Turn It Around (Nintendo DS) - Review by skarma

Introduction

Turn It Around is a budget mini-games compliation from Japan localized by 505 Games, who seem to delve in that category once too often. It also shows quite a bit, as the whole presentation is very lackluster, with barely translated Engrish (Ball Get!) and people shouting random Japanese throughout the menus. Despite this, does it hold up to be a decent competitor to the numerous other mini-game compilations for the DS out there? Lets check it out.

Gameplay

Each mini-game here is relatively short as expected, we're not talking Wario Ware style here though. The mini-games are more drawn out into what could be perceived as actual full-price games (if we we're living in the NES-era that is). Each mini-game lasts roughly a minute, and the style of games would work well with the Game and Watch toys of yonder-year. Some of the mini-games are quite cultural to the Japanese lifestyle, with such games based upon Bust-A-Move, Bubble Bobble, sushi, and of course - carrying a drunken Japanese business man to his office in the dark of the night while avoiding getting into fights with the locals and flirting with hookers, who seem to be casually standing there. It is as crazy at it sounds, that particular game is quite funny, as you rotate the whole screen to tilt the drunk and his companion left and right to avoid the obstacles (people). In fact, a lot of the games seem to be those that you may have seen on many online Flash sites.

Controls

While each mini-game is somewhat unique, the method of controlling these remain the exact same throughout. The bottom screen is dedicated to a massive face, which is nicely translated as 'MawasunderPAD'. Where they get these names from I have no idea, but regardless, the circular face is spun with the stylus to control the games, and replaces buttons which move/rotate/morph the screen/character or object. The games can also be traditionally played with the D-Pad, though the game seems to be focused so much around the touch-based controls it doesn't work too well this way.

Graphics

Adequate would sum the game up. Some nice 3D work there but most of it is simple SNES-era (with a bit of polish) graphics. A lot of the wacky graphics could be compared to the presentation of Wario Ware, though the game itself never gets too simple or completely bizarre like Wario Ware.

Sound

Very forgettable. The budget-ness really shines through here, though it does take the liberty of voicing all of the mini-games introductions. Though, unfortunately, the publishers must have thought we all speak Japanese, as none of the Japanese voice-overs have been translated for an English release. You might want to turn the speakers down as the crazy voices might be of an annoyance to some.

Dual screen

The top screen is dedicated to the game, while the bottom screen is just really a turn table to control the top screen. Though I can't help shaking off the feeling that the rotating-mechanism that has been used for titles such as Yoshi's Topsy Turvy and Wario Ware Twisted would have fitted the game much better.

Final comments

If your looking for a very shallow mini-game collection then this would fulfill your needs. However, since much better mini-game compilations like Wario Ware Touched can be picked up for a similar price, I would much rather recommend that, even if it was for a stocking filler. Turn It Around just doesn't have enough style or substance to be recommended at retail price, even as a budget priced game. What also takes the score down a notch is the lack of multi-card play, and the likeliness of any one else having this game near you is extremely slim. I'd whole-heartedly recommend Wario Ware as THE DS mini-game compilation.

Pro: Humorous mini-games. Homages to Bubble-Bobble and other classics.
Con: Lack of variety and presentation.
Final score: 5.4

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