PixlBit

Storm City Entertainment's latest title falls into a familiar category - DS Puzzle Game. Unlike their last title, Jewel Master Egypt, this game is based on Tangrams, a Chinese puzzle game thousands of years old. As a matter of fact, the title is not just based on Tangrams, it is Tangrams.

For those unfamiliar with the ancient game, the concept is quite simple. Players are given a total of five triangles, two small, two large, and one medium, as well as a square and a parallelogram. With these seven shapes, players must fill in a silhoutte of a figure presented by the game.

In a variety of themed locales, players are given the shapes of familiar figures (like a lion, giraffe, treasure chest, etc) and they must complete ten total Tangrams to move on to the next area. The game features a total of 100 puzzle spread across 10 areas. Not that this is particularly a bad thing, but that is the entire scope of the game.

Players are timed on each Tangram and awarded a star depending on how quickly they complete it. The time limits for each star aren't clearly defined for each Tangram, so players must attempt to solve them as quickly as possible. Thankfully, the game controls well - a combination of touch screen usage and the L and R triggers will allow players to move the pieces, flip them, and spin them.

There's not much else to say about Hands On! Tangrams, for what it is, it's done well. Unfortunately, what it is, is not particularly interesting. Furthermore, plenty of free online alternatives exist. Parents looking for an educational game to buy their kids for play on-the-go can't go wrong with Hands On! Tangrams. Most others are better off finding one of the many other, more interesting puzzle games on the DS and enjoying their Tangrams online via a free alternative.