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Release Date: June 27, 2005


Q Entertainment's second handheld puzzle game puts the DS through its paces. Our full review.

The developers also work a lot of different gameplay modes to bump up the game's variety. On top of the standard "endless" mode are options that require competing against one, two or three computer opponents, simulating the multiplayer option with computer AI drones. Another feature requires players to perform a set task within the competition, such as defeating a computer opponent in a set amount of time, or launching X number of tiles before winning. Every gameplay mode within Meteos has its own charm, and not a single one feels thrown in "just because."

The game's production has this uncanny Super Smash Bros. feeling, which can be attributed to the designer of Meteos, Masahiro Sakurai, who was also responsible for the original N64 fighter during his days at Hal. Meteos is the designer's first puzzle game, but it features the same attention to interface to Smash Bros., infusing a whole lot of charm in everything from the menu selection to statistics tracking. The game design keeps watch on odd stats such as time played or how many times you've powered on the system that will reward player with little extra treats. Every single Meteos tile removed from play is stored in a virtual bank, and with these cached tiles players can purchase even more extras. And like Lumines and its unlockable songs and skins, Meteos keeps the player's interest with dozens of different worlds, aliens, and sounds unlockable through extended and successful play sessions.

Meteos has been designed from the ground up as a multiplayer competitive puzzle game, which is why it's no surprise that the Nintendo local networking capabilities have been exploited to their fullest in the production. Owners of the Meteos cartridge can compete against each other, using their own unique profile and unlockable features. But for those without a copy of the game, the host system can send a demo version to cartridge-free systems and give them access to the four-player mayhem in a bit more limited, but still incredibly fun, functionality. Statistics aren't tracked in single-cartridge mode, so the better option is to get involved in multi-cart Meteos play to score the specific multiplayer unlockables.

The multiplayer function plays identically to the single player versions, with the only difference being that your opponents are now unpredictable humans with their own behavior. Meteos you send off-screen can be sent to any player within the network with a single tap on the smaller version of their playfield, but evil players can gang up on a single person and select you as their Meteos dumping grounds. Multiplayer can get absolutely vicious…but in an incredibly fun kind of way.

Meteos admittedly does have a bit of "randomness" to the design, more so than other puzzle games. Falling pieces can sometimes form a combo by itself, and many times players will find themselves with their bin empty simply because a meteos piece fell in the right place at the right time without any interaction. The game's touch screen design also does make it a little easy to recover in last-ditch efforts simply by "scribbling" the stylus up and down from left to right and back again. But because the game rewards with skillful play over random scribbling, it's a technique that won't work in the harder missions.

The Verdict

When I interviewed the game's director at E3, he made a point to emphasize that Q Entertainment isn't interested in exclusively making puzzle games. The reason he brought this up is pretty clear: the company is damn good at the genre. Lumines is a fantastic PSP puzzler, just as Meteos is an excellent DS one. Both games have their own merits, but I'm giving the nod to Meteos due to its more unique design, its incredible focus on a cool presentation, and its intense multiplayer sessions. Just like Tetris on the Game Boy, Meteos fits the DS platform like a glove, and the game should not be missed.

IGN Ratings for Meteos (NDS)
The game presents its self extraordinarily well with a whole lot of flash and flair, tons of unlockables, statistics tracking, and huge focus on both single and multiplayer.
Simple but effective imagery, and the art designers poured a lot of style in the creation of the different worlds, tiles, and aliens.
The game's energetic pacing is emphasized by a huge assortment of high quality music and sounds that become even more abundant as you play more of the game.
(out of 10, not an average)
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Game Details

Published by: Bandai
Developed by: Q Entertainment
Genre: Puzzle
Release Date:
United States: June 27, 2005
Japan: March 10, 2005
MSRP: 32.99 USD
E for Everyone : Suitable for Persons Ages Six and Older
Also Available On: Cell