I can't recall getting as much game in a handheld game as there is in Spectrobes. Almost everywhere you look in this new RPG there's something to do, something happening and some DS function that's at work - it's insane! It's also a straightforward introduction to the characters and concepts from the webisode hit, all wrapped up in the hopes of getting your hard-earned cash to go toward more Spectrobes merchandise. Normally a game that's so sure of itself falls laughably flat because overkill only enhances bad game design, but Jupiter Corp. (the fine folks behind Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories on the GBA) has created the beginnings of an excellent franchise. While it has a ton of things to do and clocks in at around fifteen hours or so for the single player mode, things are definitely on the easy side. However, given the target age, the multiplayer component and a few other intriguing Wi-Fi features, the intended audience should have an utter blast.

As soon as you pick up the game box, you know you're in for something special - this is most likely the heaviest DS game on the market, thanks to the big honkin' eighty-page manual that covers everything the game has to offer. I amuse rather easily, so I found myself cracking up for a good five minutes after I put the book back and couldn't get the case to stay fully closed afterward. On the flipside, Majesco's deeper Age of Empires: The Age of Kings on the DS has a forty-four-page manual, but believe it or not, kids will probably get a lot more out of the multiplayer modes found here. Additionally, as with any DS game geared toward younger players, the words "basic reading ability is needed to fully enjoy this game" are printed on the box, making me grin while thinking about the kids who'll probably be a whole lot smarter once they get through the Spectrobes manual. The weight and size of the box is about the same as a small sandwich, but you'll want to close your mouth and pop the game into your DS instead. It's a better meal for your eyes and brain than your stomach.

The plot is basic cartoon fluff, but hey, you're playing a game made for eight to fourteen year old boys. As Planetary Patrol officer Rallen you set out with fellow officer Jeena in a quest to discover more about Spectrobes, prehistoric beasts packed with ancient powers. These powers are quite helpful, given that an alien race called the Krawl have decided to run across the galaxy to flaunt their destructive ways. Gameplay in single player is primarily composed of excavation, training, customization and battle components, with every DS function (except Pictochat) being put to use. You'll get your first Komapod Spectrobe a few minutes into the first mission and by the time you've awakened it you'll be hooked. As much fun as I had playing this, it's a bit strange to be yelling into the DS microphone in public for three-second intervals. However, we all know some kids who couldn't care less about what people think of them while they're playing. Anyway, Spectrobes need to be raised, so there's feeding of minerals and petting of porous pelts to be done before they evolve into stronger forms. As you make progress you take your formerly fossilized force into frequent fights with creepy Krawl creatures, allowing for the usual leveling up and the ability to distribute attributes.

If you played Rogue Galaxy and got sidetracked by the addictive Insectron tournament, imagine that but with the faster-paced battles from the main quest. The amount of variables here is staggering, as you'll also dig up or otherwise receive different minerals to feed your Spectrobes, who become friends with each other if they're raised in the same incubator. This allows for 'CH' powered combo attacks that can make short work of enemies and help take down the tough Krawl bosses. Evolving your creatures into new forms is also key, as child Spectrobes are the only creatures that can search for fossils and mineral food. Adults can take place in battles and level up, while fully evolved units are the powerhouses, offering the most powerful attacks. In a welcome touch you also take part in real time battles, getting in a few blaster shots and sword swings or storing up SP to use when needed. There's an assortment of weapons, gloves, suits and items to buy and equip, but don't try to face tough foes alone, as your Spectrobes do a lot more damage. To make things a bit simpler, there's a rock/paper/scissors aspect to the combat - Corona, Aura and Flash are used in this way, with Krawl baddies color-coded accordingly.

Of course, with any new kid's license expect a few new words to be added to the gaming lexicon. As a quirky word to toss out in random conversation, Spectrobes doesn't disappoint, with Minergy, Prizmod and Kugaster certain to have someone toss you a look as they Google away. Pretty much everywhere you look there's catchy nomenclature the kids will eat up, which is exactly what Disney want; the longer you play the game, the better versed in the game world you'll become. If you're having trouble with some aspect of gameplay you can find cubes all over the place that contain hints for just about everything you can do here. It's definitely impossible to get lost here, thanks to the cubes deciphered by Aldous, the old scientist you rescue early on, and Jeena's hints. If you try to play the game without reading the manual at least once or listening to clues then yes, you will find yourself wondering what the Sam Hill is going on. If you're snapping this up for someone under eight, expect to do a bit of show and tell with the stylus and microphone.

