Freshly Picked Tingle's Rosey Rupeeland (Hands-On) (Nintendo DS) Preview

By Adam Riley 10.01.2007

What can you say about Tingle? Well, he definitely is one of Nintendo's most talked about creations, which can only bode well for his future. Weird, when done properly, does indeed lead to a cult following on most occasions. Anyway, when it was revealed that the strange green 35-year-old man would be getting his own RPG adventure on the Nintendo DS in Japan, people were not only stunned that it was not an early April Fools joke, but nobody expected it to either be popular or ever see the light of day outside that country. And yet here we are today, with the Japanese version now over the 200,000 sales mark and a full English translation available to play on. And play on it we sure did...

Having already dabbled with the amazingly confusing Japanese version, firing up the DS and finding the game has been fully translated into English was a major relief indeed. But hey, the game is still as confusing and strange as ever before! However, that is definitely the point and Nintendo definitely drives that point home hard. It certainly does manage to keep itself within the boundaries of the Zelda universe, yet Tingle has definitely carved out his own niche in the gaming world and does not look like giving up his space any time soon...especially if those rumours of a Tingle game coming to the Wii hold any weight.

So how does it hold up? Well, the game does not appear to have lost anything obvious in the translation, meaning that the quirky storyline remains firmly in place. This middle-aged man, known as Tingle, who wants to be a fairy (hence the disturbingly tight green romper suit), wakes up one morning to the sound of a distant voice calling him. Off he wanders to the local spring, which just happens to be by the side of his abode (his house is basically the inside of a tree, rather like Link's in Zelda) and is greeted by an apparition of an aged man with a large head in the shape of a Rupee

Screenshot for Freshly Picked Tingle's Rosey Rupeeland (Hands-On) on Nintendo DS

Cue lots of amusing images popping into Tingle's mind, such as scoffing away at all his favourite foods, lounging around without having to do any work and being surrounded by a group of gorgeous women (that last image is particularly funny simply due to the Tingle looking so completely out of place with lovely ladies around him!). So anyway, this sets up the basis of the game

Screenshot for Freshly Picked Tingle's Rosey Rupeeland (Hands-On) on Nintendo DS

Other than puzzles, there are maps that you can collect and battles to partake in. An old lady, for instance, hands out the first map and requires you to fill in the blanks. To complete it, you must first mark on the map where the grave stone you are stood next to should be on this map, thus completing it 50%. If you traipse around further and regularly keep an eye on the map on the top screen, you will quickly find another location that needs to be drawn and bingo, the first map is all sorted! Once each map is all sorted you are rewarded by a little old lady in town. Talk to her again and she promptly takes a chunk of money back from you! I was more interested in getting through to the first dungeon, though, so was not too bothered by the cranky-looking hag.

On the way there you are likely to encounter wandering enemies, not random battles, though. These are little critters (or not-so-little ones in some cases) that you run into and start tumble around on the ground with. The aim is to rapidly tap on the enemy until it dies, normally leaving behind an ingredient or some rupees. Whilst tapping on enemies might sound repetitive, it was fun in the time I had with the game as you could roll into other enemies and whilst energy is lost quicker, you can receive a much bigger bonus at the end for your plight.

Screenshot for Freshly Picked Tingle's Rosey Rupeeland (Hands-On) on Nintendo DS

After playing around with these little fights, saving the girl's doll and meeting her where she tells you to do so, it is time to start the first main dungeon...but guess what? Yes, you have to pay entry! Finally inside it all becomes more Zelda-like again, but with a twist. Tingle cannot use a weapon, so to break jars he jumps inside them to smash them open and since he is a bit of a weakling, you have to hire a body-guard part the way into the dungeon, who helps defeat enemies much quicker as well as solve familiar 'standing on switches' puzzles. He also whips out a boom box that plays the celebratory tune from regular Zelda games (like when you solve a puzzle or gain an important item). Which brings me to a quick diversion

Screenshot for Freshly Picked Tingle's Rosey Rupeeland (Hands-On) on Nintendo DS

Final Thoughts

Are you surprised? I know I was! Sure, it looked humorous and quirky, but those factors do not ensure a good game. Thankfully, though, Nintendo has geared the development of Rosey Rupeeland in the right direction and made it a worthy addition to the Zelda universe. Now all we need is a release date firmer than '2007'...

