Go to 'Pogo Island'
By Jen Pontzer, Staff Writer
October 19, 2007 | 2 a.m.
Electronic Arts (EA)’s Pogo.com and Nintendo have teamed up to create "Pogo Island" for Nintendo DS. This game allows users to play Pogo.com’s five highest-rated games at their leisure anywhere. The games are “Poppit!,” “Word Whomp,” “Phlinx,” “Tri-Peaks Solitaire” and “Squelchies.”
Gamers can play these short mini-games individually at the desired difficulty setting (easy, medium, difficult) in Quick Play mode, or as part of a story in Island Adventure, which is set up in board game style.
Story
The story begins with the Pogo mascots being shipwrecked on a desert island. The mascots become separated while searching for items to fix their ship. The player has to travel around the island, using the stylus to move a spinner that determines how many spaces they move, to find their lost friends and the materials necessary for the ship. Mini-games are played for points, tokens and lost mascots. To obtain the items to repair the ship you play “micro-games.” The micro-games are “Nuts and Bolts,” “All Aboard,” “Hammer a Nail” and “Sail Repair.”
All of the games are simple, and highly addictive. Each one takes between one and five minutes to play. In each one there is a type of puzzle to solve, some of which can be a bit brain busting. The control system is entirely stylus-based.
Mini-games
In “Poppit!” gamers have to tap on groups of two or more like colored balloons to pop them. Players have to release all of the presents in the balloons to win the game. The more balloons popped, the more points earned.
“Word Whomp” allows spelling skills to shine. From a group of six scrambled letters, players must spell as many words as possible in the time allotted. As players spell words, a gopher moves along the bottom of the screen. To win, the gopher must reach a piece of fruit before time runs out. If players can spell all of the words in time, they receive a special bonus.
In “Phlinx” players use the stylus to aim a cannon at colored stones at the top of the screen. Tap the cannon to shoot a stone. If a player lines up three colored stones they will drop from the top of the screen to the bottom. As they tumble, they turn a sprocket, which raises a flag. When the flag reaches the top of the pole the dusk level begins. In this level players need to release a golden idol from the stones to win.
To play “Tri-Peaks Solitaire,” tap a face-up card in one of three peaks that is either one number higher or lower than the card currently showing in the hand. To pick a new card, tap the pile next to the face-up card in the hand. Clear the required number of peaks to win.
In Squelchies, players must grab and release squelchies to different columns to form groups of three or more to release them. A crab at the bottom of the screen shows a player’s progress as he moves from left to right. To win, the crab must make it to the treasure before the squelchies reach the bottom of the screen.
Micro-games
“Nuts and Bolts” is aptly named as players have to divide nuts and bolts as they fall from a bucket into their respective barrels. Flick the rusty nuts and bolts away from the hammock. If players incorrectly sort items, it will deduct time.
In “All Aboard,” players have to pull a slingshot with the stylus and release it to launch toys and friends into crates on the ship.
“Hammer a Nail” literally involves hammering nails by tapping them with the stylus. Players need to hammer 40 nails to win. If a player misses a nail, time will be deducted.
As Perry the Parrot drops items in “Sail Repair,” players need to use them to fix the holes in the sail. Place them over the holes and stitch them up by tapping the purple circles with the stylus. Players need to stitch the sail in the time allotted to win.
Replay Value
While it would seem that playing the same nine short games over and over would get old quickly, that is not the case with "Pogo Island." There are 10 ranks (with a bronze, silver and gold level each) players can achieve by winning games and earning tokens.
The tokens that are earned can be transferred to Pogo.com using a Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Tokens can be exchanged for prizes and money.
Badges can also be earned. They are awarded when players complete a special game challenge or reach a milestone (like winning five games). Winning five games may seem easy, but it gets tougher from there.
Buy it?
The game is worth the price. The graphics are excellent and the games are easy and fun. This game would be best for the younger generation, those new to gaming and those who like games short and sweet.
Visit Pogo.com for loads of fun and free games. Purchase "Pogo Island" at Wal-Mart for $19.82.
---
Title: "Pogo Island"
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Genre: Puzzle/Adventure
Consoles: Nintendo DS
Rating: Everyone
Score: 8/10