A bit(e)-sized addiction that is too fun to resist
Standouts: Addictiveness, Classic Throwbacks, the Music
Not-so-much: The almost punishing difficulty level, slight control problems.
Pictobits is a puzzle game in the Art Style series. The premise is that combinations of different colored bits fall down the screen, and you have to complete the shapes to remove the bits from the game board. You complete the shapes by using the bits that you are given at the bottom of the screen, as well as the bits that break off of the falling groups that you don't complete. When you remove the bits from the gameboard, they move up to the top screen where they begin to recreate sprites from classic NES games. When the sprites are done, the level ends. Pretty much the NES games you'd expect are represented, from Mario to Legend of Zelda to Excitebike. Much like picross, the reward of getting a picture for completing the level proves to be a very good incentive to keep playing.
The controls are fairly simple, you press a bit to add it to your queue (which can hold up to 7 or 9 bits at a time I believe) and then tap either in an empty space to place it or another bit to add to the queue to lay them out in quick succession. For the most part, the controls are alright. There were a few instances while I was playing however where the bit doesn't go in exactly the spot I want it to. And at the higher difficulty levels, this can almost ruin your level. If the bits stack up too high for you, you can press the pow button which removes a few rows from the bottom to give you some breathing room. However, this is balanced by shortening your queue everytime you use it, so a little forethought has to be made. "Can I string together a combo that'll save me, or do I sacrifice part of my queue to get a quick fix.
Speaking of the difficulty, boy does this game have it. You've got 15 stages, as well as Dark versions (read: HARD) which you can unlock with the coins you earn from completing levels. The game gets really punishing, where even the smallest mishap can mean your demise. But, like me, you will keep coming back for more. Partly because the levels aren't too long and the simply gameplay is addictive and satisfying, and partly because of the music. Pictobits has a great soundtrack of classic themes remixed that are sure to bring a nostalgic feeling to any gamer. It also has a separate music player where you can listen to the songs.
All in all, this is a great early DSiWare game. Puzzle player or not, you'll find this a great game to play at home and on the go on your Nintendo DSi.
