Like the console versions of Meet The Robinsons, the DS version takes the interesting approach of creating a new story that revolves around Wilbur Robinson - a supporting character from the film - and explores his adventures in time travel. Wilbur goes back in time and, of course, inadvertently screws up the future, so now must go fix what he's done while trying to stop the evil Man in the Bowler Hat. This new story is on par with that of the film and kids will enjoy exploring another aspect of the movie world... as long as they can enjoy the game, that is.

The DS version doesn't stray far from its console siblings; the basic storyline is similar, with the same enemies and ideas implemented. Wilbur can't jump at your command, instead doing so automatically when he needs to, so the game is essentially a run-and-gun experience that revolves around the targeting system, with few platform elements. It relies heavily on numerous gadgets, again borrowed from the console versions, though with far more. However, since you can only equip three gadgets at a time, you'll find yourself rarely using all of them and instead just sticking with what works best.

It's possible that you will become frustrated with the structure of the levels, as there are no checkpoints so dying results in starting over, but the levels are easy to explore and the enemies fairly easy to defeat (although they do respawn when you re-enter areas). Kids shouldn't have too much trouble overall, and the display makes it easy to figure out what to do next. If anything, they'll tire of the tedious lock-on controls before they tire of anything else.

Using the R and L triggers to control the camera, you tap enemies to lock onto them and then fire, which works but gets a bit tedious when you aren't currently using the touch screen to move and explore, then have to suddenly switch to use it to attack. It's clear that the developers have tried to recreate the console experience, but it doesn't work nearly as well here.

For a 3D Nintendo DS game, Robinsons looks okay. The effects are nice, the colors are bright and the animations are fluid, even if there are few enemy designs to enjoy. The frame rate doesn't falter where you would expect, though the level designs do get a bit repetitive over the short course of the game, which comes in at just five levels, each about an hour or so long. Sound wise it doesn't have the voice acting that the console versions profit from, but that's not something you can hold against a DS game; the sound effects overall are well done, with music that doesn't annoy like so many out there.

Meet The Robinsons for the DS could have been as good as its console counterparts with some more polished controls and added lifespan; with time travel as the concept, there certainly isn't any lack of locations to pick from, especially when you have a movie with plenty of characters and ideas to pull from. If you don't have access to any consoles and need a Robinsons fix, or know a child that does, then the DS version will satisfy them and provide plenty of enjoyment for a short time. However, if you own any console that Meet The Robinsons has hit (which is most of them) then picking it up for that is definitely the better option.

Reviewed by Christopher Martin for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).