If there is one game to show off all
of the unique features of the Nintendo DS, Cookie & Cream could be the one. The
game is played on both screens at the same time with touch-screen controls. The
internal microphone is put to use and the game even includes WiFi multiplayer,
locally and globally. However, all of these features feel crammed together to
make a game instead of being core elements of the game. One minute you will be
singing the praises of the game and in an instant you’ll be wishing for mercy.
The game is based upon an obscure
PS2 game titled The Adventures of Cookie & Cream released several years ago. The
game centers upon two rabbits, Cookie & Cream, who were about to celebrate in
the Moon Festival when suddenly the moon disappeared. A stranger soon offered to
them the opportunity to save the moon to restore the Moon Festival. The stranger
transported Cookie & Cream to a mysterious island where clues of the moon’s
disappearance could be found. The stranger advised Cookie & Cream that they must
work together or the Rabbit Clan will remain in darkness forever.
The basic gameplay of Cookie & Cream
is one part platformer and one part-touch screen puzzler. Controlling Cookie is
the platform portion, which is played out on the top screen, by moving Cookie
with the directional pad and jumping on creatures or switches. Once you’ve
jumped on a switch the bottom screen with Cream will disappear and a puzzle will
appear. Usually these puzzles range from touching portions of the screen to spin
a wheel, grabbing a rope or even blowing into the microphone. But the game doesn’t stop
once you’ve activated a puzzle switch because Cookie can still be controlled or
even attacked on the top screen. Certain puzzles even require you to move Cookie
at certain times that correspond to activating or solving a puzzle on the
touch screen. If you miss your opportunity to make a jump or move at just the
right moment you’ll need to keep working on the touch-screen puzzle, which could
be bad news for Cookie.
The game ditches the whole life
force/hearts vitality setup usually found in platformers. Instead Cookie & Cream
focuses upon time as the life meter for the game. If Cookie runs out of time
then the game is over. You can earn additional increments of time by either
picking up a silver or gold watch. The silver watch provides 20 increments of
time while the gold watch provides 50 increments of time. You will need to
collect as many watches as possible since any damage Cookie takes will reduce
your time meter by 20 increments. So not only is the clock ticking down as you
play the game but you will keep losing time each time you’re hurt.
On paper this premise seems very
interesting because you’re doing more than just running around jumping on
monsters. The game will always keep you alert by having you switch from platform
mode to puzzle mode in a heartbeat. But the puzzles in the game can range from
overly simplistic to utterly confusing just as fast. I found myself mindlessly
touching everything on the touch screen with the stylus to figure out a puzzle
with no luck. Even clicking on the help button offered little assistance since
it told me to tap the touch screen. Yeah, I figured that part out. The entire
time you’re trying to figure out the “solution” for the puzzle, or the right place
and way to tap the touch screen, Cookie is getting pummeled. More damage means
less time, which leads to ‘let’s continue that section again and again and again.’
Now I’m not expecting a full featured tutorial on how to solve every
puzzle/touch screen portion of the game. I think a little bit more insight would
have saved my touch screen from looking like a cheese grater hit it.
Even with these frustrating portions
of the game Cookie & Cream can still be a fun filled experience for DS owners.
The combination of platform/puzzle game is a great idea that I’m sure will keep
growing on the DS. The game does a great job of trying to keep you interested in
the game by offering a co-op mode where you and friend can play together to beat
the eight worlds in the game. There is even a collection of 20 mini games,
called Battle mode, where you and three other players can compete in a race to
solving various puzzles in the game. You can even play a few levels of
a co-op game and Battle Mode with a friend with just one copy of the game. If
you look past the blemishes Cookie & Cream can be an entertaining title for DS
owners; just don’t look too hard.
Review Scoring Details for Cookie & Cream |
Gameplay: 6.4
The game can sometimes feel like a jumbled mess of too much happening at one
time, especially for a platform game. The puzzle elements are there but the
platform portion is the core experience.
Graphics: 6.5
Cookie & Cream will not win any awards for best graphics for the DS but you
still get a bright and colorful title. The visuals are the standard N64 3D
visuals we’ve seen all too often in DS games.
Sound: 6.0
Nothing in the sound effects or music will keep your ears perked but nothing
that will have you looking to lower the volume.
Difficulty: Easy/Medium
A few more subtle clues on some of the puzzles would have kept the difficulty in
the easy category.
Concept: 8.0
Cookie & Cream does an excellent job of using all of the features of the DS,
especially in a platforming game. The game shows off what can be done if you
really want to make a DS game.
Multiplayer: 8.0
The game features plenty of multiplayer options considering it could be what
some gamers describe as a low-key release. Single-card co-op play all the way to
full Wi-Fi Battle mode with four players should please anyone looking for an
extensive multiplayer experience for the DS.
Overall: 7.0
Cookie & Cream is a game that could be described as falling in the middle.
It could have been better with an easier puzzle section for certain parts of the
game, while it could have been worse without all of the great features. It’s
hard to really knock the game because it tries so hard to do so much while
stumbling to do it just right.
