Aug 12 2009
Final thoughts on Treasure World, a game played like no other
I recently posted my initial impressions of Aspyr’s unique Nintendo DS title, Treasure World and now I’m back with some final thoughts after extended hands-on (and mostly hands-off) time with the game.
When we left off, I had yet to try out Treasure World’s online setup, figuring that would be the hook that gave this game some longevity. I checked it out and there’s some mildly interesting things to discover there, if you search, but there wasn’t enough content that interested me beyond what the game offers on its own.
As your character locates new Wi-Fi spots (or “stars”), more and more treasure is unlocked.
Treasure World has rewards players for locating (not connecting to, just finding) Wi-Fi hotspots, even if the game is idling and the Nintendo DS is closed. The rewards are generally in the form of treasures. Objects for the in-game garden, clothes for the playable character. Beside trying to unlock everything, the game lets players decorate the garden or create songs with items as each one coincides with a different sound effect or tone, and they can all be arranged along the musical scale.
Online, it’s possible to browse the creations of others, but without being able to download back into the game, there’s some lost potential there. In the game, players will also discover treasure keys that work online to reveal images, printable paper games and other minor surprises.
The community is pretty small and relatively inactive, so the whole thing could’ve died right there. Instead, I’ve found that Treasure World’s unique hook, the ability to play the game with the DS closed simply by exploring the world around you, is enough to keep me coming back.
A photo of someone playing Treasure World.
When I travel, I make sure to have Treasure World searching for Wi-Fi spots in a pocket. The game tops out after 10,000 Wi-Fi spots, and so far I’m somewhere near the 3,000 range. I’ve recently made an interstate journey which netted about 1,000 spots total, and the rest have come courtesy of some day-to-day driving around the city where I live.
For people in the sticks, it’s possible that the game will be dormant more than it’s active. But for people in urban and suburban communities, Treasure World is an oddly addictive creation that will ding away whenever you approach a new Wi-Fi spot. You might be driving to work or shopping with a friend, but when the game dings you’ll be reminded that you’re playing a game - and winning!
It’s fun and if you’d like to try something original on the Nintendo DS, look no further than Treasure World.
For more from this writer, bookmark http://videogamer.today.com.
Scroll down and leave a response to this post.
