Jigsaw
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Aigo's "Jigsaw of Love" MP3 player completes you
No specs here to speak of. Only pics of this oddly shaped player from Aigo called the "Jigsaw of Love." Presumably then, you can mate the DAP with your partner's piece and then "leak" the sordid video onto the Internet in hopes of fake-fighting a revival to your fading career. But that's just a guess.[Via PMP Today]
Jigsaw World's puzzling special attacks
Nippon Ichi's Jigsaw World is bizarre in a few different ways. It's not a port, which makes it rare among NIS's DS games. It's not a strategy RPG, which makes it fairly unique among NIS's games in general. Oh, and also, it's an anime-style action game about completing jigsaw puzzles.The latest screens of Jigsaw World, which comes out this month, show off the giant special attacks employed by each character, which affect both competitors and the puzzles themselves. For example, Mikan the cat/fruit crate (as far as we can tell!) can automatically fit a piece into the right place at the highest level of its explosive, orangey special attack.
When puzzles attack: Jigsaw Battle World
Puzzle Quest may have made crazy genre-combining games popular, but we have no qualms when other titles follow suit. Take, for example, Jigsaw Battle World. Fusing jigsaw puzzles with action gameplay, this combination of styles sounds incredibly addicting. It's been a long time since we've obsessed over a jigsaw, but those things are like crack once you start them; there's really no stopping until you finish.This time, there's even more of an incentive to get your jig on, since there's a story included that involves overthrowing Satan. So, where exactly does the "action" element come in, then? Basically, you race against your opponents to complete puzzles. You can also attack your opponents, though (and vice versa), and by correctly putting pieces in place you gain stronger attacks.The game is being developed by Nippon Ichi, makers of such gems like Disgaea. There will even been a Disgaea character, Etna, featured in it. Also, since NIS is furiously localizing games for us English-speakers, there's a chance this one might show up in North America eventually.If you're curious about this crazy hybrid, you can check out some screenage after the break.
Jigsaw Puzzle DS would fit snugly in our collection
You folks know what we'd like to see more of on the DS? Jigsaw puzzle games, that's what. Or, more specifically, localized jigsaw puzzle games. Not only is the touchscreen ideal for manipulating fiddly jigsaw pieces, but Japan has already seen its share of such titles, with the likes of the Otona no Jigsaw Puzzle games giving players the chance to reassemble various famous works of art. Regrettably, the west is still waiting for its first dedicated jigsaw game.Hopefully then, Hudson will see sense by bringing us a localized edition of Jigsaw Puzzle DS: Journey to the World Wonders. Featuring various famous sights from around the world, including the Taj Mahal, Grand Canyon, and the Great Sphinx of Giza, this would be perfect for lazy weekend afternoons. Reach down the back of the sofa Go past the break to locate more screens.
Gotta assemble 'em all!
Uh-oh. You see, this is exactly why we should never be let loose on the streets of Japan with pocket money to spare -- yes, it's yet more Pokémon tat that we desperately crave, but will probably never own. These 3D jigsaw puzzles of Pikachu and Piplup will set you back a modest ¥2,100 (just shy of $20), and are constructed from sixty pieces each. If anybody finds an importer who can get these to us, you know where the comments field is.[Via Go Nintendo]
All the World's a Stage: Turning stumbling blocks into stepping stones
All the World's a Stage is brought to you by David Bowers every Sunday evening, investigating the mysterious art of roleplaying in the World of Warcraft.It is an art to turn any negative situation to your advantage, and no less so when roleplaying in WoW. In the fine tradition of "turning stumbling blocks into stepping stones," it pays for a roleplayer to reconsider a number of in-game situations which seem to get in the way of roleplaying, yet which actually offer a special opportunity to showcase your creativity.The biggest stumbling block WoW roleplayers trip over is often some aspect of the game mechanics themselves. Your roleplaying may lead your character into a deadly conflict with another player, for instance, and yet even if you kill the other in a free-for-all PvP arena, he or she can just resurrect and be back to normal in a few minutes. Alternately, you may find an epic BoE drop off a Skettis Kaliri and be hard pressed to explain how a rainbow-colored owl was flying around with a huge sword inside its body. You may even ponder why every single ogre you've ever seen is male.Naturally, of course, there are ways around all these problems -- it's just a matter of finding plausible reasons for things. You may say to your bitter rival, in the event of a deadly conflict: "I do not kill fellow members of the Horde! We shall duel for honor and be done with this!" Likewise, when recounting your discovery of your BoE epic sword, you might explain: "As I killed the strange owl, I suddenly noticed something gleaming in the grass just next to its corpse! This [Blinkstrike] was lying there, sticking out of a stone in the ground!" Your character might even make an effort to explain away in-game oddities: "I have deduced that the entire race of ogres must be hermaphrodites -- both male and female at the same time! They are so ashamed of this that they all hide the fact, pretending that ogre females are hidden away somewhere!"
Four legged puzzle fun
If you've been gazing at your game collection and thinking, 'Hmm, I'd love a dog based jigsaw game,' then break out the champagne. Kyou no Wanko is just what you've been looking for! Based on a popular Japanese morning TV feature, the canine puzzler is brought to you by Hudson, who've released similar games on the DS.As well as the usual jigsaw stuff, you'll be able to reassemble animated dog videos and compete with up to three friends in a multiplayer mode. Kyou no Wanko comes out in Japan on July 26th.
Manipulate the masterpieces
If you're going to do a jigsaw puzzle (or ten), then why not learn the details of a great masterpiece of art at the same time? We're not saying this DS puzzler is educational or anything, but it probably can't hurt. This is probably another of those games it's safe to import regardless of your comfort level with Japanese, and a great idea for the touchscreen.
