Lost in Blue – NDS – Review

One minute
you’re enjoying a summer cruise on a nice ship and the next you’re tossed into
the fury of the sea as a powerful storm knocks the ship around. As you hit the
water you believe that this is it, the end is here and that you will drown. Then
everything goes black until you wake up, washed up on the shores of some
sun-baked island surrounded by the big blue sea and the soft blue of the skies
overhead. You’re lost, stranded in who knows where and for how long? This is the
situation senior high school student Keith finds himself in and, as he (and us)
soon finds out in Lost in Blue for the Nintendo DS, survival isn’t going
to be easy.

After the
initial shock that he is stranded on a deserted island, Keith comes to discover
a cave and the need for drink and food. It isn’t until after he learns how to
make a fire (we’ll get into that in a little bit) and spends the night that he
finds another survivor. He meets Skye, a somewhat shy young girl who soon
becomes dependent on Keith after he steps on her glasses. Unable to see very
well, Skye requires Keith to lead her by the hand wherever they go together. Now
instead of watching out for himself, Keith now has to watch over Skye. Then
again, he also comes to realize that he needs Skye as much as she needs him. And
so these two must work together in order to survive.

It’s this
relationship that makes Lost in Blue such a charming little tale of
humanity but this lovely concept comes at a price. You see, both Skye and Keith
require food and water and rest and if they don’t have this they naturally waste
away and eventually die. The problem is that they constantly require nourishment
to the point that you can’t do much in this environment. You can’t go exploring
too far without getting a message that says “She needs food badly” or “She’s
getting really thirsty.” Walk around too long and the stamina gauge goes down so
you have to rest often or sleep. The bad part is that Skye requires you to guide
her by the hand to the nearest watering hole for water so that means you have to
drop whatever it is you were doing and go back for her since Skye pretty much
stays put in the cave when you go off searching for food or to go exploring.

At this point
Skye must seem pretty useless but she isn’t. While Keith takes the role of
hunter and gatherer, Skye possesses the ability to take pretty much anything
edible and prepare a meal out of it. She performs wonders with just some
seaweed, clams and coconut, often concocting meals called Surprise Seaweed
Salad. You can even bring her spices which make the meal all the more
nutritious. Keith is great at making tools, starting first with a primitive fire
making tool to a spear and bow and arrows. All the items to make each tool are
scattered around the environment so Keith can either shake a tree or search the
island’s wooded area.

Thankfully
Lost in Blue makes good use of the DS’s touch screen and even its
microphone. When making a fire you’re required to alternate between the L and
the R buttons to rub a stick until smoke arises. Then you’re asked to blow on
the fire and that’s where you’ll be blowing into the microphone. Carry these out
successfully and you have yourself a roaring fire. Want to search a tree for a
coconut or the sand for some freshwater clams, well just rub the screen to shake
a tree or rub the screen to clear the sand. Pretty inventive stuff. You’ll even
use the touch screen for springing traps or chucking your spear. You can even go
fishing and go bow hunting.

The good news is
that after completing the game as Keith you can play the game again only now
you’re assuming the role of Skye. As Skye you cook and even get the chance to
domesticate a goat in order to milk it (this results in a hilarious mini-game
where Skye is alternately pulling each udder using the touch screen to get
milk). The bad news (aside from the fact that both characters demand so much
attention for food, water and rest) is that Skye takes so long to cook a meal
among other things. It won’t be a surprise if the more impatient gamer doesn’t
abandon the game before it even reaches its end.

Graphically,
Lost in Blue has its pretty moments and it has its rather plain ones as
well. Either way we have seen better from the Nintendo DS but what is here
really isn’t all that bad. The island itself isn’t a massive environment but it
does look natural enough as does the wildlife and vegetation. As far as the
characters are concerned, they’re just Ok. Really the best part of the graphics
are the visual effects such as the roaring fire and the ocean waves.

Sound-wise the
game’s musical score is a nice one and plays throughout the game beautifully
enough. There’s even some voice work but it is reduced to certain words. While
most of the dialogue is text you’ll hear Skye and Keith say “Goodnight” to each
another as well as a few other words. The sound effects are not as prominent as
the soundtrack. Aside from some wave sounds and seagulls, there really isn’t
anything that will impress gamers.

Without a
question Lost in Blue is proof that the Nintendo DS is capable of
producing interesting concepts that make for a remarkable and innovative gaming
experience. It is not an easy game to love and it might seem more tedious than
fun at various times, but if you want to experience something a bit more unique
then Lost in Blue is a game to try out. Be warned, though, this isn’t an
RPG for the impatient so you might want to keep that in mind before renting or
buying this one.

Gameplay: 6.9
Keith moves
around awkwardly thanks to the poor control scheme but at least the touch screen
is utilized in some pretty interesting ways. Survival is the key, of course, but
both characters require way too much attention to allow you to explore the
island without the constant reminders.

Graphics: 7.0
Bordering
between just plain average and somewhat pretty, Lost in Blue isn’t a bad
looking Nintendo DS game but it could have been a lot better. The fire effects
look nice and in some area the vegetation looks excellent. 

Sound: 7.0
As for the
game’s sound, well, there’s some decent music that’s played throughout the
entire game and you’ll even find a word or two spoken aloud from both Skye and
Keith. The sound effects are minimal but Ok.

Difficulty:
Hard
And here we
thought the Survivor contestants and the characters from the television
show Lost had it tough. Constant managing of basic needs will wear down
any gamer and tons of patience is needed during the repetitive mundane chores
like cooking. Surviving this island is not easy at all.

Concept: 8.0
Cheers for the
Ico-like relationship that makes Skye’s dependency on Keith almost
endearing. Even more cheers for the interesting use of the touch screen and
microphone whether you’re making a fire or digging for clams. Extra cheers for
allowing us to play as Skye when you complete the game the first time around.
Jeers for the inability to explore and carry on with the more fun tasks without
constantly having to be reminded that the other person need rest now.

Overall: 7.0
Lost in
Blue is a game
that demands so much of your attention that it might wear you down in the end
but it is still a game that shows us that the DS can be home to some interesting
games.  This is a game that will seriously keep you busy but it does so dancing
between the urge to survive and the desire to be needed. It’s a good game if you
can get past its wearisome nature.