Magnetica

by Nintendo

Product Features

• Consult all-in-one dashboard on top screen; battle a friend head-to-head
• Marble game that satisfies even the strongest puzzle addiction
• Innovative use of the stylus to control the marbles
• Ultra-realistic magnetic physics; tons of power-ups; multiple tracks
• Incredible depth in 3 single-player modes--Challenge, Quest, and Puzzle

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000ERVMII
• Product Dimensions: 5 x 5.5 x 2.5 inches ; 4.2 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: June 5, 2006
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,064 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #14 in Video Games > Nintendo DS > Sports > Baseball

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Marbles are exclusively controlled by the stylus in this fascinating title that satisfies even the strongest puzzle addiction. Marbles roll relentlessly down a twisted track toward you. Stop them by launching new marbles with your stylus. When three or more like-colored marbles match up, they vanish. Tons of power-ups, multiple tracks, and a great multiplayer mode make Magnetica a must for puzzle/action fans! Single-player items boost your score, slow down or stop time, or reverse the course of the marbles.

Versus weaponry includes Ion Clouds (smoke screens you'll have to blow away via the DS mic), Recoils (which block marbles), Black Holes (which suck up launched marbles), Viruses (which deflect marbles), and Gravitons (which alter the path of launched marbles). A seemingly endless array of fresh twists will keep drawing you back to single-player Magnetica. Switches, tracks that pass over or below each other, and moving barriers that deflect marbles will keep you flicking marbles for hours.

Features:

• Innovative use of stylus to flick marbles
• Ultra-realistic magnetic physics: launched marbles will curve toward like-colored balls
• Incredible depth in three single-player modes: Challenge, Quest, and Puzzle
• Multiple paths and scads of power-ups and hazards will keep you on your toes
• Consult the all-in-one dashboard on your top screen
• Show off your Magnetica personality by battling a friend head-to-head

Product Description

Magnetica challenges you to think fast, in one of the most unusual puzzle games around! The action seems simple at first: Connect marbles of the same color to eliminate them before they reach the end of the line. But the action is controlled with a flick of the stylus -- develop the speed and accuracy it takes to win, and you'll start forming massive chains and rack up the real points! If you've been searching for a game to feed your puzzle addiction, look no further.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exactly like Zuma - which is good!, June 16, 2006

By 

Lisa Shea "medieval swordfighting enthusiast" - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Magnetica (Video Game)

I'm really surprised they didn't just name this game Zuma. It is EXACTLY like the free magnetic marble game on MSN Games - also available on the XBox 360 download list.

In essence you have a long, curly track that ends in a black hole. The colored marbles are pushed slowly, inexorably, along the path. You sit at the center, firing marbles at this chain. If your marble color completes a set of 3-of-a-kind, those marbles vanish. If the marbles on either side of the resulting gap match in color, they "attract" to each other and slide the chain backwards. Your aim is to clear out all the marbles before they reach the black hole.

There are a variety of games here. The basic game just has you trying to eliminate marbles and make chains. Another mode livens it up a bit with extra targets that get you bonusses. A puzzle area gives you a preset situation - X combination of marbles on the board, Y marbles in your shooter area. You have to figure out exactly where to shoot to clear the board in only a few shots.

I really love Zuma so I enjoyed this game greatly. There was no learning curve at all for me, it was just a matter of pick it up and play for hours on end. If you enjoy puzzle games, then this will probably be right up your alley. If you're not into puzzle games, you still might want to give this a try. With the twisting and turning of the track - plus the ever increasing color options and bonus items, it really does keep you on your toes.

My only real complaint is that they don't let you set up profiles! You unlock new games as you go - but the only way to share the game with another person is to erase your save information before you hand it over. That hardly makes sense. They really should let up to 4 people set up profiles so that each can have their own fun of unlocking items and tracking their scores.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Loops To Success, June 14, 2006

By 

Michael Kerner "Michael Kerner" (Brooklyn, New York U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Magnetica (Video Game)

Puzzle games are definitely for everybody. While there have been some that have shown strong success recently, like Su Doku and classic crossword puzzles, video game puzzles have never seen to show within their age. That has also been the case with Nintendo DS as well. With the success of puzzle games like Tetris DS and the thrilling Meteos game, many seem to wonder if there is going to be a puzzle game that is different. Well, there actually is one out there right now that is kind of a twist, a loop puzzle that brings new gamers to the Nintendo DS and into full focus as well.

Magnetica for the Nintendo DS is a classic loop puzzle game. The game of course is a very simple game to play. Like games such as Bust A Move, and Meteos, the object of the game is for you to match three or more colored balls and knock them out of the game. However, you have to do it quickly, because if one ball falls into the black hole at the end of the line, the game is definitely over. There are several differnt modes of play, such as the challenge mode where you have to last through 99 levels of play, without failing into play, the driven quest mode, where there are 50 different puzzles to go through and defeat, and there is puzzle mode, where you have to knock all the balls out of play within a limited amount of shots. The control is strictly from the stylus which is very easy to operate and control, as you shoot your balls and make it easier for you to win. The graphics are also bold and vivid, and they also are shown very well on the DS. The one disdadvantage is the music. Although you get a lot of good puzzles, there isn't as much variety from the music in the game.

Despite very few flaws, Magnetica is a great addition to the Nintendo DS lineup. I absolutely recommend this title a whole lot. If you are into puzzle games like Tetris, and Pokemon Trozei for thisn game system, you'll love this game a whole lot.

Graphics: A-

Sound: C

Control: B+

Fun & Enjoyment: B 1/2+

Overall: B

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Fun!, August 8, 2006

By 

Gadget Queen "Gadget Queen" - See all my reviews

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Magnetica (Video Game)

This game is absolutely addictive! In fact, it is hard to put away! Once you get started, you want to see just how many levels you can conquer! So many levels can satisfy anyone who wants a lot of diversity in one game. If you like puzzles, you will love this!