Review: Nanostray (DS)
Score: 88
So you want adrenaline? You got it. You want spaceships and lasers? You got it. You want pumping music and huge explosions? You got it. Welcome to Nanostray.
The idea behind Nanostray is a simple shoot-em-up, but by putting in 3D locations beneath your ship, the whole thing has more than an element of Star Wars about it. Your ship even resembles an X-Wing...
The top screen is where the action happens, with gorgeous graphics, smooth animation and with a great digital music soundtrack blasting in your ears the whole time.
The 10 scenarios are very varied and each give a different feel to the game. Within each level are a number of small and large targets, the latter being 'boss' strength and needing multiple hits - if you can get them in while avoiding the blanket incoming fire.
To fight the bad guys you've got four weapons pointing in two directions and with optional upgrades for greater effect. To get more energy for your weapons, you have to collect power-ups - you get the idea, there's little that's innovative in Nanostray apart from the sheer level of action and presentation.
As with many 'action' games on the DS, one of the screens isn't really used to full potential. Here the lower one is used for weapon selection (using your thumb), plus a slightly gimmicky radar screen. It all works, and, short of using all of both screens for the action, it's hard to see how the system could be improved. The only other small downside is the lacklustre multi-player mode.
Nanostray's not perfect, but it's still the best darned shoot-em-up I've yet seen on the Nintendo DS. Highly recommended.