Hidden amidst the most recent data splash concerning Spore was a first look proper at the DS version – a bespoke take upon Will Wright's manically ambitious attempt to realise Sim Everything. Dubbed Spore Creatues, the handheld arm of what is looking to be this year's big gaming event manages to create an enchanting action adventure game from the DNA of its elder brother - and its release may well prove to be a highlight in its own right when it comes to Nintendo's machine this September.
Naturally, Spore Creatures is shorn of the vast majority of the content of the PC version. Concentrating solely on the creature mode of Spore, the game is replete with its own distinctive artistic style. Think along the lines of Paper Mario mixed in with a little Wind Waker and you'd be getting there - Spore Creatures is a 3D world inhabited by lovingly drawn 2D sprites. The style serves the game well, and even though what we saw was some months off release it looks set to be one of most visually striking titles on the DS
Instead of taking a creature from the primeval soup all the way to the stars, Spore Creatures give players control over one character in a linear journey across a single planet. Much like the corresponding mode in the full fat version, gameplay centres around forming partnerships with some species and taking down more hostile species. The DS deals with this in its own distinctive fashion – blows are administered to foes with a slash on the touch screen, while befriending other animals occurs through a rhythm-based mini-game.
The action plays out much like an action RPG – starting small and humble, over time and through the completion of tasks new abilities and body parts are unlocked that can be implemented in the Creature Editor screen. Again, don't expect all the bells and whistles of the PC's procedural animation system – however, in it's place there is a more than competent suite of options. Body parts can be dragged to the desired location, and there is more than enough room for a little creativity and subsequently scope for a whole world of character.
Evolution of the player character looks to be largely dictated by certain tasks – at one point we came across an insurmountable body of water and were required to attain and employ more amphibian attributes to our Spore. This more focused approach gives the game more than a whiff of the Zeldas, which of course is no bad thing.
Every one of the species encountered are backed up with the game's own Sporepedia – a pocket-sized tome in comparison to the PC version's colossal affair, but nevertheless imbued with no end of charm and serving to fill out the experience. This is all backed up by a hearty hand of multiplayer options, with the capacity to share creatures with other DSs.
All in all, Spore Creatures is a very handsome package and was a pleasant surprise – unique and adept, it will serve as both an accompaniment to the main Spore experience as well as providing the DS with an exceptionally polished action adventure. We look forward to having an extended look some point in the near future.