Mainstream RPG fans might be disappointed.

User Rating: 5.5 | Tao's Adventure: Curse of the Demon Seal DS
In hopes that the DS's many features would be taken advantage of innovatively (mainly the touch screen and the fact that it has two screens), Tao's Adventure was one of the first games I bought for the DS. Although they incorporated the use of the touch screen, it sort of feels like you're forced to use it when you can just as easily (if not more easily) use the directional pad and the XYAB buttons.

The gameplay is very simplistic. It's a little slow-paced and the battles really aren't that exciting. I think the best part of the game is the beginning learning process and adventuring around the land. After that, the game becomes tedious because there isn't much to explore anyway, and the trivial responsibilities you have in an RPG can be a chore in this one. A few examples of that would be:

1. You can't arrange your inventory.
2. You have to sell multiple supplies of the same item one...by one...
3. There's no quick save.

In addition to that, the way they make the player cast spells by actually drawing a symbol to summon magic is cool and innovative; but, I'll be honest, it sort of slows down the action in fights. Although some people might appreciate it, others who enjoy a faster pace might not.

The graphics in universal standards are below average.
In hand-held standards, they are mediocre (since we're comparing it to the PSP also).
In DS standards, they're pretty decent.
The sound is pretty good. The only complaint I have with it is the small soundtrack. The music gets repetitive.

Overall the game isn't that great nor is it that bad. I wouldn't really recommend this game to anyone, unless you're really... really... bored with Pokemon and Yu-gi-Oh.