Magnetica

Yes, Magnetica is the Nintendo DS version of the classic arcade marble-shooting game *Puzz Loop*, both developed by Mitchell Corporation. The DS version was notable for adapting the original 1998 arcade design to a stylus-controlled interface. It brought the fast-paced circular track mechanic to a handheld audience.

Players use the DS stylus on the bottom touch screen to flick multicolored marbles at an advancing chain of spheres. By matching three or more marbles of the same color, the chain shortens and prevents the spheres from reaching the end of the track. The stylus allows for 360-degree aiming, making the gameplay highly intuitive and tactile.

The puzzle game was released for the Nintendo DS in 2006, shortly after the handheld console's successful launch. It was published by Nintendo, making it one of the early third-party titles heavily promoted to showcase the system's unique touch-screen capabilities. It launched alongside other innovative touch games like *Brain Age*.

Yes, the core gameplay of launching colored spheres into a moving line to create matches is incredibly similar to PopCap Games' hit *Zuma*. In fact, Mitchell Corporation claimed that *Zuma* heavily borrowed from their original 1998 *Puzz Loop* design. *Magnetica* is essentially the official Mitchell continuation of that mechanic.