Nintendo DS Game Review
Away: Shuffle Dungeon for the Nintendo DS (not 3DS, despite some confusion) is one of those quirky action RPGs that wears its weirdness with pride. Developed by Artoon and released in 2008, the game mixes dungeon crawling with an offbeat story and a gimmicky gameplay hook that’s both inventive and occasionally frustrating. It’s a strange little gem that flies under the radar but still manages to charm players who stick with it.
The game kicks off in a town where villagers have an unfortunate habit of vanishing into thin air – literally. One second they’re there, the next, poof. You play as Sword, a silent protagonist tasked with venturing into the mysterious “Shuffle Dungeons” to rescue the missing townsfolk. These dungeons are constantly shifting, swapping their left and right sides at timed intervals like a high-stakes game of musical chairs. Miss the cue and you might find yourself flattened or flung into a hazard.
That core mechanic, the dungeon shuffling, is what makes Away stand out. It turns exploration into a game of timing and memory. You’ll need to keep one eye on the countdown clock and the other on enemy placement, trap triggers, and treasure chests. It’s a cool concept that keeps you engaged, especially when the difficulty ramps up and the shuffling starts happening faster.
Combat is simple but effective. Sword can swing weapons, use items, and eventually gain access to magical abilities and gear upgrades. Defeated monsters drop loot, some of which you can use to enhance your equipment or trade for useful goods back in town. As you rescue villagers, they return to populate your hometown and unlock new shops, mini-games, and upgrades. It’s a satisfying loop of dungeon-diving and town-building that gives the game a gentle sense of progression.
Visually, the game uses a charming, cartoon-like art style with bright colors and expressive sprites. The dungeon environments are basic but clear, and the top-down perspective works well for the type of gameplay on offer. The soundtrack, composed by Nobuo Uematsu (of Final Fantasy fame), is catchy and whimsical, lending the game a quirky energy that fits its oddball world perfectly.
However, the shuffling mechanic isn’t for everyone. It can feel gimmicky at times, especially during longer sessions when the repetition starts to wear thin. The difficulty curve is a bit uneven, and the combat system, while serviceable, doesn’t evolve much beyond its early basics. There’s also a general sense that the game had some big ideas that never quite reach their full potential.
Still, Away: Shuffle Dungeon is a refreshingly weird and creative little RPG. It’s not flawless, but it’s full of heart, and it dares to do something different with its dungeon-crawling formula. If you’re into quirky mechanics, light RPG progression, and games that march to the beat of their own bizarre drum, Away is worth taking a shuffle-step toward.
Game Hints and Cheats
Completion unlockables:
Complete the game to unlock New Game mode and Sound test.