Less than three years ago, a logic game quietly hit the Nintendo DS by the name of Picross DS (our 2007 review). Picross, based off Mario Picross (an unsuccessful title in North America), was a puzzle game that used logic to eliminate squares on game boards to create pictures on the screen with various colors. Players were graded on their time to completion and accuracy in creating the picture.

The follow-up to this title (created by a different developer) takes the flat game board and uses the same concept to create 3-dimensional shapes as pieces are being eliminated. Numbers are assigned to different sides of cubes and players eliminate squares based on the Sudoku like puzzles. As squares are removed, the previously unrecognizable object on the screen takes the shape of a specific design (typically something lifelike).

Each puzzle allows the player a fairly liberal amount of time for completion, but mistakes are penalized. The player is allowed a handful of mistakes before the puzzle has to be reset. The numbers on the blocks dictate the number of filled squares in each row / column. Determining which ones can be removed is similar to minesweeper. Similar to the previous game, the player can take a larger view of the puzzle to get a feel for what it’s supposed to look like. However, the player has the ability to rotate the 3D object in this version. This can become a tad disorienting with the larger puzzles.

Once the rule set is understood, chipping away at the object becomes easy. That being said, the objects are very Lego-like equivalents of their real life counterparts. Applying the concept of symmetry to the puzzle can often lead to a faster solution. Each puzzle has a rating system in place to reward speed / accuracy. The player receives up to 3 stars based on finishing within the time limit and no mistakes. There are also 3 levels of difficulty to compete on; basically modifying the amount of time you have to complete the puzzle.

As groups of puzzles are completed, new groups are opened up for a greater challenge. Similar to the previous game, the puzzles in the latter stages become much larger and increasingly difficult. There are over 350 puzzles included in the entire game. Using the online connection, you can download new puzzles as well as upload puzzles that you have designed via the puzzle creation tool. The online addition extremely amps up the replay factor on this title. I found several very creative puzzles online, many of which were actually more challenging than included puzzles.

Graphics

• The game is a far cry from the simplicity and sleek styling of the original Picross. The visuals are a mixture of clashing, ostentatious backgrounds and pixilated blocks that create the actual shapes. The original title really pulled it together better, although the animations are more playful in this version.

Audio

• If you have played one puzzle game, you have heard this upbeat, repeating tune again and again. It’s really a matter of taste, but this isn’t a title were audio is a key element in the gameplay. In fact, I found myself turning down the volume all the way down on the elevator music and just enjoying the challenge of the puzzles.

Conclusion

I remember enjoying the original Picross back in 2007, mostly as a quick diversion to my daily tasks. It was the perfect game to pick up and knock out a puzzle in 5 minutes before getting back to work. Picross 3D performs the exact same function and the added bonus of the user created puzzles extends the life of the title even further. Even with the lackluster graphics, Picross 3D is a worthy successor to the original title. If you have any interest in logic-based puzzle games, Picross 3D is the perfect game to pull out on the subway during the morning commute.

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