Picross DS [DS]

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Cross out the crossword puzzles, sink the Sudoku, and put Minesweeper to sleep: Picross DS is the best thing to ever happen to grids. Once a sleeper hit on the Game Boy (even with Mario in its title), Picross gets a chance to live again in the U.S., utilizing everything unique about the Nintendo DS while coming out at an unbeatable price.

Figuring out what the heck you're doing in Picross can take a little time, but the game eases you in with novice puzzles and a comprehensive tutorial. Basically, numbers on the top and side of the grid tell you how many squares in the row will be filled in. When done correctly, you get a neat little picture. Worry not: It sounds a lot stranger in writing than it is in practice.

Over time, grids get larger, strategies evolve, and soon you're hopelessly hooked until you've beaten all 300+ puzzles in over 20 categories. Regular Picross knocks time off the clock whenever you make a mistake (the goal is to finish a puzzle in under an hour), while Free Picross offers you no reinforcement until you've completed the puzzle. Categories include sports, the desert, storybook scenes, and even a little somethin'-somethin' for retro gamers.

The stylus is a natural fit for Picross, and makes it easy to fill in a long line of boxes. It's prone to fewer mistakes than you'd expect. Using the d-pad along with it -- to handle filling in, unfilling, zooming, etc. -- feels intuitive, though larger grids can be slightly cumbersome to negotiate. Some players will prefer the classic button-based control, which is easy to switch to at any time.

For $20, the above will give anyone more than their money's worth. But wait, there's more: Picross includes a Whack-a-Mole-like mini-game, while Daily Picross brings some Brain Age exercises to the fray. Picross DS even has a nifty create-a-puzzle feature, and Wi-Fi functionality allows you to share your puzzles with friends or download new ones. Multiplayer is pretty slick for a game that's really designed for solo play, too - you race to complete puzzles first, or have the "host" draw out puzzles for up to four other players to solve.

The graphics and sound aren't going to blow anyone away. After all, this is a game about grids. The animation of the solved pictures and level themes (think Lumines) are a nice touch, but the clarity of the graphics is their best aspect. The music won't annoy you no matter how many late-night sessions you partake in, which can only be considered a positive.

With most puzzle games, you often get the feeling you're playing an endless, fruitless time sink. In Picross DS, you get a real sense of accomplishment, while still being just as enthralled as with the Tetrises and Meteoses of the world. It rewards intelligence over reflexes, broadening its target audience immensely. Play it for 10 minutes, or five hours; either way, you'll have a smile on your face the entire time. Picross DS comes surprisingly close to being the perfect brain-teaser. Don't pass it up.