Mini Review: CycloDS Evolution

Well my CycloDS Evolution arrived from MrModChips.co.uk
I have to say it lived up to my expectations and I am more than happy with it.
Compared to other cards this is an absolute essential. I already owned an M3 Simly but had to get this for the DL play and I'm glad I did.

Pros:

+ Does everything it claims to. 100% DL play. Very impressive.
+ Bonus SDHC support (up to 32Gb ultimately as bigger SDHC cards are released)
+ Attentive support from Team Cyclops who are dedicated and helpful.

Cons:

- Some trimmed ROMs only send to a FlashMe'd DS. If you keep your ROMs untrimmed you won't have to worry about this though.

Score: 96% Outstanding - Wins our coveted DS Shit Hot Shit Award.

CycloDS Evolution Arrives May 31st

The superior CycloDS Evolution mod chips will arrive at Mr Mod Chips £35, May 31st from the maker's of the Wii mod chip Cyclowiz.

What's the difference between this and the M3 Simply? A few things, most notably 100% download play compatibility:

CycloDS Evolution Features
Completely plug & play - no FlashMe, PassMe or PC software required
100% game compatibility, supports clean ROM's - works on any OS
Full NDS download play support, including problem games such as Mario Kart DS
Action Replay compatible cheat code engine, comes bundled with cheat codes for over 300 games!
Uses MicroSD card, both FAT16 and FAT32 supported
Save type is automatically detected, no need for a save type database
Save directly to MicroSD rather than onboard flash
User friendly, easily skinnable interface. Both touch screen and button operation supported
Multi-lingual user interface
"Enhanced Mode" which provides powerful, unique features during game play. Enhanced features are activated through an in-game menu. Enhanced mode features include:
Adjust LCD brightness during game play (NDSLite only)
SlowMotion mode which can be used to slow down game play to make fast paced action sequences easier to master
Return to CycloDS Evolution Menu (aka soft reset)
More features to come!
Excellent homebrew compatibility thanks to the DLDI auto-patcher
2 megabytes of onboard flash memory which contains the CycloDS Evolution OS and will be utilised in the future to add exciting new features. A recovery mode is also included.
Autoboot mode which when activated will directly boot into the last ROM or homebrew application executed
Moonshell included to provide media playing functionality
PassMe function (boot from slot 2)
Supports rumble and memory expansions

Mini Review: Picross DS

Pros:

+ Great Puzzler
+ Nice change from typical puzzle crap
+ Downloadable content & WFC support

Cons:

- Disappointing multi-player
- Not for thick people
- No guns

MP: Multi-cart & DL. Features some really stupid modes.
EYE BREAK COMPATIBILITY: OK

Verdict: 83% Recommended.

Mini Review: Nanostray

Pros:

+ One of the best shooters on any platform. A genre classic like Einhander and Ikaruga.
+ Some of the best, slickest 3D on DS.
+ Looks chaotic/hard in places but isn't really too bad. Fair learning curve.

Cons:

- Too short.
- You might not like touch screen weapon selection.
- No multi-card MP. DL play only (not M3 Simply).

MP: DL only (not M3 Simply)
EYE BREAK COMPATIBILITY: GOOD

Verdict: 89% Bob on.

Review: Hotel Dusk - Room 215

Background:

Hotel Dusk - Room 215 casts you as a hard-nosed ex-cop who quit the force following a series of unfortunate events. Still rattled by the experience and betrayal of your former partner you take on the role of Kyle Hyde hellbent on unraveling the mystery that unfolds in Hotel Dusk, a run-down joint that holds more than it's fair share of secrets and links to Hyde's past.

Gameplay:

Played orienting the DS on it's side like Brain Training, Hotel Dusk makes great use of the dual screen. For most of the game, a 3D first-person view is shown on the left screen while an overhead floor plan of various rooms and corridors is shown on the right touchscreen which is also used to move Hyde from location to location. At first this seems a little odd but soon becomes second nature. Dialogue takes place with various characters occupying their own screens, face-to-face across the DS. Conversations take the form of multiple choice selections with various lines of questioning easily followed with the stylus.

Pros:

+ Well written: solid script, dialogue and characters.

+ Slick presentation, good use of stylised graphics and music.

+ Not just another pokemon type adventure.

Cons:

- Needs half an hour sessions at least, not 10 minutes.

- Later chapters require searching around in vain sometimes.

- Not for people who hate reading (thick people).

Verdict: 90%