From a control standpoint, although the game uses many setups for the different activities, it all flows together once you find a quiet spot and take a few minutes to try everything. In combat you run around enclosed battle areas, attacking with weapons, commanding Spectrobes and even whipping out special moves if you like. Although it takes a bit of pixel hunting to initiate, the excavation mini-game is fun, using different tools that are selected and activated with the stylus. You can even blow away dust particles while revealing a fossil, which is pretty funny when someone is watching you play on the bus. Between the blowing while digging and the yelling required to awaken a new Spectrobe you're bound to be asked what you're doing at some point. If the inquirer happens to have a kid nearby, well… you've probably just sold a copy of the game! I did my part for Disney while doing laundry a few days ago, ending up with a crowd of five kids and a few moms asking about the game. I'm expecting Mickey to drop off a few shares of stock any day now, or at least a sack full of those Disney Dollars… I could use a vacation.

You also get four plastic code input cards that fit over the touch screen, adding another collectable layer to things. Once you locate and activate a certain cube, tapping the holes in the cards in the correct order can unlock new Spectrobes or handy items to use or trade. To keep you from building up an endless supply of monsters (you can have up to 256 stored away), the cards can only be used up to four times and some only work after you're at a certain level. Naturally this will have you calling up friends who have the game to see if they have different cards or (of course), heading online to get new Spectrobes. The game allows for new content to be traded with other players or downloaded off the Internet, so I can see a whole ton of new creatures and features becoming available in the near future. Of course, you'll need a Wi-Fi connection to see the good stuff, but I'll cover that a bit more below.

As I said above, nearly everywhere the game has something happening or both screens in use, making for quite a visual treat. Not too many developers have mastered 3D on the DS, but Jupiter has made one of the best looking games on the handheld to date. The assorted planets you visit feature some massive maps to explore, all nicely detailed and looking very much like a high quality PSOne RPG (yes, that's a compliment). Still, this is a DS game so you'll also notice that the otherwise lovingly populated areas are sparse in terms of people. Still, at times the game enables your sense of wonder with amazing-looking dual screen vistas, making it fun just to travel to a new planet to see the sights. Menus and charts are well designed and easy to read, although those with short attention spans might initially get diverted by the busy nature of the top screen's graphs and stats, while digging or during combat. The music is equally great throughout, neither overblown nor too 'hip' for its own good.

Multiplayer modes range from simple exchanges of creatures and items to versus play and up to sixteen-player 'Matchmake' battles. You need to actually find and unlock the cube that contains the multiplayer modes, which is a good way for players to learn the gameplay basics without meeting up with friends and merely getting pounded into the pavement. Perhaps the coolest thing is the Tau Cube, which unlocks the Wi-Fi connection and allows for creature, item and video clip downloads from the Spectrobes website. Granted, clips can't be saved once the DS is turned off and there's no browser on the DS (yet), but you can upload sequence battle scores and view your ranking from any computer connected to the Internet. There's a sneaky DL Points system that requires players to use the Wi-Fi connection to get points to spend on items too. You're given thirty points upon your first download and are allotted ten points every Friday - but only if you log back onto the site. It's like having a parent dangle allowance money in front of you for basically watching TV or hitting iTunes, but if you forget (or are unable) to log in on a Friday then that week's points are lost for good.

As for the sore spots, a few annoying sound effects hit your ears from time to time and as touched on above the game can get a bit tedious if you're not hooked into its collection concept. If you're all in right from the start as I was, you'll be 'one more level'-ing your way through the game, digging up fossils, yelling and blowing at your DS all day and night until you're done. While battles are generally nicely paced you'll find that many enemies aren't too bright in terms of giving back some of what you're dealing out. Sure, it's a concession to younger players, but it also could have gone the other way. I can recall a great Zoids game on the GBA from a few years back that ended up being one of the hardest kid's games I'd played in a long while. Disney is smart enough to know that extended frustration means unhappy campers, so I'm guessing they had Jupiter skew the challenge toward easier combat, making the fossil finding and reviving a key element.

Spectrobes works perfectly for what it is, tapping into that primal collecting gene we all share at some point in our lives. Cliché-filled story and characters aside, the kids this one is made for will eat it up like free ice cream at a birthday party and come back for seconds with a clean plate. Some may find fault in the final product under closer scrutiny, but sometimes it just feels great to let that inner ten-year-old out, shut up and enjoy the ride. A Wii version hasn't even been announced, but I feel it's pretty much a no-brainer, especially with the web browsing abilities of the console. If we don't see virtual cards showing up on that Opera browser in a couple of months then that's a missed opportunity for making this a bigger deal than it already is. Where this license goes from now on is up to Disney, but I can only imagine more and even better games coming to Spectrobes fans in the future.

Reviewed by Greg Wilcox for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).