One minute you’re enjoying a summer cruise on a nice ship and the next you’re tossed into the fury of the sea as a powerful storm knocks the ship around. As you hit the water you believe that this is it, the end is here and that you will drown. Then everything goes black until you wake up, washed up on the shores of some sun-baked island surrounded by the big blue sea and the soft blue of the skies overhead. You’re lost, stranded in who knows where and for how long? This is the situation senior high school student Keith finds himself in and, as he (and us) soon finds out in Lost in Blue for the Nintendo DS, survival isn’t going to be easy.

After the initial shock that he is stranded on a deserted island, Keith comes to discover a cave and the need for drink and food. It isn’t until after he learns how to make a fire (we’ll get into that in a little bit) and spends the night that he finds another survivor. He meets Skye, a somewhat shy young girl who soon becomes dependent on Keith after he steps on her glasses. Unable to see very well, Skye requires Keith to lead her by the hand wherever they go together. Now instead of watching out for himself, Keith now has to watch over Skye. Then again, he also comes to realize that he needs Skye as much as she needs him. And so these two must work together in order to survive.

It’s this relationship that makes Lost in Blue such a charming little tale of humanity but this lovely concept comes at a price. You see, both Skye and Keith require food and water and rest and if they don’t have this they naturally waste away and eventually die. The problem is that they constantly require nourishment to the point that you can’t do much in this environment. You can’t go exploring too far without getting a message that says “She needs food badly” or “She’s getting really thirsty.” Walk around too long and the stamina gauge goes down so you have to rest often or sleep. The bad part is that Skye requires you to guide her by the hand to the nearest watering hole for water so that means you have to drop whatever it is you were doing and go back for her since Skye pretty much stays put in the cave when you go off searching for food or to go exploring.

At this point Skye must seem pretty useless but she isn’t. While Keith takes the role of hunter and gatherer, Skye possesses the ability to take pretty much anything edible and prepare a meal out of it. She performs wonders with just some seaweed, clams and coconut, often concocting meals called Surprise Seaweed Salad. You can even bring her spices which make the meal all the more nutritious. Keith is great at making tools, starting first with a primitive fire making tool to a spear and bow and arrows. All the items to make each tool are scattered around the environment so Keith can either shake a tree or search the island’s wooded area.

Thankfully Lost in Blue makes good use of the DS’s touch screen and even its microphone. When making a fire you’re required to alternate between the L and the R buttons to rub a stick until smoke arises. Then you’re asked to blow on the fire and that’s where you’ll be blowing into the microphone. Carry these out successfully and you have yourself a roaring fire. Want to search a tree for a coconut or the sand for some freshwater clams, well just rub the screen to shake a tree or rub the screen to clear the sand. Pretty inventive stuff. You’ll even use the touch screen for springing traps or chucking your spear. You can even go fishing and go bow hunting.

The good news is that after completing the game as Keith you can play the game again only now you’re assuming the role of Skye. As Skye you cook and even get the chance to domesticate a goat in order to milk it (this results in a hilarious mini-game where Skye is alternately pulling each udder using the touch screen to get milk). The bad news (aside from the fact that both characters demand so much attention for food, water and rest) is that Skye takes so long to cook a meal among other things. It won’t be a surprise if the more impatient gamer doesn’t abandon the game before it even reaches its end.

Graphically, Lost in Blue has its pretty moments and it has its rather plain ones as well. Either way we have seen better from the Nintendo DS but what is here really isn’t all that bad. The island itself isn’t a massive environment but it does look natural enough as does the wildlife and vegetation. As far as the characters are concerned, they’re just Ok. Really the best part of the graphics are the visual effects such as the roaring fire and the ocean waves.

Sound-wise the game’s musical score is a nice one and plays throughout the game beautifully enough. There’s even some voice work but it is reduced to certain words. While most of the dialogue is text you’ll hear Skye and Keith say “Goodnight” to each another as well as a few other words. The sound effects are not as prominent as the soundtrack. Aside from some wave sounds and seagulls, there really isn’t anything that will impress gamers.

Without a question Lost in Blue is proof that the Nintendo DS is capable of producing interesting concepts that make for a remarkable and innovative gaming experience. It is not an easy game to love and it might seem more tedious than fun at various times, but if you want to experience something a bit more unique then Lost in Blue is a game to try out. Be warned, though, this isn’t an RPG for the impatient so you might want to keep that in mind before renting or buying this one.

Gameplay: 6.9
Keith moves around awkwardly thanks to the poor control scheme but at least the touch screen is utilized in some pretty interesting ways. Survival is the key, of course, but both characters require way too much attention to allow you to explore the island without the constant reminders.

Graphics: 7.0
Bordering between just plain average and somewhat pretty, Lost in Blue isn’t a bad looking Nintendo DS game but it could have been a lot better. The fire effects look nice and in some area the vegetation looks excellent. 

Sound: 7.0
As for the game’s sound, well, there’s some decent music that’s played throughout the entire game and you’ll even find a word or two spoken aloud from both Skye and Keith. The sound effects are minimal but Ok.

Difficulty: Hard
And here we thought the Survivor contestants and the characters from the television show Lost had it tough. Constant managing of basic needs will wear down any gamer and tons of patience is needed during the repetitive mundane chores like cooking. Surviving this island is not easy at all.

Concept: 8.0
Cheers for the Ico-like relationship that makes Skye’s dependency on Keith almost endearing. Even more cheers for the interesting use of the touch screen and microphone whether you’re making a fire or digging for clams. Extra cheers for allowing us to play as Skye when you complete the game the first time around. Jeers for the inability to explore and carry on with the more fun tasks without constantly having to be reminded that the other person need rest now.

Overall: 7.0
Lost in Blue is a game that demands so much of your attention that it might wear you down in the end but it is still a game that shows us that the DS can be home to some interesting games.  This is a game that will seriously keep you busy but it does so dancing between the urge to survive and the desire to be needed. It’s a good game if you can get past its wearisome nature.