I've been a huge Picross fan for a while now. In fact, I'm that jerk who doesn't use the X's in order to up the challenge. But I had only played the free, mobile Picross, thinking it was so simple that there was nothing to be added in a premium price version. I then find Picross 3D: Round 2 with a demo, and my perspective totally changed. Adding a third dimension is already cool and original, but it's integrated so elegantly. It's inseparable from the 3DS, in that I can't imagine a more fast, fluid, and precise way to play it other than the button and stylus combo. It feels as natural as rotating a Rubix Cube in your hands. The gameplay is akin to its 2D Picross counterpart, but is brilliantly retooled to feel almost like "paint-by-numbers sculpting". Finding the form within is endlessly satisfying- which is good, because the sheer amount of levels feels endless! There are plenty of difficulty options to cater to any level of puzzler, even the hardcore type like myself. Visually, the game is clever in how it justifies the cuboid Picross squares, by simply making them look like physical wooden blocks! Additionally, there is a boundless variety of subject matter, from people who truly understand how to make simple look charming, rather than boring. That little penguin in the thumbnail explains it better than I can. Every single thing you "carve" even comes with its own little text description!

In conclusion, it's a game with a familiar yet inventive premise that does its job to perfection, and is a must play for any Picross fan!

Sadly, with the retiring of the 3DS eShop, the game is no longer available for purchase digitally; however there are still Japanese-only physical copies at good prices. It's still worth braving the language barrier!