With the price of full scale games getting increasingly more expensive, many gamers have turned towards casual games, whose twin advantages are that they can generally be picked up and played for minutes at a time and their relatively low cost.

40-in-1 Explosive Megamix (DSi/3DS) is a new set of such games from Nordcurrent and although it utilises the twin screens, there are no appreciable advantages when using the 3DS.

Arriving without instructions, getting into each game can be a little confusing as you are only presented with a tick to tell you which games are available. Initially, only ten of the games are accessible, the gamer having to beat these to unlock the further thirty.

It’s fair to say that there is a little of something for everyone here. Many of the mini-games have an original premise, whilst there are a few which will be recognised by the average gamer. The graphics are smart and cartoony and only occasionally do they let the individual games down.

The collection is let down by its general lack of explanation or instructions, leaving the gamers to try and work out what they are supposed to be doing. This generally only requires a number of limited key strokes, so it takes no great genius, but it is an unnecessary limitation to the games access. More so, when you discover that there is no general principle, for game control, which appears through the games, leading to a little more frustration.

Still, you’re getting 40 mini-games for about eight quid, with both game play and the graphics which are generally good. It’s not going to rock the gaming world, but has enough to keep you picking up and playing, if only for a few minutes at a time.

6

Charles Packer