Peggle Dual Shot

by Emily Balistrieri
February 27, 2009 00:00 AM PST

Chances are, you've been exposed to the casual crack known as Peggle, for PC. You've sent your fair share of balls ricocheting between the required orange pegs, the filler blues, power up greens, and score boosting purples. You've probably even cleared some boards completely. A little strategy, a lot of geometry -- it's the kind of game you can either make into a science or just claim as luck, so we play and play. Last year the sequel, Peggle Nights was released, and now we have Peggle Dual Shot for the DS, with hotly anticipated Q Entertainment involvement.

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DS, Dual Shot--I get it

Mostly, Dual Shot is a port of both the original Peggle Deluxe and Peggle Nights. The adventure modes are almost identical to the PC versions'. Notable differences obviously include the stylus controls, although Peggle Zoom, activated by holding down the stylus tip, makes a decent equivalent to the mouse wheel precision aiming of the PC version. I occasionally wished for a stylus-free alternative, though, even if it meant forfeiting that feature, because I would sometimes just rather wrap my hands around my DS.

The other major new feature is the Bonus Underground, a field trip which occurs after you hit the purple score boost five times. It's a pinballish change of pace involving bumpers and collectible gems that count for points and can earn you extra balls-always handy.

Pegged

There were two reasons to buy the DS version: to be able to play Peggle on the bus, and to experience the ten Q Entertainment levels. The first one still stands completely-it's Peggle down to the Ode to Joy slo-mo cam upon pinging off your last orange peg, but the second, sadly, is somewhat lost.

I expected a radical departure from the standard Peggle experience, with Q's trademark confluence of action and sound design. Instead, there are some different backgrounds, and... yep, that's pretty much it. I wanted ten completely different levels with new sound effects, amazing background tracks, fresh art-I'm not the only one who hoped for Peggle done as Lumines, and I think a lot of people are going to be disappointed.

Peggle on-the-go means you might end up accomplishing more while you're actually at your desk-a perk-but if that seems like small consolation, then you're better off sticking to the classic version. Plus, you'll save $9.99.

PROS: Peggle in your pocket, Peggle Zoom = mouse wheel precision aim, Bonus Underground is fun and rewarding
CONS: No alternate controls, Q levels not as thrilling as they could have been