Dragon Booster

While most gamers out there are wont for a new and exciting racing game, they certainly won't find anything new or exciting in this title. Dragon Booster is for lack of a better term a 'racing' game, and while some out there might think that there is a little Panzer Dragoon trapped in here they would be right, both games do feature dragons, but that's where the similarity ends.

Taken straight out of the TV show, Dragon Booster features a young man named Artha Penn who has been challenged with maintaining the peace by arming and then racing his dragon in a series of races elicit peace. This idea unto itself is fairly silly and the game does not do whatever back story there is any justice. For all I know, the planet is going to blow up if this little dragon doesn't take first place (not true, but I have no idea about the plot, really). But no, the game simply does not do an adequate enough job of letting the player know what the deal is. I suppose if I watched the cartoon series I may know what is going on, but I haven't so I don't. But back to the game, once you have sufficiently armed your dragon you then enter the race course which involves you and three other rider/dragons speeding along an obstacle strewn track. You of course must not only take first place, but you must contend with the other dragons both defensively and offensively. It's not a new idea mind you but hey, there is some action to be found in here. The thing is that you must take first place in order to move the story (as it is) along, nothing new here, but there is a seriously strained finishing order if you fail to take first place.

Of course this being a DS game you can usually count on a little stylus action to keep you motivated to play a little longer. Well I'm here to tell you that it's simply not a plus in this title. Not only do you use the stylus to control your dragon as it dodges obstacles (you move it with the D-pad), jumps for items, and adjusts to enemies attacks by increasing or decreasing speed, but then you have to factor in the face buttons, and if you are like me (right handed) then holding a stylus and trying to hit buttons on any sort of rhythmic order is simply not possible. I finally found that by using my thumb (while still holding the stylus) I could somewhat accomplish what I needed to, but it's just no fun. And I mean that in the 'it's just no fun because it's too darn clumsy'? kind of way. The developers must have all been left handed because you need to be really dialed in with your stylus control as it were, or you simply will not complete a first place finish.

In closing I will say that the graphics were a bit on the disappointing side. I can see what they were trying to do and the cell shading isn't all that bad, but it isn't good either. The music on the other hand is acceptable and one of the game's only high points. But don't get me started on the multiplayer, the only thing they got right there was the single card play otherwise it can only be described as an ugly mess.

For the love of all that is holy, stay away from this game, it's one of the worst examples of use of license out there.