Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9368 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: Codemasters
• Released on: 2007-02-02
• Rating: To Be Announced
• Platform: Nintendo DS
• Subtitled in: German
• Dimensions: .33 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
Given its enormous popularity in Japan, it’s very odd how few role-playing games there have been so far for the DS. It’s pleasing to see then that when one does make it out though it’s as gamely original as the console itself. Despite being a product of the same minds behind the ultra violent killer7, this is a far gentler affair as you try to help a nutty professor find new power cells for his space lab. The big gimmick is that the professor exists only on the top screen, portrayed via retro isometric graphics, while you go about helping him on the bottom screen, where the graphics are rendered in a far more realistic style.

The juxtaposition of art styles works extremely well and the game has a great sense of humour, constantly breaking the fourth wall and mocking the usual conventions of video games. However, like most role-playing games, the main focus is on combat – which is less successfully odd than the rest of the game. Fighting is all based on statistics and apart from using items and health power-ups it all runs on automatic, which is not exactly the best way to keep your interest. Thankfully most minor enemies can just as easily be avoided as fought, although you do need to keep levelling up to be strong enough to take on the game bosses. You can also find and use a range of different outfits which give you new abilities such as being able to pick locks, cook, fish and so on. There’s also a limited Wi-Fi mode where you can meet and trade with other players. If only the combat had been more interesting this could have been a genuine classic.
HARRISON DENT

Manufacturer's Description
Contact tells the story of a stranded alien professor and Terry, a young man accidentally caught up in the off-world scholar's plight. The story centres on a quest to find the scattered remnants of the professor's extra-terrestrial power-source, adding in a variety of sub-quests and an air of intrigue as shady, sinister parties are looking to find the scattered crystals for use in their own nefarious plans.

Complementing the plot are RPG mechanics of considerable depth, including real-time updating of statistics and abilities, as well as a wealth of items to discover and use. Levelling-up occurs as soon as the necessary experience has been gained, making for a dynamic, continuous play experience in keeping with the game's real-time combat systems.

Contact also features a unique split of graphical styles across the DS's two screens. On one display, there's a vibrant representation of earthly locales, complete with lush flora, fauna and other inhabitants. On the other screen, however, this look is contrasted by an austere pixel-art look for the portrayal of the professor, his lab and his alien hybrid pet.

The professor's unusual nature is not only defined by his visuals. He's entirely aware of the player and will talk to them directly, even commenting on Terry's progress. This breaking of the 'fourth wall' of videogames will raise questions about the professor's role, to the extent where the player will question the professor's morality and motives, possibly even questioning what Contact is. Is it 'just' a game, or is it something more?

Customer Reviews

Pokemon without the pokemon!
I picked up this game for £12 thinking it looked interesting, it is certainly a unique game with a unique theme, for the amount i paid for it, i wouldnt say it was bad value for money either. It is however an extremely repetetive game, the plot is not totally clear and sometimes confusing. I think the game lacks interaction, most of the time you just tap the ds screen to move, then tap again to interact with something, fighting for example is basically automated, you just watch to see the outcome while the animated people/things continue to fight on their own. The graphics and layout of the game remind me of a pokemon game, only without the actual pokemon in it. The game takes a while to get in to, if you want something short or easy to get into this isnt for you. Worth a look if your dedicated and can find it cheap, if not, theres better stuff out there!

Intriguing, but repetitive
This game caught my eye as I was flicking through a magazine a few months ago, due to its unique graphical style. Reading the article, I thought that (although I always take magazine previews with a pinch of salt), that the game definitely sounded original and interesting enough to warrant keeping an eye on.
Of course, I then purchased it and have to say I am loving it so far. Pretty much everything about it works well, and I haven't grown tired of it yet.
This may well be due to the fact that I am, well, a self-confessed geek and RPG fanatic, so I really appreciate the blend of old-school elements with modern concepts, which fit together extremely well and leave little room for improvement. However, it is those elements that may alienate newcomers to the genre.
When you power up the game, the first thing that greets you is the retro menu screen, remeniscent of the computers of yesteryear. The opening cut-scene is also great, setting the tone very well, and introducing the story perfectly.
Here I ought to mention the Professor, one of the main characters. Without going into too much detail, his spaceship crashes, scattering its power crystals around the planet. He enlists the help of a local boy named Terry (although you can change his name) to help him find the missing crystals.
After the introduction you get to take control of Terry. Controlling him is a little tricky at first, but you soon get used to it. You can either use the D-pad to move him, or touch the screen in the place you want him to move towards. The A, B, X and Y buttons all have functions too, although infuriatingly tapping on Terry with the stylus pauses the action to bring up a mini-menu containing the same commands. This will often happen at critical moments, ruining the flow of the game.
This is a shame, as the story is one of the best things about the game. Without giving anything away, you soon discover that the Professor has some rivals, although their motives seem just as valid, so soon you aren't quite sure who to trust... It's original and compelling, and this is the first DS game I've been able to say that about.
Presentation-wise, the game is pretty good, with the lush, intricate locales of the planet contrasting with the basic, 8-bit stylings of the Professor and his spaceship. When you are out and about, he appears on the top screen and gives hints, although they are repeated fairly often, and you won't look at it much as a result. He also moves down to the bottom screen whenever you save the game (you do so by making Terry go to sleep). This allows you to play with the Professor's cat/dog Mochi. However this is quite dull, and you'll soon be skipping it to get back to the action. Apparently by playing with Mochi you can make him smarter so he helps you out in certain situations, but I've played with him literally for hours, but there is no detectable change.
The menus are all straightforward and simple to use, and apart from the annoying mini-menu mentioned above, they never give any grief.
The only real problem with this game is the repetitive gameplay. It's basically a dungeon-crawler at heart, and whilst retro fans like myself will love it, many newcomers will get bored quickly. The story and graphics aren't really compelling enough to make you slog through another level, or hang around the same one to gain experience points.
I have still to mention the cooking, the fishing, the use of different clothing to imbue whole new abilities, and the decal system. However, these are of no consequence if you don't like repetitive, number-based gameplay, and if you do, suffice to say they are very well implemented and work flawlessly.
If you have a major aversion to RPGs then you should probably steer clear of Contact. However, if you're into your retro titles, and also happen to enjoy a good story, there's plenty here to entertain.

Unique idea, lots of touch screen activity
I bought this game as a cheap stop gap while waiting for a new game to be released and was very pleased with the results. Along with the main story i found many added extras through side plots and bonus games. I would recommend reading an online walkthrough as some helpful cheats and bouns rounds can make a big differance. The repetative aspect the other reviews mention wasn't a big deal to me as i did a spot of fishing, cooking and girlfriend hunting activities which i discovered through a cheats site. Great game as a bargain buy.