Freshly-Picked: Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland

"Like countless Nintendo genre-busters, Tingle RPG doesn't follow the rules of gaming, but that's exactly why I'm enjoying it so much."

"Don't think that just because this is a game starring more than one type of fairy that there isn't a green-spandex-covered-buttload of action! We got to play a boss battle against a giant mutant worm monster that spit lasers. The game turns into a top down shooter of sorts, with Tingle floating by balloon. We had to drop bombs onto the bug monster while dodging fireballs and mutant worm babies. Tingle is hardcore, well at least he was for a moment there. Then he twirled in a circle, showed us his butt and winked at the screen. We're not interested, Tingle; we just want to touch you with our stylus, don't get the wrong idea!"

Tingle is a very strange game then, and not just because of the far-out plot and bizarre cast of characters. There’s no deny it can be irritating, depressing and positively unfair at times but equally it has an undeniable charm that helps overlook some its inherent flaws. Exploring familiar-yet-skewed Zelda locations and the superbly imaginative bosses are certainly a highlight, and concocting recipes is fun too. Plus there’s Tingle himself, who is such a relentlessly cheerful idiot you can’t help but want to see the adventure through to its climax. The problem is that to do so you have to suffer enormous frustration and if that’s enough to turn you off then give Tingle a miss. However, if you’re willing to persevere you’ll discover one of the DS’s most curious and quirky titles to date.

"Overall, “Tingle’s Rosy Rupee Land” is a fun original game to play as you do whatever you can to try to make enough Rupees to make that tower grow. The satisfaction you get as you watch the tower reach the next level is great because you actually feel you’re making progress in the game. Zelda fans will recognise some parodies from the game such as the Triforce Lottery and a certain ocarina. While the game isn’t a management or a life sim where you go about a regular job to make money, this unique and wacky game from Nintendo sure comes close with its goal and that’s to make lots of Rupees!"