DS Critic Reviews

A truly exceptional puzzle title. [June 2005, p.137]

What the game lacks in presentation and sound, it makes up for with a fun, original concept that wouldn't quite work as well on anything but the DS.

An idea with the potential to get boring but that, in practice, is satisfyingly addictive. The puzzle mode offers fiendishly tricky logic problems which are in fact, pretty tricky. Tough but great value and worth the effort. [NGC Pocket]

Its simple presentation may deter players who like a bit more pizzazz and graphical flare, but an entertaining game with lastability awaits those who decide to pick it up. [JPN Import]

Addictive, fun, and certainly unique, Polarium suits the DS down to the ground (this is game that could only work on the DS…and PDAs) and perhaps this is the direction Nintendo should take their new machine rather than trying to compete with the PSP and bring confused and muddled conversions to the format.

Granted, the concept of staring at a screen full of black and white squares for minutes on end looking for the correct line to draw may not sound like the most exciting game out there, but for those who appreciate a good mental challenge, it's a treat.

Polarium does what it's supposed to do - frustrate the hell out of you until you stab the touch-screen with your stylus. But once you get that solution to the puzzle you're working on, it's a big relief... that is, until the next puzzle rolls around.

Like all good puzzlers, Polarium is exceptionally easy to learn, and it makes it very hard for you to turn your DS off and get your work done.

Nintendo hit one out of the ballpark here. All DS owners should also own Polarium. My question: why was it not included with the system?

The Challenge mode may only hold your interest for a little while, but the one hundred migraine-inducing puzzles will definitely make you come back to the game.