As a kid I would have been pretending the convention hall was being invaded by monsters that only I could see using the DS. Yet now I stand a jaded gamer with too many expectations of everything. I’m looking to see if this independent title is better than its horrendous box art. It’s hard to escape a first impression when it reminds you of a bad advertisement on the back of an old Nintendo Power magazine.

Yet playing System Flaw taught me something about the games industry. It’s an idea we all know deep down inside but refuse to acknowledge. Big money has a tendency to stunt creativity, or at the very least distract us from new ideas. Sure you get some great and fun titles with high production values, but only by relying on tried and true methods with few new concepts.

System Flaw makes use of the Nintendo DSi camera to interact with enemies. Monsters are placed over what the camera sees, meaning levels are based on difficulty and foe types like an old Atari arcade game. The background means nothing, and where you are or what objects are in the area have no effect on the game itself. However, the use of the camera isn’t based on what you see. It’s based on tracking three-dimensional space.

This is the first game I’ve ever played to truly get me moving around. While the Wii provides a nice illusion of real activity, System Flaw uses what you see in the real world to track distance and location. When an enemy appears on the radar you have to physically spin around to face them. Move forward or backward and the monster will move in closer or further away. The only controls are the left and right triggers for firing off weapons. Overall the game is simple and accessible.

Unfortunately the demonstration at VGXPO didn’t get into the real meat of the game. However, I spoke with the publisher and found it would include a number of features to keep it fresh. A variety of foes would appear as the player advanced, including one that will latch onto you until you blast it away by blowing into the microphone. There will be power-ups for better weaponry and much more frantic situations, keeping you moving as enemies close in from all sides.

The game can be found on Amazon.com and we’re told at other retailers in the near future. It is actually trying to make use of the Nintendo DSi features in a way that can combine hardcore and casual sensibilities, especially as an entry-level first-person shooter.

My recommendation is to buy the game. If you know someone with a DSi or have one yourself, then there is no reason not to grab it. If you don’t want to take the risk then ask Aunt Ruthy to get it for you on Christmas. A developer capable of making such a simple yet elegant game ought to be rewarded for their efforts. Especially if that game can make you think back to being a kid and how much fun you would have had with it.