Mon, 30 Nov 2009 by Marcel Van Duyn
Bub and Bob would be jealous
When Q-Games boast about their games, it always seems to be PS3's PixelJunk series hogging the limelight, with almost no mention of their other projects. That's a shame, because with their recent remake of Bit Generations title Art Style: Intersect, and now this, they've already got two great download games on Nintendo's newest handheld.
Reflect Missile's name basically says it all. You must fire off missiles in order to destroy certain blocks, which can be achieved by having them reflect off walls. But "Reflector" missiles are actually just one of three types of missiles you can use - the "Driller" missile is able to drill straight through up to seven blocks before disappearing, while the "Bomber" missile will explode on contact with anything, taking out all blocks within a certain radius. Obviously, neither of these two missiles will bounce off walls like the Reflector, meaning you should try to clear a path for them first if you need to.
Comparisons to Puzzle Bobble/Bust-A-Move are not misplaced - the gameplay is very similar, with a dotted line showing you part of the trajectory the missiles will take. The blocks you must destroy will also remind you of Arkanoid, another sort of similar game, as they are exactly the same shape. Unlike either of them though, almost no stages have one giant mess of blocks to clear, instead consisting of multiple smaller formations of blocks to allow for a bit more variation and, as expected, layouts which resemble certain objects, such as a clock or playing card suit.
At the start, there's a total of 30 stages to test your mettle on, each with a pre-set layout and a different line-up of missiles for you to use. It's not too complicated though, because you're restricted to using the missiles in order, therefore it's just a matter of figuring out the best places to shoot at. Adding some more spice to the mix are some other blocks - bomb blocks act just like a Bomber missile when hit, while item blocks will give your next missile a special ability, such as creating a clone, allowing you to fire two missiles at once!
If it was just these 30 stages it would already be a great game, but just before you think there's not a lot to come back to, Q-Games throws a curveball: if you manage to finish a level with missiles remaining, you'll earn a medal. Earn a certain amount of medals and you'll unlock a new difficulty level featuring not 30, but 50 more stages. This happens four times in all, making for a grand total of 200 stages!
If you don't really have any particular favourite levels and just want to reflect some missiles, there's also a "Quick Play" mode that allows you to pick any of the game's five difficulty levels, after which it will randomly select a bunch for you to play. But, as the game itself says, don't go thinking it'll be easy: stages you haven't cleared yet have a higher chance of being picked than others.
As seems to be a popular trend nowadays, Reflect Missile is presented in a very retro-esque manner; all of the graphics look blocky and the chiptune soundtrack is quite catchy. It fits the feel of the game perfectly, and just enhances the already fun gameplay even more.
User Comments
1. Corbie
30 Nov 2009, 19:53 GMT
I'll be getting this one the second it hits the NA service.
2. Tony
30 Nov 2009, 20:04 GMT
Looks awesome. Great addition to the DSi ware lineup
3. Chunky Droid
30 Nov 2009, 20:06 GMT
Holy guacamole! Definitely getting this when it hits the NA service too
4. 110percentful
30 Nov 2009, 20:09 GMT
Whoa, wan't expecting a 9. Especially when it was released and you all said you had no idea about it coming out. I'll probably get this along with UNO if I don't get the Foto Face Stealers game or whatever it is called. BTW nice Avatar, Corbie. Very festive. [and so not festive at the same time
]
5. Gavin Rozee
30 Nov 2009, 20:19 GMT
There's a mistake in the review. While it's true that there are 30 stages in the Bronze Class, Silver and Gold Class each have 50 stages, and the two classes after Gold presumably do too, so there are actually around 200 stages.
Great game.
6. Charlie The Unicorn
30 Nov 2009, 20:19 GMT
Wow. I will be picking this up!
7. Joe Diddley
30 Nov 2009, 20:20 GMT
I could do with seeing video footage but this looks like a buy to me.
8. Swerd_Murd
30 Nov 2009, 20:21 GMT
Q-Games. These guys wreck shop--I can't think of a single bad game they've made (all the Pixel Junk games are great)
9. WolfRamHeart
30 Nov 2009, 20:22 GMT
I'm jealous too, I want this game NOW!
10. Chicken Brutus
30 Nov 2009, 20:23 GMT
This looks awesome.
11. Egg miester
30 Nov 2009, 20:26 GMT
looks awesome now i need a dsi some points and this in N/A
12. Gizmo
30 Nov 2009, 20:31 GMT
I absolute agree with the review and the score, Reflect Missile is awesome!
13. sonic_brawler95
30 Nov 2009, 20:38 GMT
Do want. NOW!
14. Dragoon
30 Nov 2009, 20:55 GMT
The best missile game since....well, Missile Command!
15. WAIW
30 Nov 2009, 20:59 GMT
Q-Games + 500 points = Buy when it comes to NA
16. WaltzElf
30 Nov 2009, 21:05 GMT
Yes, brilliant game, glad to see it get a positive review.
