NDS GAME RECOMMENDATIONS |

[#] Peggle Dual Shot (PopCap Games, Nintendo DS, 2009)

The occasionally-frustrating addiction, now portable!

I had a friend in high school needle me for putting off playing the admittedly-excellent Bastion because I was too busy with Peggle. Brenden, firstly, I still think about that time you had me over with a bunch of people to smoke weed in your backyard and your dad threw that shit on the campfire we had going and it turned green and I passed out on your futon, that was fun. Second, I stand by my decision. Bastion is thrilling, great visual style, really memorable music and narration--and Peggle has once again claimed a half hour of my day, every day, especially now that, like all good addictions, Dual Shot puts it always within reach.

If you've seriously never played Peggle, you launch balls from the top of the playfield, aiming to clear the screen of orange pegs. Each stage is themed after one of the game's ten Masters, who lend you some kind of power (multiball, pinball flippers, automatic shots) to aid in clearing the level. It sounds simple, but it's the doinky physics, as you make bank shots to clear one hard to reach peg, and the sounds and how quick it all goes that it becomes habit-forming. With this port, I had my reservations about some initial visual choppiness, but aiming with the touch screen is ace, and the charm of the cast and quirky music is still very much here.

Peggle: Dual Shot isn't just a cute play on the DS' name. You're actually getting two campaigns here, the original Peggle and sequel Nights, along with the PC's challenge levels and some new ones. In addition, the score bonus purple pegs have been given a new benefit, that of a satisfying underground bonus level which can award you extra balls (and yes, everything helps when the levels get tough, so use them). About my only complaint with Dual Shot is that Nights is gated behind completing the original's campaign, so that one fucking puzzle at the end can lock you out of half the content. That oversight aside, this could just be all the Peggle you need.

Recommended for... maybe everyone, but people with DS flashcarts and TWiLight Menu especially.

Reviewed	My favorite part
September 27, 2025	The underground segments

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