1UP Impressions of the New N-Gage

We’ve been reporting on the new N-Gage platform for several months now after learning that Nokia intended to revive the name of its failed handheld device as a mobile gaming platform. Although only supported for a scant few phones currently, Nokia is expecting support to catch on as time goes on.

With sidetalkin’ a thing of the past, 1UP’s Andrew Podolsky got some hands-on time with N-Gage.

Many of these games use complex 3D and look much better than typical mobile games. The games that are rendered in 2D tend to have sharp visuals as well. Most N-Gage games can be rotated 90 degrees into a “landscape view,” which has the added advantage of allowing you to hold your hands on both sides of the screen, like a PSP or DS.

When held horizontally, you can easily reach buttons on the right side of the screen, which have been specifically placed for use during games. The comfortable feel of new systems like the Nokia N-81 cannot be understated, especially considering the problems the old N-Gage had with its form factor.

There’s still a lot of work to be done, and the particulars are far from perfect. With its Xbox Live-styled online service, there is hope that N-Gage might actually catch on this time. The market is certainly there, as Popcap knows from its experience with Bejeweled.