Magnetica
{{Short description|2006 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}{{Infobox video game
| title = Magnetica
| image = Magnetica.jpg
| developer = Mitchell Corporation
| publisher = Nintendo
| director = Satoru Tsujita
| composer = Toshiyuki Sudo
| released = {{collapsible list|title=March 2, 2006|Nintendo DS
{{vgrelease|JP|March 2, 2006|NA|June 5, 2006|PAL|January 6, 2007}}WiiWare
{{vgrelease|JP|April 22, 2008|PAL|June 6, 2008|NA|June 30, 2008}}}}
| genre = Puzzle
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
| platforms = Nintendo DS, Wii (WiiWare)
}}
Magnetica (known in Japan as {{nihongo|Shunkan Puzz Loop|瞬感パズループ|Shunkan Pazurūpu}} and in Europe as Actionloop) is a puzzle video game developed by Mitchell Corporation and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS, It was released as part of the Touch! Generations series. It is based on Mitchell's 1998 arcade game Puzz Loop.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/21/AR2006062101522_pf.html|title=Review: Brainteasers Find Niche in Games|newspaper=The Washington Post|publisher=Associated Press|author=Lou Kesten|date=June 21, 2006|accessdate=January 6, 2018|archive-date=January 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105071611/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/21/AR2006062101522_pf.html|url-status=live}}
The game was first revealed at Nintendo Japan's 2006 Conference. The European version came packaged with the Nintendo DS Rumble Pak.
A version for WiiWare, titled {{nihongo|Minna de Puzzloop|みんなでパズループ|Minna de Pazurūpu}} in Japan, Magnetica Twist in North America and Actionloop Twist in PAL regions, was released in 2008 for Japan on April 22,{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/04/16/puzzloop-dated-in-japan|title=Puzzloop Dated in Japan|website=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|author=John Tanaka|date=April 16, 2008|accessdate=September 25, 2018|archive-date=September 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925220143/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/04/16/puzzloop-dated-in-japan|url-status=live}} on June 6 in Europe,{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2008/06/eu_wiiware_update_actionloop_twist|title=EU WiiWare Update: Actionloop Twist|website=Nintendo Life|publisher=Gamer Network|author=Damien McFerran|date=June 5, 2008|accessdate=January 6, 2018|archive-date=January 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105070208/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2008/06/eu_wiiware_update_actionloop_twist|url-status=live}} and on June 30 in North America.{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/KgdnrOfYS8YsKdwFvlAfLI9azQFVTh9K|title=One WiiWare Game and One Virtual Console Game Added to Wii Shop Channel|website=Nintendo|date=June 30, 2008|accessdate=July 7, 2008|archive-date=July 2, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080702212454/https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/KgdnrOfYS8YsKdwFvlAfLI9azQFVTh9K|url-status=live}}
Gameplay
In the game, marbles roll down a twisted path toward the goal and the player must stop them by launching new marbles into the oncoming ones. The DS touchscreen is used to 'flick' the marbles from their launch point to their destination with the stylus. The marbles disappear if player matches three or more marbles of the same type; marbles of the same color are magnetically attracted to each other over any length of wide open space, and allowing for chains of disappearances to occur.
The game is over if any marble reaches a specific point, usually near the center of each level, but using the magnetic properties of the marbles can allow one to pull marbles away from this point. Bonus items attached to marbles can, for example, temporarily slow down the rate the marbles advance or cause all marbles of a color to disappear.
In addition to the main survival mode of play, the player can take part in a quest mode, where they must clear boards under certain conditions, and a puzzle mode, where a fixed arrangement of marbles around the board must be cleared using only the few marbles made available to the player.
