so I want a game that will keep me coming back, which one

I haven't finished either, but the only reason to replay previous levels in either is to improve your time, which for me isn't very compelling. I'd say neither has much replay value, at least no more than your average puzzle (not falling block) game.

The best you can do is put it aside for a few months and then try again once you've forgotten the solutions. It's not like Super Mario Brothers where you can finish the whole game and then play it again immediately, still enjoying it. Not to me, anyway.

art style pictobits has good replay value since u can buy the Dark stages with the coins u earn in the game (the Dark stages are more difficult versions of past levels)

Boxlife is fun, but I haven't bought MFC yet so I don't know how it stacks up directly against it. I will say that Boxlife is easier if you play it regularly, but if you set it aside for a few days and go back to it (e.g. you haven't kept practicing) it's suddenly harder for a little while until you're back into it. I really like Boxlife, myself, but i can see how it might become boring to others.

re: irken004's suggestion... Boxlife versus Pictobits, though... Pictobits kinda disappointed me in that the levels aren't randomized. you don't start a level and eagerly await to see what it'll do this time; every play-through is the same, so once you've got a strategy in mind, that's it. it's got plenty of levels and the dark stages too, but without that random element, some of the potential challenge is missing. Pictobits definitely gets much love for the retro look, feel, and sound elements, though -- and the buying music to listen to is fun. In Boxlife's R&D mode, the puzzles are randomized (except for the first puzzle in each rank, which generally introduces a new pattern to cut out boxes), and then Factory mode is random re: where bombs appear and how the paper is shaped and such (i think re: the paper shaping) as it comes down the line. The look for Boxlife is cute and quirky, too, but as you earn 'money' you'll get upgrades for your little home area automatically -- there is no picking and choosing what to buy with your dough.

i haven't tried boxlife yet so i didn't know about the randomization

@irken: in order to perfect the last couple ranks in Boxlife, I started copying the puzzles down and solving them on paper so that I could solve them without being penalized... I noticed that only rarely would I see the same puzzle twice even through multiple replays at the higher levels (i'd have to play through again if i got a penalty on accident). Pictobits, though, I started getting bored playing through the same levels for coins (there's a couple that are more lucrative than others :3).

clever

I haven't tried R&D mode yet (still struggling through the other mode), so that is definitely good news. I don't think MFC has a feature like that, though. I remember the developers specifically commenting on replayability and saying that you could replay it for better times since it has ranks, but that doesn't appeal to me. I just want to finish the darn thing!

@irken: it's not like i wasn't solving them myself, after all... lol, i should post my worked-out solutions someplace for people struggling through.

@Adam: you realize you won't get promoted [read: unlock higher levels in Factory mode] unless you get through higher ranks in R&D mode, right? the higher your promotion you play at, the easier it is to earn more money. That's why I went through all that to perfect everything... i wanted that last promotion. :3

you should post those somewhere! it's a great idea

@Adam

I didn't realize you finally picked up a DSi; last I remembered you were still on the fence. Either that or I'm just confused and making things up. Anyhow, what have you found particularly enjoyable on DSiWare thus far, if I might inquire?

EDIT: more on-topic, I also agree that MFC is severely limited so far as replay value goes. I have zero inclination to replay the levels faster from memorization in order to get a higher rank.

Black Dragon, I don't even know what promotions are. I've unfortunately not played that particular Art Style much yet, but I plan to rectify that as soon as I complete a few other games currently monopolizing my time. I greatly enjoyed the few levels I completed in Box Life.

Yep, I got it about a week or two ago, Wario. On DSiWare, I downloaded Birds and Beans, Paper Airplane, Real Soccer, Mighty Flip Champs, and all the Art Style games. I've played all of the games a bit, most of my DSi time has been split between Art Style Decode and Dragon Quest IV (retail game, not DSiWare, first of the series I've played).

Decode is awesome. I've been stuck on the last level of Zerosum for awhile, though I almost beat it yesterday. The only game that didn't really grab me was the soccer game, but I only played once and need to try an easier difficulty. I guess I shouldn't have expected an Fifa 09 quality, but oh well, I'll give it another shot eventually. All the other games impressed me greatly and made me wish I had hopped off the fence sooner.

Unfortunately, I've been in an RPG / Strategy-RPG mood lately, so my DSiWare games may get the cold shoulder for awhile, but I play Decode or Pictobits for a few minutes each day, generally.

I have to say BOXLIFE since you can get alot of items for your "virtual home" in the "factory mode" (which is pretty much an endless type of mode), plus BOXLIFE also has a main game mode. However, Mighty Flip Champs is an AWESOME game, but there is little replay value after you beat all the levels.

@Adam: I think you may have had R&D and Factory mode mixed up in your comment before... you said you haven't tried R&D mode yet, and yet you say you've been 'completing levels' and that the only reason to replay is to 'improve your time', both of which are R&D mode features. Promotions come to play in Factory mode, which is what i thought you were playing, and that's why i brought them up. my bad. :3

I was playing the only mode available at start. Another mode opened up after, presumably the random mode you mentioned, but I only played it briefly before returning to the other mode. I then failed the level I was on for the first time, so I put it aside for another game. Some day soon I'll come back to it, and then all will make sense.

i like things that make sense :3

I think out of anygame so far. It would be Smash Bros. Brawl.
"No! Down aquateen. Down!"

oooooo! i love bird and beans! . if pop plus solo doesnt come out this week im getting boxlife
@theblackdragon Thanks for explaining boxlife more sounds super special awesome!

I don't know anything about boxlife. However MFC does get a little stale when you beat it because there's nothing to do. You can play the puzzles over again but it doesn't take any skill because you'll already know how to beat them.

MFC is the only download which I kinda regretted buying!
I have Boxlife so I can definitely say that it has the better replay value.
The factory mode is like coming in to work in a factory to see how many boxes you can 'pack'. I can definitely see myself doing that in months and even years to come.