One thing though - the review mentions that it's almost "exactly the same as puzzle bobble" - not really. There's a passing resemblence, but the missiles behave entirely differently to the bubbles in puzzle bobble, and the game isn't time based - so "exactly the same with a few minor differences" is misrepresenting the gameplay.
17. Blue_Cat
30 Nov 2009, 21:19 GMT
Mmh. . . I think I'll get this instead of pop + solo.
Hope it comes out soon. Before Christmas when I get a point card.
18. pixelman
30 Nov 2009, 21:42 GMT
I think I want a DSi just for this game.
19. Mickeymac
30 Nov 2009, 21:48 GMT
Grrrr!!! Why does the DSi keep getting good games?! Stop getting good games G-ddamn it!
20. Odnetnin
30 Nov 2009, 21:50 GMT
This looks to easily be at least on par with every other game on the service I have seen.
21. Sylverstone
30 Nov 2009, 22:51 GMT
Whoa! A 9!
Go DSiWare Go!
In your face MickeyMac
22. slapshot82
30 Nov 2009, 23:59 GMT
Man and I was thinking DSi stood Digital Sudoku iP
Instant Buy when it hits NA, about time we get a gota have game again on the service.
23. vakama94
01 Dec 2009, 02:23 GMT
ditto with corbie, this game looks really cool
24. Adam
01 Dec 2009, 03:38 GMT
I like missiles.
25. dsijared
01 Dec 2009, 04:54 GMT
I was not expecting a 9/10.It's going right on my dsiware list.
26. Atomic Wii Man
01 Dec 2009, 06:54 GMT
@ Blue_Cat
Good. I really hated pop+solo. Don't get it. Get this instead. I should have waited for this.
27. Sean Aaron
01 Dec 2009, 10:18 GMT
This looks brilliant. If I was going to get a DS, I was leaning towards the Lite due to the GBA playback (can't they have an optional add-on for the DSi?), but this game would steer me the other way. I love the retro look; reminds me of games from the late 70s.
28. LEGEND MARIOID
01 Dec 2009, 12:40 GMT
@Sean Aaron please go to my thread on the forums on top 25 retail puzzle games on the DS, that should convince you . The DS is by far the best console ever for puzzle games IMHO; and you are a puzzle disciple like me
As for this game; couldn't agree with the plaudits more. Cracking download, one of the best ds or wii-ware.
29. DSman59
01 Dec 2009, 12:57 GMT
I bought this before the review appeared. I couldn't decide between MFC and Reflect Missile, but I chose the latter and I'm glad I did.
RM is an amazing game. I like it more than AS: PiCOPiCT.
30. Prochnow
01 Dec 2009, 17:18 GMT
@LEGEND MARIOID I'm a puzzle freak, could you please simply post a link to your treat? I need them all!
31. rosebud
01 Dec 2009, 23:30 GMT
@Blue_Cat: I agree with wii man 10. Pop+ Solo was a huge disappointment in my mind. I downloaded it last month, and really have found no redeeming qualities about it. By wave 4 in "Adventure" mode I was really bored. So it looks like you made a good choice.
32. Bobpie
02 Dec 2009, 04:30 GMT
Humm... Ashphalt 4 + Army Defender or Reflect Missile + Another 500-point game? (Possibly Code)
33. Sean Aaron
02 Dec 2009, 10:19 GMT
@Legen Marioid: best chance of my getting a DSi is when I go to Japan next year. I'd probably opt for the "old man" LL for the big screens. I'd really be wanting the kid's Japanese learning kanji software and some downloads.
34. winter123
16 Dec 2009, 04:32 GMT
Why the **** are games not released worldwide at the same time? Does it take 2 months to translate it from "british english" to "american english"? Ugh, i was about to go buy this then i saw NOPE YOU HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER MONTH YOU AMERICAN B****.
35. Moochr
01 Jan 2010, 02:38 GMT
Whoa whoa whoa- couldn't they have just made this into a 200 point game? Ugh, this is WAAAY overpriced. But that doesn't mean I won't get it...
36. Moochr
01 Jan 2010, 02:39 GMT
@Bobpie
Good lineup.
37. sonic_brawler95
01 Jan 2010, 19:51 GMT
@ Moochr- I don't think its overpriced, 200 levels, thats a huge amount of levels.
YES! I can't wait till Monday........I know I'll be back in school, but Trajectile (this game in America) comes out! Insta buy!
38. Natie31
04 Jan 2010, 17:47 GMT
Going download this now great review.
39. Cheezy
04 Jan 2010, 19:47 GMT
Gues I'll be getting it.
40. sonic_brawler95
04 Jan 2010, 20:25 GMT
I've only played two levels, and I already think its one of the best games on DSiware!
41. TheLonelyGamer
04 Jan 2010, 22:05 GMT
Great game!
It just hit the DSi Shop today!
42. winter123
04 Jan 2010, 23:36 GMT
FINAF***INGLY, I am glad they finally finished translating this from English to English for the past month and released it in the USA.