Contact - DS/DSi

Contact relays the intriguing tale of an alien professor and a young man named Terry, an unfortunate fellow who finds himself helplessly involved in the friendly scholar's troubles. The game essentially revolves around a quest to recover what remains of the professor's extra-terrestrial power source, along with a selection of sub-missions. Of course, other parties are in the hunt for the aforementioned source of power to use for their own ends. Gameplay elements include animal-training, item-collecting, monster-hunting, and old-school mini-games.

A mix of RPG, puzzling, platforming and real-time gameplay, Contact's plot includes abilities and stats modification, as well as a variety of items for use. That old RPG staple, levelling-up happens as soon as experience is gained. Contact makes full use of the twin screens of the DS. One screen renders all the action: the other screen offers a constant link with the professor, his laboratory and his alien hybrid pet.

So, will the professor manage to collect what's required to return to outer space? As ever, in a game of this ilk, the future of a strange planet is literally in your hands. more