Picross S: Namco Legendary Edition (Nintendo Switch) Review

The Picross S series on Nintendo Switch is well established by now, and new entries are being awaited with excitement every time. In this case, Jupiter did not disappoint. Picross S Namco Legendary Edition delivers in every way.

Picross puzzles are number grid puzzles that require players to fill out a grid by using numbers as hints. By solving the grid correctly, a picture gets revealed. These grids can range from being quite easy to being truly challenging, and often require patience and a love for puzzles.

Picross S Namco Legendary Edition's title already gave a hint on what to expect. Starting with Pac-Man, a whole array of Namco's characters start moving across the screen, so much so that waiting for the whole sequence to loop took a good couple of minutes. Each puzzle is themed after traditional Namco titles, such as Dig Dug, Mappy, Sky Kid, and so many more. The only problem encountered when solving puzzles was that in the background, the animation of Namco characters would continue, which was a little distracting.

For new players, helpful tutorials at different stages in the game mean that there is an easy way to get sucked into the world of Picross. For more seasoned players, these tutorials can of course be skipped. Puzzles are satisfyingly tricky at times, making for some good challenges, which is highly appreciated. However, even so, new players or those that do not like challenges don't have to fear - several support options are, as always available. The most straightforward of these is probably Hint Roulette, which automatically fills one random row and column at the start of the puzzles if players choose to activate it. It is also possible to set the game to highlight either correct or incorrect rows or columns, or to autocorrect mistakes. As such, every player can navigate the puzzles in a way that feels most comfortable to them.

Speaking of options, the Picross S series usually comes with a variety of choices, and this title is no different. Puzzles can be solved either by using buttons or touch. For example, when using buttons, the cursor speed can be adjusted, as well as the controls for Color Picross mode. It is possible to adjust the volume for sound effects and background music separately, and the music in this title is truly nostalgic by leaning on the old arcade style of music. Tutorials can be looked at again in the Tutorial mode, and it is even possible to play with a friend in two-player mode. In other words, for a title that seems simple at first glance, it has a lot to offer.

This includes the different types of Picross the developers have come up with. There is, of course, the traditional Picross mode, which is essentially the baseline model of Picross puzzles. Next, there is Mega Picross, in which some rows and columns are summarised in twos to create a whole new challenge. Color Picross is by far one of the best modes, as this requires players to solve puzzles with different colours. Clip Picross, on the other hand, offers puzzles in the original sense, however each puzzle is part of one big image that is revealed when all of them are solved. Finally, under Extras, players get treated to five particularly difficult grids. These are traditional Picross puzzles but much larger than the baseline ones and require true dedication to solve!

Picross S Namco Legendary Edition runs incredibly smoothly, without any kind of stutters or similar issues, despite the constantly moving backdrop. It feels truly satisfying to play, and really helps to relax after a long day. It may be a simple game in that there is not a lot of variety to be had with Picross puzzles, but by adding the different modes, Jupiter was able to even add something special here.