Polarium
Encyclopedia
is a puzzle game developed by Mitchell Corporation
for the Nintendo DS
. In the game, players use a stylus
to draw lines on the DS's touch screen, flipping black and white tiles to clear puzzles.
-like challenge mode, players must make room for falling tiles by clearing rows as they pile up on the bottom screen. Rows are cleared by flipping the tiles to make rows that are all black or all white. Surrounding the main puzzle area are gray "neutral" tiles that have no effect on the puzzle but can be used to flip disconnected groups of tiles in a single pass. The scoring in Challenge and Versus mode are based on how the lines are cleared; for example, more points are given when more lines are cleared (lines), when numerous lines are cleared with just one stroke continuously (chains), when there are 2 separate lines cleared with uncleared lines between them (split), or when several lines are cleared in one stroke, but different lines have different polarities (borders).
owners who do not have a copy of Polarium to wirelessly download this demo version of the game to their system from a friend or kiosk.
version of Polarium, called Polarium Advance
, has been released in Japan, Europe and America. The game features almost 4 times as many puzzles as Polarium, as well as the removal of Challenge mode, and the addition of new tiles, among other gameplay tweaks.http://www.gamespot.com/gba/puzzle/polarium/news_6129890.html
The game was released in North America
sometime during November 2006, published by Atlus
rather than Nintendo.
Mitchell Corporation
Mitchell Corporation is a Japanese video game developer based in the Suginami ward of Tokyo. Roy Ozaki serves as president, and Koichi Niida serves as vice-president. The company was originally established on February 1, 1960 as an import/export business by the father of Roy Ozaki...
for the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
. In the game, players use a stylus
Stylus (computing)
In computing, a stylus is a small pen-shaped instrument that is used to input commands to a computer screen, mobile device or graphics tablet...
to draw lines on the DS's touch screen, flipping black and white tiles to clear puzzles.
Gameplay
Select tiles by drawing lines over them with the stylus. Selected tiles will flip from black to white or vice versa. In the standard TetrisTetris
Tetris is a puzzle video game originally designed and programmed by Alexey Pajitnov in the Soviet Union. It was released on June 6, 1984, while he was working for the Dorodnicyn Computing Centre of the Academy of Science of the USSR in Moscow, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic...
-like challenge mode, players must make room for falling tiles by clearing rows as they pile up on the bottom screen. Rows are cleared by flipping the tiles to make rows that are all black or all white. Surrounding the main puzzle area are gray "neutral" tiles that have no effect on the puzzle but can be used to flip disconnected groups of tiles in a single pass. The scoring in Challenge and Versus mode are based on how the lines are cleared; for example, more points are given when more lines are cleared (lines), when numerous lines are cleared with just one stroke continuously (chains), when there are 2 separate lines cleared with uncleared lines between them (split), or when several lines are cleared in one stroke, but different lines have different polarities (borders).
Game modes
- Challenge Blocks of tiles continually fall from above. Players must rapidly clear tiles by drawing lines to create horizontal rows of the same color. The game is over when the blocks of tiles reach the top of the top-screen. There are 10 levels, players advance one level for every 100 lines cleared. Each level begins with the level number drawn with the tiles, and ends with a row of pink tiles. When these pink tiles reach the bottom of the screen, the entire screen is cleared and a 10,000 point bonus is awarded. The lines that fall from the top in each level have characteristics distinct to that level. For instance, the first half of the first level consists of 3 line groups that can be cleared with one stroke.
- Practice Practice is similar to challenge mode, in that blocks continuously fill from the top. However, gameplay is limited to one level. Any level reached by the player in normal challenge mode can be played. There is no time limit, or penalty for not clearing the lines.
- High Scores Win or lose, if a player scores enough points, they are given a chance to draw a picture for their entry in the high score list. The player can view the icons, score, number of lines cleared for the top three scores from the challenge mode screen. Scores are also given grades, i.e. 1,758,865 points with 847 lines cleared is a A-.
- Puzzle: Players must figure out how to clear complex puzzles in one continuous stroke. Players are challenged to clear 100 included puzzles or create their own custom puzzles. Numerical passwords to these puzzles can be generated and swapped with friends. Once all the puzzles are cleared a smiley face appears on both screens, flipping from black to white with text announcing that all 100 puzzles, and the credits are unlocked.
- Versus: Compete against friends to clear puzzles. As lines are cleared, they'll appear on the foe's screen. Flip the opponent's tiles, earn power-ups, block their border tiles, and more.
- Lounge: The place to access tutorials, manage game preferences, and wirelessly sync with other players to exchange custom puzzles. Players can also view the credits once they have been unlocked.
Demo version
Nintendo DS Download Play allows Nintendo DSNintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
owners who do not have a copy of Polarium to wirelessly download this demo version of the game to their system from a friend or kiosk.
- Tutorial: This is a quick introduction to Polarium. It is the same as in the full version.
- Puzzles: This mode includes ten sample puzzles. The first five of these puzzles, which spell out "PO LA RI UM DS" on the screen, are unique to the demo version.
- Versus: This mode is identical to the versus mode in the full game except that players must play against someone who owns a copy of Polarium.
Polarium Advance
A Game Boy AdvanceGame Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
version of Polarium, called Polarium Advance
Polarium Advance
Polarium Advance is the sequel to the Nintendo DS puzzle game Polarium. Polarium Advance was developed by Mitchell Corporation for the Game Boy Advance. The object of the game is similar to that of Polarium. Black and white tiles fill a grid, and by drawing a single line in the grid, tiles can be...
, has been released in Japan, Europe and America. The game features almost 4 times as many puzzles as Polarium, as well as the removal of Challenge mode, and the addition of new tiles, among other gameplay tweaks.http://www.gamespot.com/gba/puzzle/polarium/news_6129890.html
The game was released in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
sometime during November 2006, published by Atlus
Atlus
is a Japanese computer and video game developer, publisher, and distributor based in Tokyo, Japan, best known for developing the console role-playing game franchise Megami Tensei. The first Megami Tensei was a Nintendo Entertainment System video game published by Namco based on a trilogy of...
rather than Nintendo.
External links
- Polarium Puzzle Archive
- Chokkan Hito-fude - Official Game Page - Nintendo.co.jp
- Polarium at MetacriticMetacriticMetacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...