Meteos: Nintendo DS

[PDorr3]

Is it really that good as reviews say? I wanna be sure before I pick it up tomorrow. I have faith since I loved lumines so much, and I really like the fact the game keeps track of alot of stats.

[Oobgarm]

As a person who enjoys puzzlers and LOVED Lumines, you can bet your sweet ass I'm buying it. The way I see it, review sites don't give high marks to puzzle games unless they actually are that good. The play mechanics are the only real 'gradeable' thing in the genre. Music and graphics aren't tough to screw up in a game like that.

I'll be taking my recently purchased-yet-defective Suikoden II back to GS and snagging a Meteos. :/ :D

[Drexel923]

Got the game today and I love it. After playing for about 10 minutes it completely sucked me in and I looked up and it was 2 hours later :)

I think it's a more challenging game than Lumines...it certainly picks up speed quicker. Also, there is a nice amount of modes in this one, a bunch of unlockables, and single and multi card multiplayer. Another winner on the DS :D

[Cmtz]

EGM gave it an 9.0 average. Very close to being game of the month.

[Sylentwulf]

God I hope so. Polarium became only the third current gen game in the past 6 years that I actually sold. What an overrated pile of crap that was.... Would have been good as a game and watch about 20 years ago I guess...

Anywho, let us know after you pick it up :)

[davidbrit2]

FACT: Meteos > Lumines
And yes, I own both.

This game is nice and fast. Not quite Magical Drop 3 fast, but damn close. And there's a freakish amount of depth. I still haven't figured out how to leverage the different planets to my advantage.

Multiplayer has got to be insane. During the CPU vs. matches, blocks are just flying all over the place on the top screen.

[PDorr3]

Picked it up today, but only played about 20 mins or so because I put in 4 hours into riviera which i also picked up today :)

[zmweasel]

What I don't like about Meteos is the same flaw that GameSpy's reviewer pointed out: in a jam, you can randomly scribble the stylus all over the screen and usually trigger a combo. I can't quite devote my love to a puzzle game where random actions have positive results.

EDIT: At least for the one-player modes, random scribbling works quite well. I just beat a level by scribbling without even looking at the screen.

-- Z.

[MegaManFan]

I can't quite devote myself to the stylus gaming concept PERIOD (I've only bought one new DS game since it came out - I bought Mario 64 the day of) but since it's a puzzle game and the only game I really play on my DS as it stands now is Mr. Driller, what the heck. This has the potential to get more use out of my DS than anything else other than a web browser (and Lord knows Nintendo won't ever have the balls for that).

[Julio III]

i've been looking forward to this for ages and will hopefully pick up a copy whilst i'm in America as its not getting released over here for another good few months. Oh well, its all fair as we just got Another Code instead. The problem I have with puzzlers on the DS is that they are hard to play with the stylus on bus/train as the ride is not smooth enough for fast accurate play.

[Cmtz]

It's like Super Smash Brothers, but for puzzle games. I got it yesterday and I love it. Go Go Nintendo!

[davidbrit2]

It's like Super Smash Brothers, but for puzzle games.

That's freaky, because I was thinking the exact same thing. STOP STEALING MY THOUGHTS.

[AlexKidd]

It's like Super Smash Brothers, but for puzzle games. I got it yesterday and I love it. Go Go Nintendo!

I don't have the game yet so I wouldn't really know but how can a puzzle game be like Super Smash bros?

[Cmtz]

Well, your playing a puzzle, but at the same time your trying to kick some planet's ass and there's alot of explosions and combos and other crap to make you all crazy. I love it.

[davidbrit2]

Yeah, and the menus and music are all very energetic, just like Melee. It makes for a pretty intense and fast-paced experience.

So has anybody figured out just what the stats for the planets represent? I suspect they indicate things like playfield width, block fall rate, gravity, etc., but damned if I can pin it down for sure.

[Cmtz]

I think they represent the gravity and other stuff.

[classicb]

got it today and played it for about 30mins... I loved it. I went to go make some food. i came back in the room and my roomates have it now and have been playing it for the last few hours. i'd be playing it right now if i could get a hold of it. best game i've gotten in some time. great addition to the DS lineup.

[Jasoco]

I am buying this tomorrow. I am glad the reviews are good. I was close to buying Polarium a while ago, but am glad I held out. This one will be mine tomorrow! 8-)

[FantasiaWHT]

*lone dissent*

I played it at E3 and really couldn't get into it at all. Didn't think it was anything special, and I thought all the extra effects were annoying.

