100 Classic Book Collection brings an array of copyright expired works to be read on your DS. With the option to download other books via the WiFi service this is an interesting addition to Nintendo's handheld software lineup.
What Sort of Game is This?
Self improvement games tap into the popular trend in self development and therapy. Experiences as diverse as Brain Training DS and Wii-Fit have popularised the idea that games can be about more than just having fun - they can improve your brain, body and even mental outlook on life.
What Does This Game Add to the Genre?
This is the first commercial book reader on the DS. It enables you to pick from a list of books (arranged in colour coded spines) and, holding the DS sideways like a book, you can flick through the pages as you read.
The pages are nicely animated to give them the appearance of a book, and you can select background music and font size. Because of the size of the DS screens, longer words are often split across screens and hyphenated. There is also no option to have the text auto scroll to avoid the need to manually turn pages. Apart from this though the game does its job well and creates a nicely timeless classic aesthetic.
What do People Play this Game To Experience?
Players will be attracted to being able to read books on their DS. Although this is essentially a novelty, the presentation and the range of works on offer should be able to engage the majority of gamers willing to undergo a good amount of reading.
How Much Free Time is Required to Play It?
You can read books for as long as you like. Closing the DS sleeps the game and enables you to pickup from where you were. If you quit you can save your location.
What Factors Impact on Suitability for Novice/Expert Young/Old Players?
Very young players will find the dry presentation and older material a little hard going - although perhaps more age appropriate titles will be downloadable in due course.
Intermediate and expert players who are looking to read the books included will find this a proficient implementation of a book reader - although the omission of hands free reading may make some balk.
