"This is really difficult," says the elderly lady. Her husband with a glass eye stands a step behind.

"No, it's not you. Something's wrong with the DS," I say.

We're standing on a floor, built entirely of HD monitors. There must be seventy or so. A purple kimono quickly brings over another portable. She over-apologizes for the crapping out. Then, she explains to the elderly lady that there is a timer on the portable. We can only use it for twenty minutes. Then she gives a run-down of how DS Navi works.

Simply select a location in Kyoto (for example Kyoto Station), and then a bird will appear at your feet. Mine is a bluebird. The elderly lady's is gray baby chick-like pleasant. The bird will face a direction and start walking in that direction. So, if the bird is facing northeast, head northeast. The bird will continue to be a few steps ahead. The destination (in this case, Kyoto Station) will be marked with a circle. Walk to that circle and the bird will encircle the location and land. Music plays on your DS. You can even magnify the goal by pressing your DS. The monitor below shows a close-up.

Surprisingly, the elderly lady gets it, no problem. The portables may be crapping out right and left, but the interface is simple and clear. The elderly lady spends the next five tracking locations in Kyoto as her husband with a glass eye follows. One step behind.

The floor starts changing and fades to a night view.

Classical Kyoto materializes.

And then morphs to a lovely deep pink. One of the purple kimonos comes to the center and announces that we'll all be playing each other in a game. I look at the elderly lady and think, Grandma, if that's the case, prepare to be pwned.

Visit Kyoto [Kotaku]