Renegade Kids inspired efforts continue to shine like a beacon in the sea of me-too DS titles; with 2007s Dementium: The Ward they proved the underpowered portable could do a decent first-person survival horror game, and with Moon they once again push the limits of the four-plus year old handheld, delivering a solid sci-fi FPS. Sure, theyre not the first to show these genres could be done on the DSMetroid Prime: Hunters still takes the sci-fi shooter top spotbut they deserve credit for steering clear of the systems puzzler, strategy, and RPG comfort zones, while sacrificing little quality in the process.
Moon is one of the systems best looking gamesit doesnt hurt that it runs at a smooth 60 frames per secondand its FPS controls are as good as any (even Samus Arans aforementioned bounty-hunting adventure) mapped to the unconventional dual-display/touch-screen set-up. Aiming can be a bit imprecise at times, especially when trying to get a bead on flying bad guys, but overall the mouse-like movement feels smooth and satisfying once you get accustomed to the unconventional FPS layout.
Moon spins a creep-inducing Dead Space-light yarn, and provides plenty of fun robot-blasting action, supported by a nice selection of futuristic firepower. While the many guns given to your ass-kicking astronaut offer variety, I cant always say the same for the foes youll be using them on; enemies, especially those of the flying and floating drone sort are overused, however, some surprisingly good boss battles do go a long way in balancing out the bad guy roster.
The extremely atmospheric presentation, buoyed by an affective in-space-no-one-can-hear-you-scream vibe, also hosts some fun vehicle and remote-controlled droid sequences that are paced perfectly among the exploration and shooting focus. The puzzling portions are okay, too, but will feel a bit repetitive once youve activated your umpteenth switch/lever/button thingie. Thankfully youll be busy doing plenty of other moon-saving stuff, so the experience isnt dragged down when the puzzles get too familiar.
Renegade Kid scores mucho points for not repeating Dementiums most significant major flaw, an infuriating checkpoint system that forced players to replay long sections of the game every time they diednot cool. This seemingly small improvement actually goes a long way as my minor gripes with Moon remain just that; modest faults can become glaring flaws if youre forced to suffer them over and over again.
Its no secret the DSs library is brimming with great games, but its only a select few that make me stop and think: Wow, am I really experiencing this on a portable system? Moons cinematic presentation, addictive play, moody music, and technical prowess happily remind me how far my favorite pastime has come. If youre looking for something different and more story-driven than the usual lot of strategy and puzzle games, then youll definitely want to take one giant leap for gaming in Moon.
score 8.5 out of ten
verdict Moon stands out on the DS, not just for supporting an underrepresented genre, but also for doing so with technical excellence, fun gameplay, and engaging storytelling. Thanks, Renegade Kid!
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