Suskie's Pokémon Shuffle review

I actually bought my first ever DS model about three weeks ago (thanks to some gift money I had held onto since Christmas). I never had any intention of downloading Pokemon Shuffle despite the free price tag. However, since the game's icon magically appeared on my 3DS' home menu, I figured, "Why not? It's free, and I just plopped down $200 on a new handheld."

Suffice to say, Mr. Suskie, I'm experiencing the same addictive frustration with this thing that you are. I don't mind the downtime between heart recharges, the length of time between jewels, or the option to purchase in-game jewels with real-world money. I don't like having to grind to pick up enough coins to purchase disruption delays (preventing strategic interferences like immobile blockades and frozen pieces) and extra moves in order to complete a given stage. (For the record, Stage 90 was my first truly miserable battle).

My only other complaint -- and probably the biggest -- against Pokemon Shuffle are the timed "expert" stages. Since there's no apparent scoring bonus for linking up chains reactions from falling pieces, I'm starting to think success results more from "scratch the touch screen with the stylus as quickly and as furiously as possible" than "expertly planned chain reaction strategy".

Thanks for reading! I actually haven't been grinding for coins at all -- I basically just worry about winning battles with whatever I have. Like I said, it's not a grind-friendly game.

I think I struggled with 90 as well, and struggling is an annoying thing to have happen, since you've often got to put the game on hold for hours until you get another shot at properly resolving something.

You know, I finally downloaded this thing last night due to drunkenness and it is really fun. I can see me fiddling with it regularly, since as you said, each session only lasts a few minutes or so.

I played it a bit the other day while my wife was in surgery, and then again yesterday while I was waiting in the waiting room at her doctor's office. One of these days, I may even play it without medical professionals putting my wife through torture in an adjacent room. It's reasonably good thus far, anyway...

I make it a personal policy not to spend a dime on any free to play game, fearing that once I breach that barrier, there will be no end in sight, be it 3DS or Facebook or wherever. So I'm not playing a lot of Shuffle - I'm only at stage 195 >_>

I got stuck at stage 120 and then I got distracted with games I paid to play up front. I try not to spend money on free-to-play games, not because I'm worried about investing way too much, but because it removes the challenge that gives me any reason to play in the first place. Paying money in a lot of those games is like relying on a cheat code. A costly cheat code, but a cheat code just the same.

How many stages does this thing have? I'm at 150 now and thought I had to be about through it all until reading Sash's post.

With the latest content update I believe it's 200. Could well become more.