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

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

Prism Makes Light of a Puzzling Situation

Just when I start to regain a little bit of self-confidence with my gaming skills, along comes another puzzle game to make me feel as though I’ve just started. Sure it’s easy to move a character around in a deserted hallway, dodge a few bullets, kill a few aliens, hack a door code, and gain access to a new room. But puzzle games put the challenge square on you like a spotlight in an interrogation room. You’re only too aware of your progress – or lack thereof.

Prism: Light the Way screenshot

There’s always some kind of time limit, whether self-imposed or structured into the gameplay, and that only adds to your anxiety. And the more nervous you get, the more clouded your judgement. Your reputation is on the line, even if no one else is watching. I have a love/hate relationship with good puzzle games. I can honestly say that I both love and hate Prism: Light the Way. Which means that it’s a good game, and I’m still a bit stupid.

A few disclaimers about Prism before I continue. I like this game, but I’m not recommending it for a purchase. It’s simply not worth the suggested retail price. This game is little more than a high-octane version of a mini-game. It will never reach the classic status of such luminaries as Tetris or Bust a Move, but it will definitely be a better time waster than scraping the bottom of the nerd barrel for names of people you used to know that might be on Facebook.

Prism: Light the Way screenshot

Prism: Light the Way is all about light manipulation. But let’s just forget for a moment that it’s light we’re talking about, because for all intents and purposes, it’s just a line. A line that represents a beam of light. As such it responds the way light does. It can’t be bent; it can only be reflected and refracted. The premise of the game is to use various tools such as mirrors, splitters, and prisms to change the direction and properties of the original beam and to have it point in another direction. It’s kind of like playing pool, but with a beam of light.

There’s a story to go along with the gameplay. It matters so little that I don’t even want to mention it, but I get paid by the word, and I want to go out for a steak tonight instead of a burger. Aliens known as Glowbos and Bulboids are in danger of having their light stolen from an evil race of light-hungry aliens who are threatening to devour their precious light source. But how can you fault someone for wanting to have a light snack?

Prism: Light the Way screenshot

To save your world from these light robbers, you will have to direct the beam of light at the happy little Glowbos positioned around the playing field. To do so requires the use of various tools such as mirrors and T-joints which split the beam into two. A prism, and other modifying filters are used to change the frequency, or color, of the beam. In more challenging levels, it’s not enough to simply get the beam to directly target one of these Care Bear lookalikes, you will have to match colors as well. The game does get challenging after the first hour or so.

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.

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.

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