The Nintendo DS does so many things right. Puzzle games have thrived on the system because of the added game play mechanics of touch screen controls and sometimes even mic support. Like puzzle games themselves, this formula doesn't get old.

Magnetica is an update to the eight-year-old arcade title, Puzz Loop. Although you have probably never heard of Puzz Loop, I am sure you have heard of Zuma — a game that is much like Mitchell Corporation's arcade game. It is safe to say that if you are familiar with Zuma, Magnetica will feel like an extension of your arm — literally.

Nintendo is also using Magnetica to kick off the Touch Generations' brand of casual games. The idea behind the Touch Generations' games is that anyone can pick them up and play, even with little or no experience with video games.

Like many ball/marble puzzle games, the objective of Magnetica is to match three or more marbles. Along the way you should be trying to make the largest chain combinations possible, too.

Instead of turning the launcher with one button, and shooting with another, you flick the marbles with the stylus. Thus, launching marbles is as accurate as you are, and is quite responsive.

Magnetism plays a part in the overall strategy, as you can use like colored marbles to move your marbles along the winding rail. Generally you want to push them back as far as possible, to give some breathing room.

If the marbles on the playfield make it to the end of the line, it's game over. There isn't anything more complicated than that. There are, however, enough different object and obstacle marbles to make the game stand out. Magnetica also features multiple launch points in some stages, and even mini-bosses.

Decelerator marbles slow the progress of advancing marbles, while Suppressor marbles will momentarily stop them in their tracks. You also need to watch out for Bearings, or null marbles, that need to be destroyed by eliminating a group of marbles next to them.

Magnetica is full featured, including four modes of play. Multiplayer mode allows for single-card download play, you can also send a demo of the game to a friend.

In multiplayer mode, your goal is to make combinations, which send bearings to your opponent's playfield, and thus, disrupting their game. This mode also features its own set of obstacles, or Attack Items. These include Ion Cloud, Black Hole, and Virus marbles, among others. You have to blow into the mic to dispense an Ion Cloud from obstructing your view, for example.