Game Review: Desi Adda

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

January 7, 2010 - 5:09 PM IST

Abiding their venture into developing games with Indian context, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe launched Desi Adda: Games of India, developed by an Indian Game Development Studio, GameShastra Solutions Pvt Ltd, for the two PlayStation console formats PS2 and PSP. This is the second time Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is working with an Indian game development after the release of Hanuman, the Boy Warrior.

Game Review: Desi Adda

Desi Adda: Games of India originates from the inspiration drawn from the customary games of India on to a present-day platform. The significance about such traditional games is that it will help widen the scope both the awareness of the PlayStation as well as widen the gaming market, among the young Indians.

Desi Adda has a story mode in which the central character is a kid of Indian origin, NRI, named Avinash, who makes ups his mind to spend some time in a small Indian village. The story has all the rudiments one would come across in a retro Bollywood thriller. This plot is accompanied by visuals that look evenly fresh, with molds and scenarios that are more pertinent a decade back. The game includes various mini-games incorporated in them like Kite Flying, Dancing, Gilli Danda and Pachisi. Other mini-games showcased are Aadu Puli Aatam (Goat and the Tiger) and Kabaddi.

Dancing is a "bonus game" that can be unlocked by finishing the story mode. This mode is in reality the show-stopper of the title. This mini-game is based on a note matching format witnessed in games like Dance Mela. The game uses an amalgamation of front buttons and the D-pad. The controls were not very receptive though. Kite Flying, comes in two modes: kite fighting, where the aim is to grind down another challenging kite; and kite flying, needing you to burst a set of balloons within the given time limit. Gilli Danda, at first look, seems the most appealing of the bunch. It has you along three or four other competitors on the scoreboard. Though the game lacks a depth-perception in the graphics, the awkward and unpredictable physics of the Gilli makes it a fun experience.

The last game is Pachisi - apparent to the Mahabharata fame. It's a game played with rectangular dices, a board with squares on it and each player is represented on the board with four pieces each, Ludo of the epic times, so to be said. The game is intended to work on a blend of luck and tactics both.

But the entire package maltreats any significance and gusto in a player as it doesn't really seems to be worth the money at all. And with this launch after Hanuman, we can only sit down to wonder the extent of development of major title from our soil. But keeping the hope alive, one can only say: Maybe, and just maybe, third time will prove lucky for us...

Rating:Â