Prism: Light the Way Review for the Nintendo DS (NDS)

System: DS	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Gamesauce / Morpheme	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Eidos	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Oct. 17, 2007	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-2	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

The source of the light (Glowbos) can be moved, but they can't be rotated. Nor can any of the modifying pieces. If you wind up with a color that you can't use, you'll have to put the beam through another filter. You can expect a lot of head scratching moments as you try to figure out what tool to use to manipulate the beam. Of course you can always resort to trial and error if you can't think straight.

Prism: Light the Way screenshot

The first part of the game is relatively easy. It makes for a great tutorial, especially for those that don't like tutorials since you're already in the game. Anyone can be up and playing in a matter of moments. You can even ask the computer to give you hints. The learning curve is gradual, almost too gradual. It will take you about an hour before you start feeling stupid, so cherish that first hour. The good thing about the easy levels is that you'll have a complete understanding of the game by the time you get into the hair-pulling levels. You won't be getting any help from the CPU in these later levels.

There are more than 100 levels in the single-player mode. Other modes include Hyper, Infinite, and a couple of multiplayer modes in which you can compete against each other or team up for a common goal. The co-op mode is more frenetic than the head-to-head mode. There's twice as much going on, with both of the DS's screens used to create one large playfield. It's a mode that you're either going to love or hate, but it's going to take some time to get used to because there's so much going on.

Prism makes good use of the DS's stylus. It's used to move around the various mirrors, splitters, and prisms, as well as the Glowbow light sources. All commands are solid and inspire confidence. Graphically and sonically the game is weak, like a mid-80s knock off of Bubble Bobble that you would encounter in the back room of a second-rate pizza parlor. The sounds are little more than bleeps and blips, while the graphics would be more at home on the GameBoy Color. These cheap production values scream "budget game." But at $30, the price tag is definitely acting pretentious. Rent this baby first. Or look around for a price break. I'm guessing that it won't be thirty bucks for much longer.

By Cole Smith
CCC Senior Writer

Features:

Prism: Light the Way is an addicting puzzle game where players are challenged to color the light, split the light, and bounce the light to create the one illuminating pattern that solves all.

Prism offers 120 puzzles that grow in challenge and complexity.

In addition its Infinite Mode feature can create an endless stream of light puzzles for the die hard player.

Using the Nintendo DS stylus, players can move everyday objects like mirrors, prisms, and colored gems to bounce and guide the light. Not surprisingly it is not as easy as it looks. But with no time pressure gamers can solve each puzzle at their own pace.

Time & Hyper Modes - solve puzzles under pressure.

2-player Multiplayer-modes.

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

2.7

Graphics
Cheesy production values. Graphics would be at home on a cell phone.

4.8

Control
Great responsive controls. Good use of the stylus for manipulation.

2.0

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Bleeps and blips make this game sound like a digital watch.

3.8

Play Value
If you can get comfortable with the multiplayer co-op mode you can expect a lot of replay value.

3.8

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