But everyone else seems to love it so you might as well give it a chance! hehe

[zmweasel]

*lone dissent*

I played it at E3 and really couldn't get into it at all. Didn't think it was anything special, and I thought all the extra effects were annoying.

But everyone else seems to love it so you might as well give it a chance! hehe

Actually, I'm with you. The gameplay, at least in the one-player mode, is completely broken. Today, I went through the solo mode on the highest difficulty level (five stars) with random downward-sweeping strokes. No strategy, no skill. And I have a hunch I could do pretty well in multiplayer matches with the same "technique."

Now I'm dying to know why the developers didn't make it so that you could only move a block if it formed a launch row or column.

-- Z.

[classicb]

ok does anyone know if on your DS or copy of Meteos you can make multiple profiles. Me and my roomates are playing this game nonstop but all the high scores go under my name. I was just wondering if their was a way to change that. Still a great game and every DS owner/puzzle fan should pick it up. Great addictive fun.

[Jasoco]

Wow. I'm impressed. It's pretty fun.

No Lumines replacement though. And the blocks (Read: Screen) should be larger. They so tiny. Especially the credits "game".

Tomorrow I tackle Zoo Keeper.

[Mayhem]

You can scribble Zach, but you aren't going to get as large a score are you? Meteos is panic and score attack combined imo... ah yes... the old return of score attack games and many people don't know what to do about them because they aren't familiar with the concept...

(thinks about Yoshi, Polarium, Meteos, Lumines and so on)

[zmweasel]

You can scribble Zach, but you aren't going to get as large a score are you? Meteos is panic and score attack combined imo... ah yes... the old return of score attack games and many people don't know what to do about them because they aren't familiar with the concept...

(thinks about Yoshi, Polarium, Meteos, Lumines and so on)

The point isn't that I won't get as high a score; the point is that, in both the one- and multiplayer modes, I can succeed with random actions. That's flawed game design.

-- Z.

[classicb]

You can scribble Zach, but you aren't going to get as large a score are you? Meteos is panic and score attack combined imo... ah yes... the old return of score attack games and many people don't know what to do about them because they aren't familiar with the concept...

(thinks about Yoshi, Polarium, Meteos, Lumines and so on)

The point isn't that I won't get as high a score; the point is that, in both the one- and multiplayer modes, I can succeed with random actions. That's flawed game design.

-- Z.

well i don't know who you're playing but between me and my friends random actions don't succeed much. sure you'll trigger something but i don't find it a very good strategy to play by. when someone starts to scibble its a pretty clear sign their almost done.

still flawed or not (depending on how you look at it) its the best DS game IMO

[PDorr3]

You can scribble Zach, but you aren't going to get as large a score are you? Meteos is panic and score attack combined imo... ah yes... the old return of score attack games and many people don't know what to do about them because they aren't familiar with the concept...

(thinks about Yoshi, Polarium, Meteos, Lumines and so on)

The point isn't that I won't get as high a score; the point is that, in both the one- and multiplayer modes, I can succeed with random actions. That's flawed game design.

-- Z.

well i don't know who you're playing but between me and my friends random actions don't succeed much. sure you'll trigger something but i don't find it a very good strategy to play by. when someone starts to scibble its a pretty clear sign their almost done.

still flawed or not (depending on how you look at it) its the best DS game IMO

I agree with classic, scribbling often pulls off a combo, but if you actualy take the time to THINK about your moves, you can pull off some serious screen clearers. I force myself to refrain from scribbling except for when my screen is filled and I am about to lose.

Is it cheap? Yes, but its something that should only be taken advantage of during situations of panic, right before a loss.

[classicb]

3 days later with 12+ hrs of game time logged I'm loving this puzzler even more. the variation of gameplay tactics between planets keep this game very fresh. the fushion of meteos to create new planets adds some extras too. I've unlocked most of the planets now but inorder to fuse the meteo planet it takes a crap load of meteos. it will probably be about a week before i can unlock that sucker even at the rate i've been playing it.

i still don't see the scribble thing as a flaw as it only works on a handful of planets and against the cpu.

great game once again

[classicb]

just over 30 hrs of gameplay and I've got everything 100% complete. Now that I finally have all the planets I can start to see which ones I like playing on the most. Does anyone have a favorite planet or a planet they think is the hardes or is best for high scores.

I think Meteo is the best for High Scores. You can maintain a whole screen of blocks and just keep floating it their untill you screw up.

Other favorites planets are Vubble, Starrii, Firim and Geolyte.

