the problem is that the virtual villagers series is meant to be played while you're on the pc doing something else.
when i found out that there was a nintendo ds version of virtual villagers: a new home, i was excited but skeptical. while some ds versions of casual games (like diner dash: sizzle & serve) were playable, others (like peggle: dual shot) were boring and didn't translate well. however, i hadn't played virtual villagers: a new home on the pc yet, so i wouldn't be able to compare the two versions. i figured maybe that would incease my chances of liking this game.
nope. dead wrong. the problem is really that the virtual villagers series is meant to be played while you're on the pc doing something else. there are just times when there's nothing else to do but wait for a new game element. while the ds version tackles this problem head on by providing mini games (which increase villagers' knowledge), there are still lulls. also, the loading screen pops up far too many times. i would have personally appreciated more use out of the dual screen feature of the nintendo ds rather than wait out loading screen after loading screen. the game has so many issues that it's difficult to actually enjoy it.
i suppose that it can be played while watching tv or while doing something else (cooking, reading, etc.), but that really isn't the way i play with my nintendo ds. all in all, i wouldn't recommend this game to anyone. however, i'm still going to try the pc version of this. i'm giving this game a 5/10. -2 for the times when nothing's going on, -2 for the loading screens and -1 for the general clunkiness of the design.
(originally posted on my blog: http://miaowow.blogspot.com/2009/11/virtual-villagers-new-home-ds.html)