GoNintendo 'End of day' thoughts - Quick and Dirty review: Boing! Docomodake

I feel like I’ve accomplished so much this week! I really hope you like the flood of reviews. I plan to keep it up for…well…as long as I run this site! Of course, there will be breaks from straight review runs. I need time to actually play games, you know! I’m not done yet though…I have a couple more reviews in me before I need some playtime.

This weekend should help me get that playtime I need! That’s why I’m heading to bed now. The faster I hit the sack, the sooner I can wake up and play sometime! See you guys in a few, short hours.

Can someone explain how in the world Boing! Docomodake made it outside of Japan? I swear, there are games like Fragile that look like the perfect title for localization, yet we don’t hear a peep. Then there’s Boing! Docomodake…a game featuring a Japanese cell phone company’s mascot. In other words, hardly anyone in North America knows what this thing is…yet it gets fast-tracked for localization.

I’m not mad that Boing! Docomodake was chosen for localization. My opinion is quite the opposite, actually. When I saw the first Japanese screens, the game looked like it could be a pretty interesting and fun title. I guess Ignition Entertainment felt the same way, because they’re the ones that published the title here in the states. While I don’t think the title will do at retail, I still applaud Ignition for brings us this fun, quirky title.

What Works

Controls: Boing! Docomodake is a platformer/puzzle title that has you using both dpad/buttons and stylus. You’ll be using the dpad/buttons to move around and jump, and the stylus to life and place items/characters. Boing! Docomodake allows for lefties and righties to be comfortable by having dpad controls swapped over to the face buttons, if you so choose. While there are a lot of controls to keep in mind, they all work very well. I was particularly impressed with stylus controls, which never failed me. Between circling, dragging and double-tapping, I always got the result I was going for.

Gameplay: This has to be the reason why Boing! Docomodake was localized. It’s a very fun game that is easy to pick up and play. Your objective in each level is to reach the goal, but you have to do so by flipping switches/pressing buttons/building bridges and ladders. You accomplish all these tasks by splitting the main character into smaller versions of itself. You then pick up and place these dopplegangers wherever you need them. Use them as a bridge to walk on, place them on a button to open a gate…you get the idea.

As you continue on, you collect more dopplegangers to split off into, which means that the puzzles get more intricate as you move on. While the levels in the beginning are fairly easy due to the small number of duplicates you control, the later levels offer a lot more challenge. You’ll be controlling over 10 duplicates of yourself, and it’s up to you to figure out how to place them in order to reach your goal. Throw in some extra bonus items to collect as you continue on, and you’ll find some pretty interesting puzzle solutions.

Quirkiness: This isn’t going to be a game that a close-minded gamer is going to pick up. The story is weird as hell, the main character is a mushroom, and each level ends with a chorus of Japanese singers belting out the name of the game. You’ve seen this type of strange, Japanese presentation before, and you know if you like it or not. For those of us that are willing to give anything a try, you’ll most likely be drawn in by the appealing characters and design choices. It’s definitely out there…but that’s what makes it enjoyable.

What Doesn’t Work

Music: What a mixed bag the music is. Some of the tracks are really soothing and enjoyable, while others drove me insane. At one point, I was tempted to turn the music off altogether. Luckily I didn’t, because the next world had a great track. When dealing with puzzles, a grating soundtrack can really help you lose your concentration. Boing! Docomodake will definitely test your audio limits from time to time.

Camera control: As you work your way through the game, you’ll be presented with levels that get larger and larger. You won’t be able to figure out what to do next without using the camera option. In this mode, the gameplay pauses as you scroll the camera around the screen. While all you have to do is press an icon on screen to access the camera, the maneuvering can be a pain in the butt. You have to tap one of four arrows to navigate instead of just dragging the screen around via stylus. This regimented camera choice is necessary for playing, but the speed/handling can become quite a nuisance.

Hope you like puzzles: Boing! Docomodake is a one trick pony. For almost the entire game, you’ll be using your dopplegangers to solve puzzles in order to progress to the goal. While the locations change, the ideas pretty muc remain the same. If you aren’t into puzzle games of this type, you may find yourself getting pretty bored. A change of scenery can only do so much.

Quick and Dirty

What a pleasant surprise it is to have Boing! Docomodake in North America. If you’re up for a puzzle game with nice controls, interesting gameplay ideas and a quirky charm, this is it. This mushroom character may not mean anything to people outside of Japan, but I sure hope we get another chance to enjoy its presence. I wouldn’t mind seeing Boing! Docomodake turn into a recognizable game franchise. It sure as hell beats Bubsy!