The graphics are quite good an the characters move smoothly. The controls are intuitive and easily controlled by both the buttons and stylus. Blogcritics likes that you can do one or the other and not required to use both. There is a lot of dialogue that is almost entirely pointless, and is a typically rudimentary translation from Japanese; luckily it is easy to skim the dialogue and get through it fast. If you are an RPG fan, this game will probably bore you, as it is really almost a sim, but if you are ready to graduate from Pokemon, this is a good stepping stone.
Last year was a good year for Nintendo’s well known handheld system. While there’s always a handful of unmemorable games like “Petz Pony: Beauty Pageant” which most game enthusiasts would never consider touching, 2009 also brought a surprisingly good variety of fun games. In no particular order, here’s my favorite Nintendo DS games from 2009...
OXG talks about this week's game releases. Highlights include Coro Pata (DS import), Darius Burst (PSP import), Lina no Atelier: Strahl no Renkinjutsushi (DS import), Simple 2500 Series: Akuma Hunters – Exorsister (PSP import), and Metal Slug XX (PSP import).
Atelier Annie's challenge doesn't lie in redoing fights a dozen times until you finally manage to survive or squeaking out a victory against another alchemist. It lies in optimization and squeezing every drop you can out of the resources you have. While none of the gameplay elements of combat, alchemy, or city management are strong enough to carry a game on their own, they combine into a satisfying gameplay of maximization. And if you're not worried about getting the absolute most out of every day on the in-game calendar, Atelier Annie is a relaxing city sim with goofy Japanese humor and cute art.
