DodoGo! Challenge (DSiWare) - Review by Andrew

Introduction

We haven't seen many sequels on the DSiWare service although, to be fair, there aren't nearly enough quality titles available to warrant a second outing. DodoGo! Challenge is the follow up to the wonderful DodoGo! however, rather than a sequel, it's actually the second part of a full game. You see, the only real problem with downloading a DSiWare title is size so rather than offering one huge title Neko Entertainment have instead split the game into two. This will no doubt delight fans of the original who want to discover just what happened to their beloved Dodo eggs and, to be honest, we do too.

Gameplay

As with all great puzzlers, the objectives here are simple: get at least one egg to the nest and keep it happy. One egg is the absolute minimum here but should you manage to rescue more or even all of the eggs, you'll be awarded with better medals. The eggs themselves aren't too bright and the only instructions they'll respond to are start and stop. Clearly this causes problems, especially with the varied and hazardous terrain they're forced to navigate before getting to the warmth and safety of their nest. Fortunately you do have a handful of tools at your disposal in order to make their journey a more pleasant (and safer) one, which include a whole range of 'props' including bridges, platforms and even springboards. Figuring out just how to get your eggs to the nest requires a fair bit of trial and error though and there are 'jokers' available should you wish to bypass some of the more challenging levels. Once you have all of your 'props' in the correct position though there is a lot of satisfaction to be had from seeing each egg roll into the nest, happy and content.

We have mentioned the word 'happy' on a few occasions now but it's fair to say that the eggs themselves are rather an emotional bunch and it doesn't take much to change their mood for the worse. In order to keep them upbeat, you'll need to keep them from harm but it's very easy to damage or even destroy an egg through simply poor planning. They don't like water, for example, and falling from a height is out of the question. You can improve your egg's mood by soothing it with the stylus and you may even have to apply plasters to cracks but we'd recommend being careful in the first place. There are also a handful of bonus sections where one 'stunt egg' must collect as many tokens as possible and remain intact. This is hugely enjoyable and success is rewarded with new outfits should you wish to dress your eggs as they progress though the levels.

Controls

All touch-screen but what did you expect?

Graphics

DodoGo! Challenge retains the same wonderful visual style as the original and it's going to be difficult to find a better-looking (or animated) title on the DSiWare.

Sound

The soundtrack perfectly fits the desert island setting, so much that you'll find yourself daydreaming about your last beach holiday without even realizing it.

Dual screen

Everything is manipulated with the stylus and while this all works very well, it is a little difficult sometimes to know exactly what to do. In fact, you get the impression that the developers almost expect every gamer to have played the original, which had a much gentler learning curve and a number of tutorials. There is help here but it's hidden away in the options menu and not part of the game as it was in the original. Obviously, 'forced' tutorials can sometimes slow the gameplay down but as far as DodoGo! Challenge is concerned, they're essential.

Final comments

While DodoGo! Challenge is simply more of the same; if you enjoyed the first outing, it may be just what you are looking for. It does feel a little tougher too, so those new to the series would probably be advised to begin with the original. It still all looks and sounds wonderful though and if you enjoy these types of puzzlers, then this is one of the better examples on the DS and at a bargain price too.

Pro: Lots of Levels, Looks Wonderful.
Con: Very Challenging, Simply More of the Same.
Final score: 7.2

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