The Suite Life of Zack & Cody: Tipton Trouble (Nintendo DS)

Based on the Disney television show, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, this video game tracks the antics of two boys who live with their mother in the Tipton Hotel. In the television show, the twin boys constantly wreak havoc and harass the staff at the hotel. In THE SUITE LIFE OF ZACK AND CODY: TIPTON TROUBLE, players can participate in some of the twins' zany adventures.

Play begins with a tutorial mode, introducing the game's controls. Gameplay combines puzzle play and simple platforming, with an emphasis on puzzle-solving. Players alternate between playing as Zack and Cody; players will need to decide which character to move at certain times to solve these puzzles. The objective is usually to flip a switch or move a box.

The game's graphics are wonderfully drawn and enhance gameplay. Players view the action as a sideways scroller, but characters can also move into and out of the screen on designated paths, which gives an illusion of more space. Players alternate between using the touch screen and the buttons to move Zack and Cody around. Using the touch screen is usually a cool feature of the DS, but in this game, the constant switching back and forth is cumbersome.

While the controls are generally easy to use, Zack and Cody sometimes appear to walk on air and are often stopped by objects that are not very close to them. There are some good design features, and the variety of puzzles is a plus. But the package as a whole just isn't as fun as the separate pieces, due to a lack of cohesiveness in the game. Ultimately, the game feels too much like a chore, rather than an adventure.