Review of the latest RPG for the Nintendo DS, Magical Starsign.

With the Nintendo DS suffering from the lack of RPG?s, Nintendo and Brownie Brown bring us Magical Starsign.

Story: [6/10]

While studying magic at the Will-O'-Wisp Academy, your character and associate classmates overhear the principal talking to your beloved teacher, Miss Madeline. An urgent matter has arisen and Miss Madeline must go to the wind planet, Kovomaka located in Puffoon.

After 3 months of delay, your friend Lassi and fellow classmates choose to search the school for their secret hidden rocket ship in hopes to find a way to bring your teacher back.

Overall, the story is decent but the gameplay makes up for it. It is one of the weaknesses of the game but it passes the test.

Graphics: [6/10]

The graphics in Magical Starsign are bright and colourful. The battles are where the graphics truly shine with use of both of the Nintendo DS?s screens. Magic and some physical attacks look very nice and brings out the DS?s colours nicely. The game also includes some beautiful cutscenes, although brought down in quality on the DS due to size restrictions, but overall are very nice.

Although the graphics in Magical Starsign are good, overall it feels as if you are playing a Gameboy Advance game with a touch screen. With Final Fantasy 3 creeping up on the horizon with fully 3D characters, Magical Starsign cannot be compared. However, the graphics are not what make you play the game, which is why the graphics get a 6/10.

Gameplay: [9/10]

The gameplay element in Magical Starsign is where the game truly shines. The game features full touch screen controls in both traveling and battling. Traveling and talking to other characters are as simple as pointing and touching where you want to go. This aspect of the game is very intuitive and is hassle free when getting from place to place. During battle, choosing your options are all layed out on the touch screen and are easily navigated by a simple touch. Also, by tapping your character at just the right time when charging up for a magical spell, it can give you extra damage to inflict on your enemy. This adds a timing aspect to the game in which players must carefully tap just at the right time in order to deal the extra damage.

Your fellow classmates, including yourself, all have special magic elements which are summoned by the games Baklava planets. During battle, your character can be given a boost of strength when his or her magic meets the Baklava?s planet requirement. For example, your character is given the choice of either Light or Dark. When fighting an enemy which holds dark magic, your damage towards them increases. This adds a strategic aspect to the game in which you must think what spell you can use that is strong against a particular enemy.

You can also use your magic to solve various puzzles while traveling. For example, Lassi, a magic user who specializes in wind magic, can clear sand storms and other gusts of winds by using her magic during adventuring. This adds puzzle elements to the game which truly makes the game more interesting and more appealing. Your party also consists of rows. You can choose to organize your characters in the front or back row during battle. When in the front row, characters consume physical and magical attacks from enemies with full damage. They can also give enemies full damage with either attack. When in the back row, characters consume less damage but also give less damage. This also adds to the strategic element of the game.

Overall the gameplay element in Magical Starsign is where it truly shows its power. It offers full touch screen controls, as well as a planet system and row aspect. I would have liked to see some touch screen puzzles to the gameplay component while traveling but generally the gameplay gives gamers some sort of innovative reasons to play the game.

Value: [7/10]

Magical Starsign gives players a lengthy, 20 hour gameplay experience with some innovative elements and some humorous dialogue all in one cart. Additionally to the 20 hours of gameplay, there are many items to collect to keep you going on finishing the game 100%. The game also features some DS download play content to gain new items and eggs, however the single player content is where the game truly succeeds.

Overall: [7/10]

With the Nintendo DS suffering from the lack of RPG?s and sadly having Tao?s Adventure currently holds the top name for the Nintendo DS?s RPG department, Magical Starsign is a lengthy handheld adventure which gives RPG players one reason to buy a Nintendo DS. Although it is a decent RPG, it is one step forward in the DS?s RPG selection. The game will appeal mostly to a younger audience with it?s colourful graphics along with the little critter enemies and cute dialogue. If you are waiting for Final Fantasy 3 and are craving an RPG for your DS to play in the meantime, Magical Starsign is a great snack to munch on until the feature presentation.