[Daniel Thomas]

I bought a copy of Meteos a few days ago, and I have to say I'm seriously impressed. Like many others have said, there's a short learning curve, but once it clicks (usually less than an hour), it becomes hopelessly engaging.

I've also thought long about the scratching controvercy, largely because I've always respected Zach Meston's opinions. But considering the depth and complex nature of the game, scratching (scribbling the stylus randomly) isn't really that effective. I'm reminded of the "button mashing" strategy in so many fighting games, and of those funny, humourous times when a six-year-old could beat all the Street Fighter 2 experts by just pounding buttons. Meteos is really very similar to that.

We'll have to see where my opinions shift over the next few weeks. I can't yet say whether Meteos is a short-term game, or an instant classic with real legs. I'm inclined to say the latter, but we'll just have to wait. Can't wait to see how 4-player matches play out.

[THATinkjar]

Does anyone have a favorite planet

I've played Meteos many times, now, and Firm remains my clear favourite. Second place would probably go to Hotted - a very similiar planet. Those fiery, shiny meteos, coupled with Rez-like music and insanely fast gameplay, makes Firm and Hotted clear examples of why Meteos is the triple A title I believe it to be.

As for "scribbling"... I don't buy the criticism. Many games "feature" flawed game design. Anyway, Meteos sits beautifully with me. Bring on the sequel!

Out of interest, is it just me, or is the music played just before selecting the final planet - Meteo - amazingly good?

[Daria]

You can scribble Zach, but you aren't going to get as large a score are you? Meteos is panic and score attack combined imo... ah yes... the old return of score attack games and many people don't know what to do about them because they aren't familiar with the concept...

(thinks about Yoshi, Polarium, Meteos, Lumines and so on)

The point isn't that I won't get as high a score; the point is that, in both the one- and multiplayer modes, I can succeed with random actions. That's flawed game design.

-- Z.

That's kinda like saying all fighters are inheitantly flawed because you can succeed by button mashing. Throw in a challanger who actually knows what they're doing though and that technique will screw you over.

Yes, you can be lazy with the game but it's much more rewarding to actually play with a little finesse and learn how to manipulate the combos. You can hardly fault the game for being easy to pick up and play just because the player's too lazy to develop his skills any further.

[sharp]

Just got a copy a few days ago, and I love the game. From my first 3 games it's the only I played for more than 2 hours. The game is great fun and easy to get into. It is by far the best puzzlegame at the moment in my opinion.

I only find it hard to make time to get better in the game, as I also play Advance Wars DS and Castlevania at the moment. Damn it's a good time for the DS.

[classicb]

nice to see this topic resurface. still IMO the best DS game out. I've easily put more hours into this game than any other DS game I own (I own 10 all of which I enjoy).

I've been playing a lot of 2 player action which can get pretty crazy when both players are good at the game. It normally gets to the point where each person is sending back a full screen of blocks and then just continue to volly them back and forth untill someone screws up.

great game

[THATinkjar]

Does anyone know how to have the top screen display your opponent's game screen? It's pretty neat, and reminds me of Lumines. I can only seem to "unlock" it after I've launched an amazing sequence of combos, and it only appears for a short period of time.

An early import review suggested it was an option, but I don't think this to be the case.

[classicb]

Does anyone know how to have the top screen display your opponent's game screen? It's pretty neat, and reminds me of Lumines. I can only seem to "unlock" it after I've launched an amazing sequence of combos, and it only appears for a short period of time.

An early import review suggested it was an option, but I don't think this to be the case.

yeah you just tap the little camera on the lower right side of the bottom screen. The default is set to Auto but you can switch it to see how any of you opponents are doing. Its kind of handy when fighting multiple planets to see how close you are to beating them.

[THATinkjar]

yeah you just tap the little camera on the lower right side of the bottom screen.

You're a star, thanks. I should really have read the manual, but hey, I'm too busy playing the darn game!

I'm surprised this thread isn't getting more attention. Bring on the Meteos love, people!

[PDorr3]

I actualy started playing this again. Its amazing how simple the gameplay is, but how addictve and complex you can actualy make it. Im nowhere near being an expert though.

Also I never scribble, only unless my entire screen is blinking that im about to die.

[CreamSoda]

I only played it once on my friends DS, overall I would say it's pretty sweet. Nice graphics/sound effects, Frantic and fun gameplay. A good puzzle game indeed, I might have to pick it up this weekend.

Also I can't say on Lumines, I haven't played it yet.