WiiWare version
The WiiWare version of Magnetica supports up to four players simultaneously in either co-operative or competitive multiplayer modes, in addition to the ability to use the player's own Miis in the game. Control is done by twisting the Wii Remote left or right to turn the marble cannon, and an ability to lob marbles over others has been added.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/04/23/hands-on-puzzloop|title=Hands-on Puzzloop|website=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|author=Craig Harris|date=April 22, 2008|accessdate=September 25, 2018|archive-date=September 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925220145/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/04/23/hands-on-puzzloop|url-status=live}}
The game features the challenge and quest modes of the DS version, but omits the puzzle mode. Extensive statistics are also kept for each player.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
|DS = true
|WII = true
|na = true
|Edge_DS = 6/10{{cite magazine|title=Magnetica|author=Edge staff|magazine=Edge|publisher=Future plc|issue=165|date=August 2006|page=92}}
|EuroG_DS = 6/10{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/ir_magnetica_ds|title=Magnetica|author=John Walker|website=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|date=July 3, 2006|accessdate=September 25, 2018|archive-date=September 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926014058/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/ir_magnetica_ds|url-status=live}}
|Fam_DS = 31/40{{cite web|url=https://www.neogaf.com/threads/new-famitsu-scores.87283/|title=New Famitsu Scores|website=NeoGAF|publisher=NeoGaf LLC|date=February 22, 2006|accessdate=September 25, 2018|archive-date=September 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926014035/https://www.neogaf.com/threads/new-famitsu-scores.87283/|url-status=live}}
|GI_DS = 7.25/10{{cite magazine|title=Magnetica|magazine=Game Informer|publisher=GameStop|issue=160|date=August 2006|page=92}}
|GamePro_DS = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/ds/games/reviews/63088.shtml|title=Review: Magnetica|author=Johnny K.|magazine=GamePro|publisher=IDG Entertainment|date=June 7, 2006|accessdate=September 25, 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615004028/http://www.gamepro.com/nintendo/ds/games/reviews/63088.shtml|archivedate=June 15, 2006|url-status=dead}}
|GameRev_DS = C−{{cite web|url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/37136-magnetica-review|title=Magnetica Review|author=Mike Reilly|website=Game Revolution|publisher=CraveOnline|date=June 14, 2006|accessdate=September 25, 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908151129/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/magnetica|archivedate=September 8, 2015|url-status=live}}
|GSpot_DS = 7/10{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/magnetica-review/1900-6152321/|title=Magnetica Review|website=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive|author=Alex Navarro|date=June 5, 2006|accessdate=January 6, 2018|archive-date=January 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105011627/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/magnetica-review/1900-6152321/|url-status=live}}
|GSpy_DS = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=http://ds.gamespy.com/nintendo-ds/puzzeloop/711555p1.html|title=GameSpy: Magnetica|author=Sterling McGarvey|website=GameSpy|publisher=IGN Entertainment|date=June 6, 2006|accessdate=September 25, 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821182521/http://ds.gamespy.com/nintendo-ds/puzzeloop/711555p1.html|archivedate=August 21, 2006|url-status=dead}}
|NP_DS = 8/10{{cite magazine|title=Magnetica|magazine=Nintendo Power|publisher=Nintendo of America|volume=205|date=July 2006|page=94}}
|rev1 = The Washington Post
|MC_DS = 68/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/magnetica/critic-reviews/?platform=ds|title=Magnetica for DS Reviews|website=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|accessdate=January 6, 2018|archive-date=January 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115151722/http://www.metacritic.com/game/ds/magnetica|url-status=live}}
}}
Magnetica and Magnetica Twist received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. Nintendo Life said that although the DS version fails to impress with its visuals and audio, it is an excellent addition to anyone's Nintendo DS library whether a gamer is casual or hardcore.{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/04/magnetica_ds|title=Magnetica Review|website=Nintendo Life|publisher=Gamer Network|author=Stuart Reddick|date=April 21, 2009|accessdate=January 6, 2018|archive-date=January 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105070219/http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/04/magnetica_ds|url-status=live}} The Washington Post criticized the same console version's $35 price tag, which it said was a bit too much for a game that has nothing new to add. In Japan, Famitsu gave the same DS version a score of three eights and one seven for a total of 31 out of 40.
{{clear}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060625052445/http://magnetica.nintendods.com/launch/ Official US Magnetica website]
- [https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ds/aplj/index.html Official Japan Magnetica website]
- [https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/wiiware/wa2j/index.html Japanese Magnetica Twist WiiWare website]
- [http://www.dualscreenradio.com/puzzloop/ Shunkan PuzzLoop Translation Page: Courtesy of DualScreenRadio]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060615105044/http://www.insertcredit.com/features/hitofude/ Insert Credit interview with Mitchell]
- {{moby game|id=/nintendo-ds/magnetica}}
- {{moby game|id=/wii/magnetica-twist|name=Magnetica Twist}}
Category:Video games developed in Japan