The developers going by the name of Renegade Kid have made it their mission to combine mature, atmospheric titles with quality 3D graphics on the Nintendo DS. In 2007 they released the horror action title Dementium: The Ward to generally favorable reviews, and they’ve returned now with Moon.

The moon in question is, of course, our moon. An alien structure is found on the surface of the moon and you and a team are sent in to investigate the structure. As always, things go horribly wrong, and it’s up to you to unravel the mysteries of your surroundings and also make it out alive.

Moon is one of the few first person shooters on the DS. The d-pad is used to move while the touch screen is used with the stylus to aim and also access tools and items in your inventory. Playing with this control scheme can be somewhat uncomfortable, but there is a hefty amount of auto aim going on to lessen the frustration of the shooting.

In fact, even though this game is a first person shooter, there is just as much exploring and puzzle solving as there is shooting. The puzzles themselves won’t make you sweat, but they do serve to add at least some variety to the game. The graphics are excellent for the DS and convincingly portray an atmoshphere of loneliness and dread as you make your way through the facility. The game feels a lot like older shooters such as Quake, Unreal, and Dark Forces. The feeling of nostalgia is nice, but at the same time it can feel a bit dull and repetitive after a while. This is truly an old school run and gun corridor shooter, and there’s not much thought required to make it through the action sequences. Just keep strafing and duck behind corners for cover in order to survive.

When all is said and done, Moon is a competent shooter made more impressive by the fact that it’s been created for the DS. There is little in the way of blood, though like I said before the overall atmosphere can be a bit creepy. It’s a bit of an acquired taste, and it won’t be a game for everyone, but for those looking for shooting action on the road, Moon is an excellent choice to spend your time with.

Verdict: Rent