DarkStar v.2B by DarkainMX *Updated*

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Created on Wednesday, 04 January 2012 21:54

Last Updated on Wednesday, 11 September 2013 02:40

Written by Lynx

Hits: 2139

Gameplay = 7
Graphics = 8
Sound = 4
Fun = 8
Overall = 9
Author: DarkainMX

dsPaint started out a simple paint program, and grew into a nice suite of programs. The first thing you'll notice when starting DarkStar is the nice fractal image in the background and the startup sound. One touch on the dropdown menu on the left and you'll notice even with .2 (Can't find a version number) Beta, it's more then a simple paint application.

As you can see, there already is a nice list of applications in DarkStar. You have a Debug screen, Paint, Mines, Checks Out, and Tic-Tac-Toe. I sometimes have a problem selecting a program from the dropdown using the pen because the words are to small for my eyes, so you can also hit start, press up and down, and press the A button to start the program you selected.
This tool can be handy if you are looking for debug information on the touchscreen. Very nice paint application. You just touch the arrows in the upper right corner or press select, and it swaps the screens so you can pick colors, tools, etc. This version has a lot of tools.. One of the features is AntiAliasing. You can now select the freehand tool, or line tool and then select AA to turn antialiasing on and off. I'm not going to go through all the tools because there are so many.. But be sure to check out the A column on the colors for Alpha blending and the Disc option of the circle tool. Neat stuff!
That classic mines game that everyone learned to use a mouse with. But, 5x the amount of space that fits on the DS screen! Shows how the DS can scroll around a large bitmap. Fun game to play as well. You have to select the FLAG button to place a flag, which at times can be hard to tell if it's pressed or not.. And if you make a mistake.. well.. BOOM, the explosion sound lets you know. This game also has the feel of a lefty. Besides pressing the FLAG button on the screen, you can press the A button to turn the FLAG button on and off. Now, the D-pad is used to move you around the larger area, but it would be nice if the L button could also turn the flag on and off. If you want to move around the large area faster, you can always press the select button and it will swap the screens, you can then use the touch screen to select the area you want to play.
Ok.. Now that DarkinMX filled me in on the game, and walked me through the first level.. it's actually really fun. Did I say fun? Well, it's either that, or frustrating. The first few levels are pretty easy once you figure it out (or are told how to do it). You can always skip strait to a level, or start a level over by pressing the arrows button on the screen or the select key, and then selecting the level you want to play.
Ahh.. what would a suite of apps/games be without Tic-Tac-Toe? Not DarkStar, I can tell you that much! :) Anyway, there is a big difference in this game between the last release. Maybe it's just me, but the only play that has EVER won was the DS! Not that I'm an avid Tic-Tac-Toe fan, and devoted a lot of time to it, but I was unable to win. :( Oh.. he might want to disable the screen swapping for this game, as it doesn't make much sense.
Overall, I think this is currently the best homebrew app/game available! Unfortunatly it still has the random jumping lines issue, as all current DS homebrew does, which makes it a little hard to draw dots for hair or grass, etc. But, DarkinMX has done an awesome job with it, and it IS only getting better. Now that he has released a version that also does mulit-rom loading, everyone will be running DarkStar on their DS. The swapping of screens seems to be geared toward left-handers. It would be nice to be able to swap screens using your left hand by pressing on the d-pad or L button.

So, you better check it out now, before Nintendo Liscenses it and you have to buy it!


Download : .ds.gba
Download : .nds