The award-winning board game, Settlers of Catan, can now be easily played on the go thanks to this DS port. But how does it measure up?
The Settlers of Catan brought on a new era of board game madness when it sprung up in the new millenium. It became so popular that it was called the new Monopoly and, even today, it continues to get people excited for board game night.
A rose by any other form
Catan DS is a fairly straight-forward adaptation of the board game. You can play the game in its original form or try it out with some of the expansion rules and maps. There is also a single player campaign where you can enjoy reading a loose storyline and watching some stereotypical characters interact before you play against them on different maps with different rules.
Shrinking Pains
There are a lot of little things that, when added up, can really put a damper on the whole experience. The game board on the screen is very small and it can be extremely hard to see where there are roads, which can change your strategy. The art and graphics are plain and even a bit ugly. Also, the animation, though a nice touch, can get annoying, especially if you just wanted to take your turn instead of watching everyone receive resources.
The computer players are pretty smart and challenging. However, there are some points where they do some unintelligent trades and moves. As well, their random chatter gets annoying fast.
Last Point
Catan DS is very enjoyable due to the board game that it is based off of. The video game itself could use more work to fix glitches and improve the gameplay experience. If you are a big fan and can never get enough of the board game, this is perfect for you. If you have not tried the board game yet, do so first, as this video game version will more likely frustrate you than impress you.
Rating:
Price: $29.99
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone
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