Nintendo DS: My Stop Smoking Coach with Allen Carr

After creating your own detailed profile (up to 3 are allowed for) and “signing” a promise contract, you get to see how 6 experts give up smoking on a basic level with a few more detailed testimonials after certain sections. These pre-selectable experts also act as your guides throughout the entire process. The experts appear after Mr. Carr’s introduction to the game. You are able to choose which coach you prefer to work with from a list of 3 men and 3 women. These personal coaches, along with their own testimonials at the end of the game levels give you a unique insight into their personal journies as well as an emotional link from the game to the real world. The game is also fully customized based on your own profile information (e.g. your selected pictures appear in the game at the key points).

This game bridges real world connections with a simple stick figure character as well as the antagonistic little nicotine monster in a flip notebook visual format that uses both console screens to full eff4ct. Just when you think the game might be too ‘lightweight’, the impact hits. Even as a non-smoking player, this game really entertains with some amazing mini games included in the line up.

The game establishes emotional points about smoking through it’s own writings and text and visual effects, then you get some fast paced challenges and that incorporate the console’s touch capabilities very well. The “cake factory” and “catch-a-pearl” require quick hand and eye coordination and memory skills while the stop smoking message couldn’t be clearer in the more graphic, but cartoonish games like “monster chef” and “the dentist”.

Each mini game features an introduction tutorial video before beginning plus you get a 1-2-3 countdown from the friendly stick figure. We only needed more explanation on “nasty flood”, which requires quick reflexes to soak the nicotine monster and put the water in empty windows instead of just soaking the monster to win the level.

Each mini game also features a cigarette icon in the lower left corner during gameplay. Hit this icon for some in-game help, though you usually get a minor penalty for taking the easy way out (less time, etc.). Some mini games are hard initially, and they’re supposed to be to illustrate how that “little monster” can interfere with your life and good times. “Taxi driver” is probably the best example of this point, plus it ramps up the mental challenge.

The entertaining mini games also have a great impact and leave you wanting more…say 12 games for each of the six coaching experts instead of 12 for the entire game. The mini games are replayable after you play them once, regardless of your score, to unlock them.

Once you complete the game, enjoy viewing the benefits calendar every day for the first week, then weekly for three weeks. This mode is to keep updated progress on the smoking situation. Change the date to see the other benefit calendar segments. “It’s definitely easier to avoid a game than a real stop smoking coach, but we found this game very entertaining and informative,” says the stop smoking couple. “We don’t have to do this, but we want to, plus we can come and go as we like, which is great for our schedule.”

This coaching guide is effective (special recipes), entertaining (mini games) and educational (money saved), but as a game, My Stop Smoking Coach definitely leaves you wanting more mini games. The addition of some short testimonial videos or online/multiplayer modes might also enhance the game. Still, the new non-smoking couple plan to visit Carr’s website in the future for further real life success stories. Happy New Year and all the best success to stop smoking in 2009!

My Stop Smoking Coach is rated E (Everyone) by the ESRB for tobacco use.

10/10

Related posts:

1. Introduction to Allen Carr’s Easyway to Stop Smoking
2. Quit Smoking with Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)

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