Game Modes

• There are four different main modes to Ping Pals.
• Text Tool – Use the keyboard to chat with other friends online who also have Ping Pals.
• The keyboard was too small and it was way too easy to make typing mistakes.
• Pencil Tool – Use the stylus to write or draw messages to chat with other friends online who also have Ping Pals.
• The area to write and draw in was very small and did not have enough room draw anything well or to elaborate.
• Games – Select one of five games (three single-player and two multiplayer).
• Single Player Top 10 – This is a family feud style game where a character named Gemini gives you a category and you must name the top ten items in the category.
• The more items you get right the more coins you get.
• Single Player Hi-Lo – This is a game where you guess a number between 1 & 10.
• A character named Snakey rewards or takes away coins based on how close your guess is.
• Single Player Solo-Chat – This introduces a new character for you to chat with.
• Your only interaction though, is answering Yes or No questions.
• If they like the answers you are rewarded with coins.
• Snapshot – Use the stylus to tap this icon and take a picture of what is on the top DS screen in the chat box.

Gameplay

• The main goal of the game is to chat with your friends and update your avatar as you earn coins in the game.
• If none of your friends are online you can chat with one of the many characters in the game.
• The characters will only ask you yes or no questions and based upon your answers either reward you with coins or get annoyed and leave the chat.
• During the gameplay your can do the a few more things in addition to chatting.
• Shop at the Item Shop.
• Here you can buy Items like:
• Hair
• Hats
• Clothes
• Accessories
• Music
• Backgrounds
• Equip items at My Items.
• Here you can put on the items you have bought at the shop.
• Save your game.
• Change Options
• Here you can change options like:
• Text Color – Choose from 14 different colors for text.
• Sound Effects – Turn on and off sound effects.
• Music – Turn on and off the theme music.
• Backlight – Turn on and off the backlight to the DS.
• Data – Clear the game data.
• Snapshots – View pictures your have taken with the camera.
• Other than some mini games there is no real “Gameplay” for Ping Pals. 
• THQ could have expanded on the multiplayer games which would allow you to interact more with the friends you are chatting with.

Multiplayer

• Ping Pals is a game all about chatting with friends that also have a DS and the Ping Pals game.
• Two Games are available for multiplayer
• Multiplayer Doodle – This is a charades style multiplayer game where a random word will be given and other players must guess what it is based upon draws sent.
• You are penalized for sending text messages.
• Multiplayer Hot Potato – This game allows only the person with the potato to send messages to others but pass the potato before it explodes.
• Multiplayer Doodle and Hot Potato while entertaining do little to improve the multiplayer aspect.
• Multiplayer would have been a lot better if it would have been playable over the internet and not just in an ad hoc network.

Graphics

• Graphics are done in a cute anime style.
• The items such as hair, clothes and accessories are well done and give you many creative ways to make your avatar different.
• Graphics are pretty clean and simplistic given the fact that there are two avatars on the top DS screen.
• It would have been nice to be able to change more of your avatar’s features to make it look more like you.
• Eyes, mouth, face shape and skin color are un-editable.
• The graphics do show some pixilation due to the small size and the attempt at shading.

Sound

• Theme music is upbeat and peppy.
• Sound effects are mostly chimes and bells to let you know when you have a new message or if someone has entered the chat.
• The theme music after a while gets annoying and is best turned off.
• The addition of a voice for the different characters would have been nice.

Captivation

• The biggest drawback of Ping Pals is the ability to outfit your avatar.
• Ping Pals give you a creative way to talk to your friends who also have the game on the DS.
• But the DS comes with Pictochat which accomplishes the same thing and is not much of a step down from this game.
• The mini games are a fun escape from chat but aren’t something that you could spend a lot of time doing.
• Many things could have been done to make this game more interesting.
• More multiplayer games.
• Actual voices for characters.
• More ways to modify your avatar.
• Chat ability over the internet.
• Other than chatting with friends this game has no real gameplay value.

Final Thoughts

• The in game keyboard is very small on the lower DS screen which makes character selection a little difficult
• You will use the backspace key a lot!
• The option of choosing hair, clothes and accessories for your avatar is a nice touch and helps to make the game a little more personal.
• Even though this is a creative way to chat with friends, it’s not worth the price.
• There is not enough in the way of multiplayer games to make Ping Pals interesting.

Bottom Line

• If you want to talk to your friends that also have a DS use Pictochat; Ping Pals isn’t worth the funky avatars.