Review by: Toni Dimayuga

When the original Peggle Deluxe for the PC came out two years ago, it captured the gaming world one orange peg at a time. This seemingly harmless little game appealed to both casual and hardcore gamers. Truth is this unearthly lovechild of Pachinko and pinball is fiendishly addictive and like any good dealer, PopCap Games has made the drug even more accessible by porting it to cell phones and the iTouch and most recently the Nintendo DS in the form of Dual Shot.

The basic objective of Peggle Dual Shot hasn’t changed from the PC version. You have a board full of blue and orange pegs. To advance to the next level you must clear all orange pegs using 10 metal balls. Success in clearing a level is a combination of luck and skill, as the ball’s trajectory is often unpredictable as it bounces from peg to peg. One new feature found solely in the DS game is the Bonus Underground. You activate this by hitting a purple peg five times, which then turns gold. Hitting the gold peg leads you to a mini-game in which you collect as many gems as possible for bonus points and other rewards.

Overall, very little has changed in Peggle’s move to the DS. You still have the free ball bucket at the bottom of the screen and Magic Powers, obtained by hitting special green pegs on the board. Powers include flippers, fireballs, and the multiball. Completing a level still leads to the seizure-inducing “EXTREME FEVER” screen, complete with rainbows, fireworks, and Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” blaring in the background – but just on a much smaller scale.

Although the game can be played with the DS buttons and D-pad, you can also use the stylus to aim and fire the ball. However, be careful when using the stylus, for pointing it at the trigger instead of the nozzle will accidentally fire the ball before you’ve had the chance to aim properly.

There are four modes of play in Dual Shot: Adventure mode contains not just the original Peggle but last year’s sequel, Peggle Nights. Quick Play features levels you’ve already beaten, and Challenge mode has levels with specific goals, such as achieving a certain number of points. Duel mode is the game’s multiplayer and its biggest disappointment. It isn’t wireless and instead consists of passing the DS back and forth between you and a friend. Also, you and your opponent play on one board, thus making “Duel Mode” more like co-op mode.

Still, Peggle is the perfect game to port to the DS. Its addictive qualities will keep you staring at the small screen during your lunch break or while waiting for your flight. Duel mode is strange but won’t be missed since you’ll be too busy playing the 125 single-player levels in Adventure and Challenge modes. Some may balk at the game’s $29.99 retail price, but considering that it includes the Peggle Nights sequel, 90 levels from the Challenge modes, AND the fact that you can take Peggle anywhere, it’s a no-brainer.

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