The ‘seek and solve’ genre is a big deal on the internet, and Nintendo have picked up on its casual-gamer-friendliness with this Touch Generations title. You’re presented with a picture of a densely packed room and a list of objects to find. Find the objects to move onto the next room.

MillionHeir’s screen-poking is held together by a witty-ish plot involving the disappearance of wealthy bloke Phil T. Rich. Your detective work mostly involves finding random items, but rounds are punctuated by other sorts of puzzles, which stops boredom setting in. Jigsaws, slidey-tile puzzles, spot the differences – all simple enough but never outstaying their welcome (well, apart from spot the difference, which always has at least one stupidly obscure difference).

A degree of lateral thought is required as well, as some objects need to be manipulated (cut in half, smashed, opened) and others have cryptic descriptions. There’s a bit of mic-based fun too, as you blow out fires to get to things hidden behind the flames. For such a simple idea this is oddly compulsive, but beware: the old DS’s dark-o-matic screen makes finding things trickier than it should be. Get a Lite, man.

Oct 9, 2008