Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief on Nintendo DS - an Exciting Extension to the Film and Book Franchise

You need not be an expert in Greek Mythology to enjoy playingPercy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief for the Nintendo DS. The game closely follows pieces of the film in typical Role Playing Game (RPG) style game play as you fill the shoes of twelve year old Percy Jackson in his quest to prove his innocence.

As a compliment to the film, in the game the player takes control of Percy; the typical school kid who is dealing with a lot of extra awkwardness and issues in his day-to-day life. Much to his surprise, and early on - just before things really start to get ugly, he discovers his escape from reality and his true identity as a demi-god. From there the action begins. The problem he faces? The one and only almighty Zeus, the greatest god of the mythological gods has accused him of stealing his master lightning bolt. The solution to Percy's problem? Recover the lightning bolt from the real thief and clear his name.

In the game, the player takes control of Percy in a 3D environment in third person perspective, while a floating camera covers the action. Throughout the adventure, both friends and foes from the story will be encountered, enabling the player to live the excitement of the film in the palm of their hands. Game play is based on battle sequences, and quests; both of which will earn Percy his much needed experience. As a typical RPG, the experience gained will result in leveling up, game progression, and advancement of player abilities. During the battle sequences, the player can fight with a number of different attacks which cause damage to enemies in various ways. The real strength of this system is the ability of Percy's friends to assist him in a fight, but not all at the same time. Players will need to strategize and select which combination of characters will cause the best damage for the situation at hand. Outside of combat, the game uses a helpful mapping system to navigate through the various locations.

While there isn't anything overly exciting or new in the game that doesn't already exist in the genre, the title provides a fun and casual experience that should strike young players as an enjoyable extension to the book and film franchise.

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (published by Activision) is now available for the Nintendo DS gaming system at the suggested retail price of $29.99, and is rated "E" for Everyone