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Really easy!

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 8 / 13
Date: January 22, 2006
Author: Amazon User

If you like those old-fashioned Tetris rip-off games like Doctor Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine or Doctor Mario then you'll probably like Meteos (a pretty lame title) but I finished playing it re-eally quickly and I wouldn't recommend buying it. Just rent it.

There's really nothing that new about the gameplay either. If you've played any one of the above mentioned games then you pretty much know what's in-store for you as it's almost exactly the same only with a nonsensical, who-REALLY-cares story behind it and some touch-screen interaction. Despite the colorful graphics and the fancy bells and whistles this is old-fashioned stuff and doesn't show off the Nintendo DS to it's full potential. I wouldn't recommend using this as a demonstration game to those unconvinced by the DS coolness.

Graphics B+
Sound B+
Gameplay C
Lasting Appeal D

There is always one in the crowd...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 4 / 9
Date: December 18, 2005
Author: Amazon User

We enjoy playing all kinds of puzzles games, including Dr. Eggman's mean bean machine and Wario's woods because they combine both action and a story. However, Meteos just isn't as played as the other puzzle games.

I may be the only one giving this game a low rating, but I just don't find Meteos as challenging as other puzzle games. Basically, all you have to do is scribble the magic pen around in order to get the blocks to disappear. Another thing that bothers me about this game is the sound balance system. When you turn down the music, you turn up the sound effects (and vice versa). My advice is to turn down the volume with the switch on your DS because otherwise, this thing is not quiet at all!

The only reason why I gave this game 3 stars instead of 1 is because the graphics are colorful and attractive, and there is a variety of activities to play, which is no doubt why this game gets plugged in and played with for about 15 minutes every few weeks. If you are new to puzzle games, this game is a good choice, but if you're an advanced gamer, you might not be as challenged.

Something Decent To Play Until Tetris Is Released For DS

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: February 05, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I had heard and read quite a bit about 'Meteos' before I purchased it: "Fun", "Addictive", "Like 'Tetris' Only Better", etc. So I bought it and was a little disappointed.

'Meteos' is a puzzle game. Sort of like the aforementioned Russian classic, but with a few tweaks. They've been explained here previously by other reviewers so I'll skip that part in my review. It has got nice(though simple)graphics, excellent responsiveness on the touch screen, and lots of music. The difference in gravities during each stage is a cool little feature. But alas, nowhere during any of my time playing 'Meteos' did it ever come anywhere near as addictive as 'Tetris'.

'Meteos' is a fun little game. Maybe I was expecting too much or maybe I was expecting something different. Its not a bad game, but I'll never sit and play for hours on end trying to beat my high score. Its a fun yet fleeting diversion that you will eventually bore you. Its something decent to bide your time until a DS version of 'Tetris' is released.

Incredibly Overrated

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 6 / 12
Date: March 03, 2006
Author: Amazon User

THE GOOD: Great presentation featuring catchy tunes and vibrant, colorful graphics; cool interplanetary theme; provides some challenge

THE BAD: Puzzle aspect isn't brain-based but twitch-based; lots of modes but most feel the same; gameplay can get old rather quickly.

DIFFICULTY: Medium

When Meteos was released alongside Lumines for the PSP, they were both hailed as the two "must-have" titles for both competing handheld systems. Now, while I haven't played Lumines, Meteos doesn't have much relation in the gameplay theme (if at all), so this one really stands on its own as sort of "THE" puzzle game for the DS. Now, while first playing this game was fun, things became old and tired a little too quickly.

The main gameplay aspect in Meteos is rather simple: blocks (or shapes) of various colors (or designs) fall from the top a la Tetris, and using the DS stylus you must move these blocks up or down in order to match 3 or more like colors or shapes in one row, therefore they'll shoot upwards, along with any other blocks that may be resting on top of them. The point is to be as quick as possible and not let the blocks pile up to the top, or else, you lose. Various little trinkets exist within the game to try and keep things fresh, like weapons, such as a hammer or bomb for example. These can add more power when touched, therefore eliminating more blocks. There is also a feature where you can speed the drop of blocks by either holding one of the shoulder buttons or rotating an icon on the bottom right of the screen with the stylus (I don't really see the point in this). It all makes for a very colorful and flashy action sequence with the game's interplanetary theme at work using the top screen. Basically, the more blocks you shoot up, the more "attacks" fly out into space on the top screen thus destroying whatever planet you need to destroy.
Various modes make for some replay value, like a mission mode where you can choose a pattern for which planet you'd like to head to next, or simply challenging planets individually.
All this may sound exciting (well, depending on how well I write), but the problem is that no matter how pretty or cute the various stages and backgrounds may look, you're really doing the same thing over and over - moving blocks up and down with the stylus. This wouldn't be so much of a problem if the action weren't so straightforward. By that I mean, the game doesn't really feel like a REAL brain teasing puzzler, but more of a twitchy action frenzy. You have ONE objective in mind, and if you're simply not fast enough to catch a pattern SOMEWHERE, you're as good as dead. This isn't like Tetris where you can plan out some sort of strategy and rotate various blocks according to what YOU think is best, build a pattern and try to up the bonus points. This gives way to different people playing different ways, using different patterns and using blocks differently. In other words, Tetris worked according to how YOU work. Meteos is simply look and react, and this means that no matter who you are, everyone will be playing in the exact same fashion. Of course this becomes old once you've beaten the mission mode various times, by then you'll find yourself playing but not getting excited about it.
Another huge letdown is that at times you'll beat a stage and not even know how you did it, because the blocks will simply fall into place THEMSELVES and earn that extra punch to pass the stage. This is incredibly dogging, because many times you feel like you're not the one causing your victory. In simple terms, this game isn't about thinking, it's about reacting... and sometimes getting lucky. This is NOT a puzzle formula in my opinion.
The game does try to keep you coming back, because the more stages you beat the more little unlockables you can open, like a mixing sound mode. Here you can open up new tunes and mix some sound effects together. You can also do this wierd purchase-planet and elements mode, where you can fuse elements together. Where you use these elements and how they actually affect gameplay, I have no idea, it simply feels like it's there to give you something completely unnecessary to do.
This game has gotten a lot of ridiculously praised press, which in my opinion is most definitely not deserved. It's not addicting, it's not all that exciting after you've beaten the mission mode ONCE, the extras are presented well but ultimately tacked on, and lastly, although the game does use a cool space theme to go with its gameplay, for some reason I just feel like it's lacking a personality of its own.

