Cradle of Rome
SCORE: 93
Cradle of Rome joins the crowded puzzle genre on the Nintendo DS. I was less than enthusiastic to see another puzzle game on the DS, but I always keep an open mind. This is yet another instance where keeping that open mind has gone a long way. D3 Publisher brought some nice twists to the matching three or more of the same item. If there is not a match then the two blocks being swapped are reverted. An entire story is fleshed out with certain blocks that are locked, and purchasing buildings. How does one purchase buildings you may ask. Well money is earned when money or consumables are matched. These may sound like small tweaks on paper, but in application they make a world of difference. Cradle of Rome drew me in, and kept me engaged a lot longer than many puzzle games.
Cradle of Rome has some nice graphics with great details. Some of the items have small images, which winds up to a game play issue later in this review. The historical images brought a smile to my face, which has a lot to do with my fascination with traditional understandings of history (editor: Family Friendly Gaming rejects the attempts to redefine history).
The music in Cradle of Rome is pleasant enough that closes in on majestic. It misses it by a small bit, but it is still good. All of the sounds are crisp and clear in this DS game - which is always important in my book. Cradle of Rome has certain sounds that fit the theme of the game, like the money sound when a player matches three or more coins.
Puzzle games usually have wonderful replay value, and Cradle of Rome is no exception. The ability to purchase buildings, and power-ups is a wonderful progression for this kind of puzzle game. I am actually amazed at how intelligent the designers are to come up with ideas like that. I would have liked a lot more multiplayer options, but I am always looking at ways games can be improved. If you are looking for a fun puzzle game on the DS, then your money will be well spent on Cradle of Rome.
The overall design of the levels in Cradle of Rome exhibit an intelligent design. The small graphics in some levels I mentioned led to touching the wrong item, and wasting a turn. This usually did not cause a problem because the timer grants enough time. However it is noticeable, and worth a minor mention. I had a lot of fun playing Cradle of Rome, and believe you will as well.
I absolutely love finding games like Cradle of Rome. They do a lot to
keep it safe for the entire family, and improve the image of the video
game industry. I would love to see a sequel to Cradle of Rome - possibly
on the Wii.
- Paul
Graphics: 96%
Sound: 90%
Replay/Extras: 97%
Gameplay: 87%
Family Friendly Factor: 93%
System: Nintendo DS
Publisher: D3 Publisher
Rating: 'E' for
Everyone
{Alcohol Reference}
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