Recently Nintendo launched a new campaign to try to bring in casual and non-gamers alike called "Touch Generations." Games labeled with the "Touch Generations" brand are supposed to be pick up and play games that any member of your family could get into. The first games to receive this label were already launched hits like Nintendogs and Brain Age. One of the newest games to come out in this line is Magnetica. Essentially, it's the puzzle classic Puzzloop (or Zuma to some) with touch screen functionality. Is it enough to warrant the price tag or should you just stick to the free download off the internet?

The main idea of Magnetica is to clear a track full of multicolored balls by launching more balls at them to connect three or more of the same color. Balls of the same color magnetically move towards each other, so if you play your cards right you can clear the entire track in one move. Thanks to the touch screen, the control is more precise then ever. To launch the ball you simply flick the touch screen in the direction you wish it to go. This simple gameplay concept is put to good use in several interesting and diverse game modes.

The main game mode is called Quest. In the Quest mode the chain of balls slowly moves down the track towards the hole at the end. Your goal is to launch balls at the slow moving train to connect similar colors to knock them out of the track. This mode is very simple at first, starting at only two colors, but once three or four colors get into the mix things get quite frantic. This mode sometimes feels a bit like your shooting blindly hoping to get a good combo, but the more time you put into the game the more you notice yourself spotting ways to set yourself up for some killer chain reactions. There is nothing more satisfying then making a last second comeback by clearing the screen with one well placed ball. The ultimate goal in this mode is to keep clearing balls from the screen and advanced in levels much in the same way you do in Tetris. Once you reach a predetermined level, you've completed that track and can move on to the next. To keep the play varied there are many different track layouts available to play, starting with your basic spiral and moving onto much more curvy, complex tracks which adds to the difficulty. If you find yourself wishing that the fun wouldn't end, you should go check out the Challenge mode. In Challenge you are given a spiral full of balls and they keep coming until they reach the center. There are no predetermined levels to reach so the game goes as long as your skill allows.

If you find Quest mode's fast pace too much for you, feel free to pop in to the Puzzle mode for some brain taxing puzzle solving. In this mode, you are given a set of stationary balls and a predetermined number of other balls to shoot at them. The goal is to figure out how to remove the chain using exactly the number of balls given to you. This is often quite challenging and a lot of times you will find yourself removing the chain in less balls then given and failing the puzzle. As you progress through the several dozen of the puzzles given to you, you will find yourself spending prolonged periods of time sitting and planning out your moves. If you enjoyed the puzzles in Polarium you will love this mode.


Bustin' balls is so much fun!

Also included is a two player Versus Mode. This is basically what you have come to expect from a multiplayer puzzle game. Both players are given a spiral and balls, just like in Quest mode, and are given the task of removing the balls. Here there is an additional reward for combos. When you make a combo "trash" balls are sent to your opponents screen to screw up there flow. There are also a few power ups that occasionally appear to help you further annoy your friends. To be honest, in a strange way Magnetica multiplayer reminded me a lot of that in Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine for those of you that played that. The battles get pretty frantic sometimes and are often really enjoyable, especially if you go up against another player who is quite skilled at the game. It may not be the most expansive multiplayer ever, but it only requires one cart to play and is a nice diversion when you need to waste time.

Magnetism?
I have enjoyed the time I've spent with Magnetica greatly and still pop it in frequently for short metro rides or when I need to waste a half hour. It is a very minimalist approach to Puzzloop; there are no fancy backgrounds or effects, but the colors are bright and vibrant and what do graphics really matter in a puzzle game? The trio of single player modes really add a lot of replay value and adding a friend into the mix adds a lot to the fun. Magnetica is a perfect game for a quick gaming fix, but I don't feel the depth is great enough to hold you for hours of play as a game like Meteos could. Still, Magnetica is an easy to play puzzler that can satisfy your desire for heart pounding fast gameplay or slow puzzle solving. It is a good addition to the "Touch Generations" line of games because it is one of those "minutes to learn, years to master" type games that you can teach anyone to play with you. Besides, what is better than having a way to play with balls around your grandmother and not need years of therapy afterwards?

--Erik Altieri