BOTTOM LINE: This feels more like a puzzle game for the casual gamer who wants to feel smart. Real puzzle fanatics will wonder where the hell the real thinking in this game comes in.

3 to Launch

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: January 05, 2007
Author: Amazon User

What a silly game. But it is fun. And it did make me want to play it more.

But it's 100% luck. I considered myself way too old to ever be able to learn and master any game well enough to "finish it". But that's exactly what I did in my second round of Meteos.

The object of the game is simple. Each level starts out with 3 rows of apx 15 - 20 blocks. The blocks have different designs and colors. When the game begins more blocks rain from space and start piling up. If any columns in the rows get to the top of the screen, you're annihilated. You can only move the blocks vertically. So you need move blocks in a column up and down in order to get three in a row either horizontally across in any row or vertically in a column in order to launch the stack(s) of blocks before they reach the top of the screen.

There's all this talk in the directions about lining up 3 like color/designed blocks to launch the blocks into space. And that indeed is what needs to be done. But if you just take the stylus and keep swiping it quickly and randomly over the columns, pure chance pretty much guarantees you an eventual launch. So much so for me--and my kids--that the game can easily be defeated.

Even after raising the difficultly we all had the same success getting through the levels of play. So, the skill set required to play Meteos is minimal. But it's darn fun.

Therefore, if you own this and you're struggling by "playing fairly" and actually trying to match up 3 blocks. Give the quick/random method a try. As I said, it's still pretty fun.

Not a favorite

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: November 19, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I'm an adult and bought this game for myself several months ago because I like puzzle games. I was disappointed with this one. I just found it too stressful because you have to think really fast in order to win. It also got difficult very quickly. I prefer games where I can observe the situation and ponder what the best move is. I wasn't having fun with this one and so it has been "shelved".

If you like puzzle games, my favorites DS ones are Clubhouse Games and Puzzle Quest - I could play them for hours at a time and not get bored!

Why is it rated so highly?

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: May 28, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game strictly because of the awesome reviews I have read about it. When I got it and popped it into my DS I was slightly disappointed. The story mode is absolutely useless. There are 3 modes where you travel to different planets, but it's generally all the same thing. There is nothing motivating you to keep going. I enjoyed playing against my friend who owns a DS, but other then that, this game doesn't really hold it's own. I tend to gravitate toward puzzle games that have story lines like 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. I am a huge puzzle fan and Meteos just doesn't hold it's own in my opinion. The graphics and sounds are cute though. Not horrible, just not the best.

Meteos

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: October 04, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Curse you, Tetsuya Mizuguchi! Unleashing Lumines on an unsuspecting public wasn't enough? You had to make another incredible puzzle game?

Much as I'm loathe to admit it, Lumines drew from that Tetris vibe everyone is so fond of. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, I'm just saying that it really wasn't that original. (Not that there are very many ways you can make falling blocks seem interesting.) Meteos, in contrast, doesn't really have any games you can compare it to. It's also probably the only puzzle game with a plot of any form, let alone alternate endings. Basically, a giant eye is out killing planets by spewing blocks on them, and you're the only one who can put a stop to it.

Unlike most other games in the genre, you don't get to control the blocks as they appear. They just fall and fall, faster and faster. What you do get to do is use the stylus to move the blocks either up or down. Match three of the same kind of block (vertically or horizontally), and you jettison all of the blocks above them into the air. You're basically in constant peril, because when there aren't a lot of blocks on the screen you're hard pressed to find a match, and when there are you can easily find a match but have nearly no time to do so. In short, I find playing to be exciting! Challenging, to be sure, but I can respect that.

BOTTOM LINE: Both of Mizuguchi's puzzle games are good for different reasons, but that doesn't diminish their quality.

Over-rated

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 4
Date: July 12, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This game is a puzzle game. I personally feel that the reviews are too over-rated for what it's worth. It's kind of like Bejeweled except you can only line up blocks vertically, and not horizontally, which kind of bothers me. There's not really a storyline ... it's not incredibly fun, but will probably last you a fairly good ten minutes of game play. It's really the effects when you line up the same colored blocks and the sounds and graphics that give you that "high" of the game.

Challenging, difficult, engaging

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: May 20, 2007
Author: Amazon User

This game is very difficult and is up there with Tetris. I actually think it is much more difficult to keep up with Meteos, but it's a great game and you'll definitely enjoy playing.

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