Aren't we due another Brain Training? As the game that eased many a commute – and helped sell several thousand DS systems to the older generation – it must be about time for more of Doctor Kawashima's synapse-firing exercises.
In the meantime, of course, the older gamer isn't short of options when it comes to flexing the grey cells. This latest effort from Nintendo may not have the quirky appeal or originality of a Professor Layton adventure (or, indeed, the variety), but as entertainment for public transport, on holiday or in the smallest room? It's a pretty solid collection.
It is, as the title suggests, a collection of crosswords. There are no cryptic ones – which begs the question "why not?" – but the game features more than 1,000 straightforward crosswords. At the Easy setting, clues such as "striped large cat" for five letters, or "move through water" for four won't trouble the majority of those playing. The "Medium" setting, however, mixes things up a little – some plain sailing, some stumpers – while the Hard setting does pretty much what it says on the tin. It is, in effect, like carrying several hundred Weekend crosswords in one handy games console.
The interface is so straightforward that the tutorials are unnecessary. Tap on a square, the DS zooms in so you can write your letter on the right-hand screen. It then moves up or down depending on whether you're solving an across or down clue.
If you're completely stumped, there are a few options to help beyond phoning a friend or hitting Google. There's a "cheat" setting that tells you when you've written an incorrect letter or, should you wish to keep the challenge a little more cerebral, you can purchase a handful of extra clues per puzzle.
Once you've exhausted / got bored with the crossword element, there are also Wordsearch and Anagram puzzles to be solved. The former is a surprisingly addictive pocket version of those books they sell at airports, the latter is a neatly challenging Countdown-style puzzle.
Graphically, there's nothing here that's beyond the functional but actually that's all you need. The important thing is playability and, for those who like this sort of thing (and I was surprised to discover that included me) this is a sensibly priced, well put together crowd-pleaser.
