![\"picrossds\"](\"http:\/\/www.legeekretrogaming.com\/geekblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/picrossds.png\")
<\/a>When Nintendo announced that the DS included a “built in” touch screen, I imagined that touch controls would be a natural fit for Picross, and I eagerly awaited new versions.\u00a0 After playing three different “import” DS Nonogram games, as well as Nintendo’s own Picross DS, I was wrong.\u00a0 A simple Joypad and two-button setup offered more precise control, at least for me.<\/p>\nPicross DS felt “off” to me for many reasons, actually.\u00a0 While the puzzle reveals were very good, the interface and music seemed to be chasing after a casual audience and subsequently came across as bland and clunky.\u00a0 To accommodate for the lack of stylus precision on larger puzzles, the interface would zoom in, so you could no longer really see the whole puzzle, which never stopped feeling awkward.\u00a0 For these and other reasons, Picross on the DS never felt as satisfying to me as Picture Puzzle or the older import SNES Picross titles.<\/p>\n
And the less said about free Picross games on smart phones and tablets, the better!\u00a0 But in short, if you think stylus control is sloppy for these puzzles, finger swipes are even worse, and most of the picture reveals in these iOS and Android games are black and white only, looking like they were quickly slapped together by an intern.\u00a0 I guess you get what you pay for.<\/p>\n
Originally for the black and white Gameboy, it’s amazing to me how well the game fits on a system with a tiny screen, limited by four shades of grey.\u00a0 While modern versions often offer fancier picture reveals, either by adding color or animation, or more screen helpers, such as being able to draw X’s without painting over filled-in spots, all the basic stuff you could want in a Picross game is here, including catchy music and an appealing interface.\u00a0 If you get stuck on a particular Nonogram, you can use the hint wheel to clear one random row and column.\u00a0 With 256 stages ranging from 5×5 to 15×15 in size, there are plenty of puzzles to solve, many of them Mario-themed. \u00a0The last set of time trial levels presents new puzzles randomly, adding longevity to the game.<\/p>\n<\/a>Anyway, as a Picross junkie, I was left with a conundrum.\u00a0 With no great version of the game readily available on consoles, what could I recommend to newcomers for their first taste? Luckily, there are now solid options available on the 3DS, and I\u2019ll cover the first one now, Mario’s Picross via the Virtual Console.<\/p>\n