I received my copy of Henry Hatsworth and the Puzzling Adventure from Gamefly this past Saturday and I must say that this game is simply AWESOME. I’m serious. I haven’t fallen in love with a game this quickly in ages. I can’t put it down. Not only have I’ve kidnapped my wife’s DS from her, but my hands, my beautiful writer’s hands, have become little more then gnarled claws whose only useful purpose is to grip the DS’ tiny frame for hours on end as I fight monsters and shift blocks.

The game, which takes place across both screens, combines the best elements from both the platforming and puzzle genres. On the top screen, Henry Hatsworth is typical adventure game. You jump hurdles, fight monsters and search for power ups that allow you to murder monsters in more creative ways. It’s quite fun and although extremely challenging at times, it never get’s really frustrating as long as you keep an eye on your bottom screen.

The bottom screen works a lot like a game of Bejeweled, requiring you to match blocks of the same color. The screen slowly fills from the bottom, pushing blocks towards the top of the screen until they disappear from sight. This wouldn’t be much of a problem except that enemies that you defeat on the top screen fall to the bottom screen and become blocks. You must then match them with like colored blocks to destroy them before they reach the top of the screen, otherwise they will return to the top screen and cause you all sorts of trouble. Worse yet, access to the bottom screen is handled via a “puzzle meter” that quickly depletes. There are only two ways to refill this meter, by either defeating enemies and or simply waiting for it to replenish on its own.

After several days with this game, I’m still every bit as in love with it as when I first booted it up in my wife’s DS. The humorous story, hilarious bosses, challenging action and FANTASTIC music have all combined to make this a game I can’t hardy put down. Look for a full review in a few weeks if all goes well.

-LC1