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Luxor: Pharaoh’s Challenge Review for the Nintendo DS (NDS)

Luxor: Pharaoh’s Challenge Review for the Nintendo DS (NDS)

If it’s Based on Ancient Civilizations, it’s Good

Luxor: Pharaoh’s Challenge is the new installment of this quite popular puzzle series once born to be played on PC. This specific title has been released for both handheld systems – the DS and the PSP, and will soon find its way to the silver screen through the PS2 and the Wii. Even though each of them will make use of their particular control systems, the game will be pretty much the same, which means you should make a good choice about which version you should buy.

Luxor: Pharaoh's Challenge screenshot

If you’re familiar (or more than familiar -addicted!) to games like Zuma and Magnetica, you know what you’re coming for. The colored ball-shooting game moved out the ancient Aztec civilizations (Zuma) and into the old Egyptian world (Luxor). Even though they’re not exactly the same game, they have a lot to do with each other and should be considered at least “cousin” games.

In this game you’ll be controlling a golden, winged scarab that holds a colored ball. It moves horizontally, as the pad does in Arkanoid. Right above it you’ll see a trail of colored balls that are being pushed by a little dung beetle. If the balls happen to reach the pyramid the game will be over; the goal is to shoot the balls and match groups of three or more of the same color in order to pop them and avoid the destruction of the pyramids. The beetle moves at different speeds, depending on the power ups you’re able to collect while you play. They fly out of the beetle when you match the balls or when you do multiple combos. The other power ups let you do things like throw fireballs that burn some spheres, lightening that strikes everything it finds in its vertical path, daggers, and clouds that tint the balls in a specific color. Others let you switch direction or even stop it all so nothing moves except the golden scarab you’re handling, etc. You can also collect Ankh coins that give you extra lives when you have 30 of them and treasures that score bonus points. As you advance through the levels, there are more and more “ball trails” being pushed by the dung beetles, and eventually it becomes almost overwhelming. Good reflexes and precision are key in this game.

Luxor: Pharaoh's Challenge screenshot

One thing that also makes Luxor interesting is the option to switch the color of the ball you’re going to shoot. If you tap below the shooter with the stylus, you’ll be given another color choice that might be more suitable for the current state of the game board. The shoulder buttons will do the same. In fact, you’re allowed to use the stylus or the buttons at any time to control the game. I’d say the stylus gameplay makes the game more fluid and agile, but the buttons might offer a bit more accuracy in the gameplay. You shoot balls by tapping them out of the shooter. Unfortunately, sometimes you’ll be shooting a ball and the ball color will accidentally be swapped by the next one, ruining the perfect move you had planned. I have to admit that bugged me a little bit, but if you take your time and play with patience and accuracy, you shouldn’t have a problem with that. Also, at the end of each 4 to 6-level stage, there will be a bonus screen where you’ll shoot the spheres and the dung beetle as if you were playing Space Invaders or something like that. By advancing to the next stage you’ll attain a new rank that defines your experience as a Luxor player. There are also three modes of play, although they’re almost the same. Adventure Mode is the main one, Practice Mode lets you practice and improve your Luxor skills, and in Survival Mode you’ll play until you die! There’s no multiplayer mode to play against friends, but that’s alright. This is the kind of game I plan to play when I’m on the plane or while I’m waiting to go somewhere.

Luxor: Pharaoh's Challenge screenshot

Up to three players can save their profile on the game cartridge. Luckily, the auto-save function lets you start almost where you left it the last time. It would be nice to start in the exact same level, but instead they send you to the beginning of the stage. Once you’re out of lives, you’ll be forced to go back to the beginning of the stage as well, which is somewhat bothersome when you’re all focused on beating that hard level that won’t let you continue ahead!

Luxor: Pharaoh's Challenge screenshot

In Luxor: Pharaoh’s Challenge you’ll find several new stages you hadn’t seen in previous Luxor games. It comprises over 100 levels and 20 stages. Unfortunately, after the first few stages you’ll see the same levels once and again. Of course, they’ve all been modified slightly to add some difficulty, but it would have been nice to see a bit more originality in the game design. Luxor looks pretty nice on the DS, but at the same time the graphics are not extremely detailed or advanced. I guess, like we always say, this is not a requirement to make a good and engaging DS game.

The soundtrack, as in most DS games, is nothing majestic. However, as long as you hear it through your headphones, you’ll see it’s actually pretty good. The music is well suited with the Egyptian theme and marks a nice rhythm that’s easy to follow while you play. The only problem is that the tunes are played back and forth throughout the levels, once you reach further stages. It feels a bit repetitive and doesn’t entice you to continue playing; of course that’s what the gameplay is for, and it’s addictive enough to make you play, and play, and play until you’re bored, if you ever end up feeling that way.

Overall, Luxor: Pharaoh’s Challenge offers a solid puzzle gameplay. It’s engaging, it’s has goals that make sense, and it looks good. Also, it’s not another Tetris knock-off, which is nice, after playing so many games that look almost the same. I guess it’s ironic that I say this when the game looks so much like Zuma, but in my opinion Luxor is almost better because you seem to have a bit more control over the game by moving from right to left and vice versa, while shooting and picking up the power ups that sometimes fly all over the screen. Grab a copy of this one if you’re looking for a new and challenging puzzle game!

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 3.5 Graphics
Just fine for the DS. Egyptian themes throughout the game are a nice touch. 3.7 Control
Once you get used to it, the game controls really well. However, you might accidentally swap the ball color, which hinders the otherwise perfect gameplay. 3.4 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Harmonious tunes mark a good rhythm that’s easy to follow while you play. Unfortunately they’re repeated quite a bit. 4.0

Play Value
Luxor is definitely an addictive game that’s ideal for puzzle game lovers. It’ll keep you hooked for a while.

3.6 Overall Rating – Good
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

  • Complete 124 levels in 20 stages by matching the spheres and collecting power-ups.
  • Grab fireballs and lighting bolts to increase your overall score.
  • Use your scarab to shoot and destroy the approaching spheres before they reach the pyramids.
  • Challenge yourself with puzzles that force you to thwart the evil plans of a god and save Egypt.

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