Ping Pals

 DS
  • Publisher: THQ
  • Release Date: Dec 8, 2004
Metascore
28

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 17
  3. Negative: 14 out of 17
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  1. 1UP
    10
    If it existed on its own, it would be mediocre, but as it stands it's completely without value. This is less a game to be played than buried in a landfill in the desert.
  2. Cheat Code Central
    30
    There is no reason in the world to own this product when "Pictochat" basically does everything at least, equally as well.
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Console Gameworld
    25
    If you're older than 10, spend your money elsewhere.
  5. DS Central
    40
    It offers an interesting avatar and coin system, an average instant messaging program, but not much else.
  6. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    5
    An abysmal failure. [Jan 2005, p.143]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. GameSpot
    33
    In essence, Ping Pals is "PictoChat" with a lousy personality, and there's absolutely no reason why you should waste your time with it.
  8. GameSpy
    20
    Unless you absolutely must look at a cartoon character while you chat, there's no reason to buy Ping Pals. Otherwise, just stick with "PictoChat."
  9. GameZone
    30
    Five mini-games aside, there’s no real gameplay value here.
  10. Gaming Age
    0
    All things considered, there's absolutely no reason to even contemplate the purchase of Ping Pals.
  11. GMR Magazine
    0
    It may go down in history as the least necessary game of all time. [Feb 2005, p.113]
    All this publication's reviews
  12. IGN
    35
    Regardless of its "additional" content it offers over "PictoChat," Ping Pals is easily the most unnecessary product for the system.
  13. Nintendo Insider
    39
    The biggest flaw here is conceptual -- Ping Pals has been rendered nearly useless with the superior PictoChat (as far as the messaging features go, anyway), and the shallow games do nothing to really boost the game.
  14. Nintendo Power
    56
    The touch-screen keyboard is very small, almost ensuring that you'll make a few spelling mistakes as you peck for letters. [Feb 2005, p.115]
    All this publication's reviews
  15. Nintendojo
    83
    The variety in creating your Ping Pal is immense and chatting with your friends hasn’t been this fun since AIM.
  16. NintendoWorldReport
    50
    Chatting with Ping Pals is completely functional, but manually typing text gets annoying quickly, and the more intuitive and fun drawing feature is simply inferior to "PictoChat."
  17. PALGN
    20
    Ping Pals is like paying for a trial sample of chips, you get the same thing, but you paid for it.
  18. Thunderbolt
    30
    If only more time were spent developing a more stimulating AI, or adding a better selection of mini games, then things may have turned out differently. But for what Ping Pals offers, you can’t escape the feeling you’ve been cheated out of your money.

Awards & Rankings

11
#11 Best DS Game of 2004
2
#2 Most Discussed DS Game of 2004
5
#5 Most Shared DS Game of 2004

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
3.8

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 28 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 28
  3. Negative: 18 out of 28
  1. KoolPatel92
    Feb 13, 2013
    10
    Seriously the greatest game of all time! I don't know what all these people giving Ping Pals a bad review are talking about; I think they areSeriously the greatest game of all time! I don't know what all these people giving Ping Pals a bad review are talking about; I think they are joking or trying to mislead you. If you are considering buying this game, DO IT! It is worth so much more than the prices I see it selling for. This game is better than Far Cry 3, Zelda Ocarina of Time, Pokemon, Halo, Metroid, and the entire Call of Duty franchise combined. No joke! It's seriously so much fun. You can chat with your friends if they are in range for you, and that isn't even the best part! You can customize your avatar with dresses and similar articles of clothing! SOMETIMES THEY EVEN HAVE SPECIAL DRESSES IF YOU STAY UP UNTIL MIDNIGHT!!! How cool is that!! There is also many minigames that will make you scream for more if you have to put your DS down! I hope that everybody gets a chance to play this fantastic and godly game, that has been sent down from the very heavens above. I will never need to buy another video game again, because I have Ping Pals!!!!!! Woooo!!!!… Full Review »
  2. sebastianali
    Nov 2, 2019
    3
    Quizá tenga bastantes desbloqueables, pero ese contenido no salvara al juego, debido a los pésimos minijuegos, horribles gráficos, bandaQuizá tenga bastantes desbloqueables, pero ese contenido no salvara al juego, debido a los pésimos minijuegos, horribles gráficos, banda sonora mala y el hecho de haber creado una herramienta inútil, ya que la Nintendo DS posee el PictoChat. Este programa tiene mas funciones que el Ping Pals, por lo que es un juego inútil. No lo recomiendo para nada! Es un robo!… Full Review »
  3. Ace:)
    Sep 20, 2006
    0
    The FIRST game I got on DS, I got it for free when I bought the DS a long, long, time ago. As I played it.. It just felt sorta The FIRST game I got on DS, I got it for free when I bought the DS a long, long, time ago. As I played it.. It just felt sorta time-consuming.. endless hours playing mini-games that suck. A lot. I only played it for so long because it was the only game I got.. And I had already beaten the Metroid Prime demo 500000000 times. It MIGHT have been better if it had Wifi, so we can caht over wifi.. That would be cool. But my phone is more entertaining. And I have aim on meh phone. yeah. awesomeness. Plus, more games with horrible graphics than this title. Hey, ive boguht more games on my phone than this game is WORTH!… Full Review »
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