As promised in my previous post, below are the remaining games in my Top 10 list of handheld games for moms:
(6) Final Fantasy (DS/PSP) - I've yet to meet an RPG fan who did not get his/her hands dirty with this best-selling series! DS ups the ante of the classic FFIII (not to be confused with FFVI, this is the real deal) and FFIV by delivering it in all its 3D glory. Relive these timeless tales with 3D graphics that simply make you lose yourself in the game. You can also control the characters via the stylus and touch screen. Die-hard FF fans can get a chance to play the game that started it all - FFI - on the PSP. FFII is also available on PSP, completing the Final Fantasy experience. Still itching for more? In yet another remake of FFIV, "FFIV The Complete Collection" offers the original game, the sequel (FFIV The After Years), and an additional game that ties them together. While the reuse of dungeons got a tad monotonous (it is the same world, after all), the chance to relive the experience with much beloved characters is too enticing to ignore.
(7) Jeanne D'Arc (PSP) - This game plays just like Final Fantasy Tactics - minus the complexity and lengthy gameplay, leaving you with a stunning, fantastical tale about the famed Joan of Arc. Words can not bring to justice the spectular art and story it has to offer. The game is, simply put, lovely to behold. And for once, the English dubbing (rife with authentic French accents) is actually worth listening to. I await the day that Level 5 produces another tactical RPG at par with this masterpiece.
(8) Puzzle Quest (PSP/DS) - It's Bejeweled. With Sword and Sorcery. With an actual story! It has the addictive elements of a Tetris game, with the added depth of completing an adventure. The game offers a choice of different characters to play. While the main storyline remains the same, the variety of character classes can lead you to change your battle strategy (assuming you choose to play the game again with a another character choice). The PSP purportedly delivers better graphics than the DS version, but it comes with a bug - the special abilities of the companions you gather throughout the game will have no effect whatsoever. The developers have admitted to this bug and there should be a patch available, but if you have a DS, may as well use that and spare yourself the added chore.
(9) Cooking Mama (DS) - Here's a game that makes full use of the DS touchscreen! Chop, peel, stir, and cook your way through Mama's colorful and scrumptious-looking dishes! It's a fun way for moms to destress and is especially appreciated by moms with no real-life cooking talent whatsoever (myself included!). Cooking Mama for DS has since spawned two sequels (Cooking Mama: Dinner With Friends and Cooking Mama: Chop and Shop) and two spin-offs (Gardening Mama and Crafting Mama).
(10) Half-Minute Hero (PSP) - No one appreciates the value of your time as much as this game's protagonist, who only has 30 seconds to defeat the evil villain before it blows up the world. And that's just the Hero mode. To get larger picture, you have to complete all 6 modes, and every one of them has the same 30-second deadline (Evil Lord 30 Mode, Princess 30 Mode, Knight 30 Mode, Hero 300 Mode, Hero 3 Mode) save for the Hero 300 and Hero 3 modes, which gives you 300 and 3 seconds respectively to defeat the boss. Sounds absurd? You better believe it! There are certain bonuses and a Time Goddess available to help you reset that precious 30 seconds so every mission is doable - and undeniably addictive in its silliness and humor. Your first encounter with the Time Goddess is testament to how absurd the rest of the game and its characters are.
That completes my list - I'm sure I'll come up with another in the far future, what will all the new games, consoles, and innovations popping out of the woodwork. Until then - Happy Gaming!
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