Princess Isabella: A Witch’s Curse

7 cert, Gigii, Nintendo DS (also Wii) ***

It's supposed to be Princess Isabella's wedding day, but her castle has been besieged by a witch, rendering her family cursed. Bummer! So Isabella must defeat the witch and banish the evil curse. A helpful fairy speaks in expository rhetoric ("All these mirror pieces seem to fit – I wonder where they go?"). Many of the puzzles have a Where's Wallyquality, as in finding an obscure object hidden somewhere in a screen. Other riddles consist of matching objects to their locations, such as shards of a mirror to a frame. There's a fair amount of loading and saving for such a simple game. Princess Isabella: Witch's Curseis an acquired taste, but eventually I found it to be diverting and charming. With more than 40 puzzles and 15 levels, it's perfect for puzzle addicts and/or young kids who aren't spooked by gothic imagery.