Developer

Vanpool

Publisher

Nintendo

Genre

Adventure

Players

1

C3 Score

Rated $score out of 10  6/10

Reader Score

Rated $score out of 10  10/10 (24 Votes)

European release date Out now   North America release date None   Japan release date Out now   Australian release date TBA   

Comments

Sadly Nintendo does not have a firm date in 2007, but I wouldn't be surprised if it turns up Q2 since the translation is complete and they've already started to show it to journalists (me being one of the first it would seem...if not THE first Smilie).

Playing this English version has spurred me on to try my hand again at the Japanese copy I picked up last year...

It's such a fun game, but the gay overtones are very strong indeed! Amusingly so, though (no offense meant by that). Nintendo has really camped-up the game. After you unlock the second area to wander round in, for example, there's what can only be described as someone from the Village People gone wrong who builds a bridge back to the first stage...but when he completes it, to show how happy he is he starts girating his hips and then thrusts them forwards several times, making strange grunting noises! :eek: :lol:

Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses

jesusraz: "but when he completes it, to show how happy he is he starts girating his hips and then thrusts them forwards several times, making strange grunting noises!"

Was it 'Hard Gay'?

Would appear so - but in a comical way. I very much doubt Nintendo is aiming for another sector of the *ahem*gaming*ahem* community... :sarcy: :roll: (sorry, bad and distasteful pun!)

Anyway, like I say, it's a cracking game and a definite worthy entry into the Zelda world.

Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses

Surely now you don't need both the English and Japanese copies....:roll::roll::roll:

I wouldn't mind er.... looking after one for you:D

This game certainly sounds weird....i'm really interested now i've read this.

Avoid Games Like the Plague, productivity++

Ahh, but the English one isn't owned by him, so...no. Smilie

Good work Adam. I'll be more likely to consider this now...

It was a case of getting the Japanese one last year and then being totally baffled and ignoring it until now. The English version was locked into the DS I was given to play when I went down to London on Monday (expect coverage of Excite Truck and Trauma Centre Wii soon as well...Smilie :Smilie

I'm now chugging my way through the second main area in the Japanese version and loving it more than ever!

Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses

So what the heck? I just finished watching The Rocky Horror Picture Show again and I am not gay (although I have more and mor doubts considering the fun I had with the movie(s) and reading this review.
*watches his Avatar, his art in the profile* Ahem...


I dispise the brave normal way MTV censors every word harsher than 'bottom' oder skin being more bumpier than a nose and considering the great humour Rocky Horror and this game delivers - you got to buy this, because it's something totally new and above all made by a major company! Get it when it comes out. I hope I have money again when the time comes!


*goes checking if he became gay just now*

I find your lack of faith disturbing!

I wonder if they're going to keep the overly bright and camp box art that came with the Japanese version? You'd hope so, purely because it's so eye-catching!

I didn't notice any censorship or anything like that, so I presume it's a faithful translation...

Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses

I hope so. Nintendo tends to remain true to the spirit of the games they create...

But beneath the weirdness of the title I see a true bit of game mechanics there. Look at the balance between life-energy, bribing, giving rupees to the ...rupeeman, asking for them, hiring mercs. Hell, I think that's a good game beneath the green spandex. If it's un-boring too, it may be worth it - beside the weirdness only!

I find your lack of faith disturbing!

Oh definitely. Just pure weirdness doesn't carry a game - the same is true with the WarioWare games. They're wacky, but have a central core of great gameplay.

Tingle appears to be the same at the moment. In order to progress to the second area I had to throw at least 1,000 Rupees into the main spring, so I see how the progression of the game works now. There are the side-quests, main dungeons and level-based targets to achieve. Seems like a good mixture to avoid boredom.

Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses

Cant wait!

Read my blog here
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@itsmoirob

this...is wrong ...in, oh so many ways.

Enoch Powell was right, and you know it.

Wrong, but it feels so right...! Smilie

:lol:

I wish Nintendo would release some English screens! Really hope this does indeed make Q2 2007...

Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses

Adam Riley accepted Nintendo’s invite to try it out and his thoughts are inside…

You are so generous, Adam! My, are you damn gracious!


Hey, please tell us about the gameplay as such: can it carry the whole game till the end? If so, then this is a green-spandexed jewel to be picked up!

I find your lack of faith disturbing!

Well that's what I'd love to know. Playing through the Japanese version without a guide is almost impossible and was taking too long...especially since I need to review Children of Mana in the next couple of days.

I'll go back to Tingle at the weekend and try again. I think it'll be the variety of the island areas, the dungeons and boss battles that will prevent this from growing too boring, though...

And yes, thanks for the (sarcastic) praise, Laurelin! :tongue: I could have said NO and just let other websites get the scoop instead... Smilie Some other cheeky UK websites are trying to claim they got the news of Tingle's UK release before us, but it's all BS. They must be sad that such a 'small' website as C3 got an exclusive from under their noses :lol:

Smilie

Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses

I actually want this and i don't particulary want many DS games.

I have a bone to pick with Nintendo Yoshi, Peach, Wario, Kirby, Tingle, MArio all get there own games were is a New DK Country (not King of Swing)

Bring back the Kong nintendo.


Mike Gee of iZINE said, "...The Verve, as he [Richard Ashcroft] promised, had become the greatest band in the world. Most of the critics agreed with him. Most paid due homage. The Verve were no longer the question mark or the clich�. They were the statement and the definition."

It's true how strange it is nobody is doing a straight-up DK platform game...other than DK World for Wii, of course :Smilie

The DS has so many great games for Europe this year - Hotel Dusk, Wario Master of Disguise, Kirby Mouse Attack, Final Fantasy III, Children of Mana, DQH Rocket Slime, Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales, Jet Impulse...and now Tingle!

And that's just to name a few off the top of my head! :eek:

Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses

Just all those good games came out in japan/america ages ago....

especially since I need to review Children of Mana in the next couple of days.

I could review it for you! :D
I've got the japanese versionSmilie

Avoid Games Like the Plague, productivity++

Raz DK World????????

What i need info on this NOW!!!!

Apparently Hotel Dusk is amazing some 8's lots of 9' and even a couple of 10's.


Mike Gee of iZINE said, "...The Verve, as he [Richard Ashcroft] promised, had become the greatest band in the world. Most of the critics agreed with him. Most paid due homage. The Verve were no longer the question mark or the clich�. They were the statement and the definition."

Simon, I'll have Children of Mana reviewed in the next day or so, but thanks for the offer :Smilie

And Hulk, DK World has been confirmed as in development at the Tokyo studio that worked on DK Jungle Beat. But it's on the back-burner until Super Mario Galaxy is completed, apparently.

Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses

I feel slightly bad saying this, but I played it a while back and didn't enjoy it much. My hands are just too shaky (darn Piano playing), so I won't be getting this.

I like the art style though. It doesn't try too hard to be SuperMangaAnime2007 v2.1 (tm).

The issue arises when you move the piece of glass away from the open body and try to place it in the side tray, ready to move onto the next shard. Unfortunately, unless you are extremely precise, it will not land on the tray and just magically jumps back into the body where it originally was. This can be highly frustrating, especially when the patient's heart rate is rapidly falling

I could see how shaky hands would be a problem. Have you played the DS game and had similar trouble?

I also like the graphical style and really feel that between this and the brilliant 2D cut-scenes in WarioWare, a Paper Mario game would be amazing!

Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses

The graphics are juicy, but I cant help felling that this wont feel as good as the DS game. By that I mean you arent actually touching any thing when you use the scalpel you are just wving a wand through the air whereas in the DS version you are physically touching the area you are cutting which just feels more natural.

-Have you any idea what it's like to be a Fembot living in a Manbot's Manputer's world?
-What?

I don't know - I thought that would be the case, but the controller vibrates at the correct time and because things are moving in correspondence with your movements, it does become surprisingly intense. Everything became second nature after just a short while... :Smilie

Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses

I'm gonna have to get this, just incase they decided to make the last level possible ;_;

Stupid DS version <.<

Still a proud member of the 'omfg amazing water in games' society

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