“Lost in Blue 2”

Platform: Nintendo DS

Developer: Konami

FYI grade: C+

Just imagine the situation – one moment you’re on a cruise ship slamming back shrimp cocktail and vodka sours, then there’s a sudden storm and you wake up on a beach with only two coconuts, tree bark and a teenage girl.

Sound like an island fantasy or certain death? Regardless, developer Konami makes this fight for survival portable with their recent release, “Lost in Blue 2,” for the Nintendo DS.

Although there are no references to an open bar or buffet on the ship, the game still follows the classic stranded-from-a-shipwreck storyline that casts you as a teenage boy who awakes to find the only other survivor to be a similarly aged girl.

From this point on it is up to you and your partner to stay alive by finding fresh water, edible food and a cave to call home. This means you are constantly on the lookout for essentials such as food and shelter; and finding these requires strategy and problem-solving skills just to make it through each day alive. To monitor this, the top screen is used to display a health meter for each character that charts their overall status as a percentage – if it drops to zero, the game ends. Interestingly, a player’s health rating is affected by variables such as weather and food poisoning. With health under consideration, the bottom screen displays the expansive island environment in decent 3-D visuals. Plus, every task in the game can be done through the touch screen; whether it’s digging for clams or defending your turf with a spear – it makes the most mundane jobs become entertaining.

Although the game’s interesting blend of puzzles and interactivity may seem original, veterans of the series beware. For anyone who played the original “Lost in Blue,” it’s safe to say not much has changed since then – the island, scavenging and cooking have all been slightly expanded, but still feel similar. In fact, the only significant changes made to “Lost in Blue 2” are the fishing, the ability to fight off predators and the island’s natural disasters. Another notable addition is the multiplayer mode, which allows up to four people to compete in mini-games via single-card download play.

Honestly, who’s never wanted to challenge their friends to a DS goat-milking tournament?

Ultimately, “Lost in Blue 2” offers DS owners a polished package of 3-D visuals, challenging puzzles and unique game play. But even with the improvements, the game still lacks the firepower needed to make it a must-have sequel. Simply put, unless you have an urge to test your inner hunter-gatherer, it’s best to leave this one stranded.