minute of play moves along slowly, but the closer the lines get to the top, the more quickly new rows appear. The resulting tapping is hectic and satisfying.

Frontier mode is Gunpey's main attraction. Here, you choose a character and fight through a variety of foes in a musical showdown. It's a strange premise because Gunpey is not really a rhythm or music game. The top screen shows a computer-controlled grid, while your own playing grid is on the touch screen, and after your enemy fills his playfield, you move on to the next. In standard difficulty, you can play through a set of opponents in about 30 minutes, and you can choose from three levels of difficulty. As you cycle through characters, you play on a variety of cowboy-themed skins called stages, as well as unlock new characters and stages as you progress. They're all vibrant, attractive, and accompanied by a mix of club tunes that don't seem to fit with the visuals. Yet it works, with a Lumines-brand fusion of music and sound effects that oddly suits the Japanese Old West style. However, there are times when the stages get too colorful. The lines on the gameplay grid aren't very crisp, and they can get easily lost, making it difficult to see what's going on in some of the skins.

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