Chad Bryan,Youthlink Writer

Need for speed nitro for the Nintendo DS

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Genre: Street racing

Plays Like: Need for Speed Carbon, Dirt 2 and Elite Racing.

Game theory

I have become a huge racing game fan of late. In Need for Speed Nitro for the Nintendo DS, you are given an ordinary vehicle to begin with. As you progress through career mode, however, winning races will earn points that will eventually allow fantastic 'unlockables'. These include new tracks in the race-now option as well as cars that are locked in career mode, among other interesting things. When racing, you will take part in what is called tagging, or what I like to call 'tag, you're it'! Here, you will drive through rings set up at various points on the tracks. Once these rings have been completed in succession, they will paint the area according to the theme and colour of your car. You must make sure to collect all the rings as other cars will make them their own.

Graphics

The game is a really colourful one. In the customisation mode, you will be able to change the look of your car, from colours to themes. There is a wide variety of themes - surfer, jet, flowers, ninja - which give the areas you tag a certain flair. Other graphical elements include the tracks, with each one having its own unique design. The cars also look stylish in their own way, resembling their real-life counterpart in some instances.

Shelf life

Need for Speed Nitro for the Nintendo DS has interesting areas to be explored, from the race-now mode that enables quick races to the career mode that will unlock tracks and rewards to be collected. You will at least be busy for a while, trying to unlock the hidden secrets; for at least two months - which is not a bad thing.

The legend of zelda spirit tracks for the Nintendo DS

Publisher: Nintendo

Genre: Action-adventure

Plays Like: Zelda: Phantom Hourglass and Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

Game theory

With a name like Spirit Tracks, hopefully you guessed that this game involves trains, and it does. When you begin, you are told you need to seek out Princess Zelda who is waiting to bestow the honour of Royal Engineer upon you. Before arriving at the Hyrule Castle, you will need to pilot your own train, crossing tracks and avoiding bumping into other trains. Ultimately, your task is to save the world from the dastardly Chancellor Cole. Primarily, the games actions are controlled through the functions of the stylus.

Graphics

The graphics are somewhat childish. The characters look like bobbleheads, with their big, round heads and small body. On a more positive note, designers have been able to capture a sense of realism in characters, in the sense that it is easy to distinguish Chancellor Cole's ulterior motives from his facial grimaces.

Shelf life

If you are a true fan of the Zelda franchise of video games, and you like the idea of bobblehead characters, then you might want to pick up a copy. However, if you have played other Zelda games and find them lacking, for you the shelf life may be no longer in than a month.

Games provided by Royale Computers and Accessories, telephone: 906-1067, 906-1068, 754-5048.