Before playing Crosswords DS, I asked myself, “How am I going to review a game with a foundation built around a collection of crosswords?” However, after obsessively playing the game to the point of crossword-induced dreams, Crosswords DS had me in a headlock that would not let go.
As part of Nintendo’s “Touch Generations” line, Crosswords DS melds ease of use with sexy aesthetic to form a solid package of crossword puzzles, anagrams, and word searches. The menus are easy to navigate due to their giant-sized input buttons and lend themselves to the casual audience the game is geared toward.
Even the most casual of gamers will have no problem becoming familiarized with Crosswords DS’s control. Outside of the main game, there are training exercises that gear up the player with tips as to how the game plays. Although slightly abbreviated and not a necessity, the training exercises are a welcome addition for people new to the gaming world.
The bulk of the game is centered on – as the title suggests – crossword puzzles. Within the main game, there are over 1,000 different crossword puzzles waiting to be solved. The puzzles are separated into different difficulty levels that do a good job at gradually moving the player up the scale. Unlike other crossword games on the system, Crosswords DS is played holding the DS on its side like a book. This holding position allows the player to see the crossword in its entirety on the left screen, while the touch screen on the right is open to zooming in and writing the proper letter in the proper location.
I found the word search to be an afterthought when compared to the crossword section of the game. The word searches require no skill, which in turn creates a boring atmosphere that feels less like an enjoyable game and more like an arduous homework assignment.
The anagrams, on the other hand, can be extremely difficult even when on easy mode. As a writer, I pride myself in knowing many words, but the anagram mode of Crosswords DS was still very difficult. Unlike the word search, though, when I discovered a new anagram out of the letters provided, I felt as accomplished as any wordsmith could bearing the situation.
Overall, I found Crosswords DS to be an enjoyable, albeit average, game. For $20, it is definitely worth picking up.
