Why You Should Own A Nintendo DS

[tay120n64]

So the idea here is to list out every Nintendo DS game that's worth playing and why. Mostly so Jason will go out and buy one instead of eating food (which is less necessary to live) but also for those who are looking for good DS games to play. If I missed any (which I did), be sure to add them.

Advance Wars (any)
-Strategy games taking place in an era of war. Gameplay involves moving units (soldiers, tanks, planes) across a field and into enemy territory with the goal of defeating the enemy or capturing their headquarters. Both are follow-ups to the Advance Wars series on GBA, which is itself a spin-off of the Japan-only Famicom (Nintendo) Wars series.

Animal Crossing: Wild World
-Similar in style to Sims and Harvest Moon, you are given a house that you must pay off and townspeople to befriend. Time takes a huge part as only certain things happen at certain times of day. Wi-Fi can be used to visit other people's towns and exchange items with other players.

Big Brain Academy
-A puzzle game which focuses on the brain's reactivity to stimuli in order to determine the intelligence of the player. Though it can be played solo, the game encourages competitive play.

Bomberman
-Classic Bomberman action. Gameplay consists of strategically placing bombs across a 2D field in order to destroy your enemies. Local play supports up to eight simultaneous players.

Brain Age (any)
-A collection of puzzles and daily workouts designed to stimulate the brain's ability to process information quicker.

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
-The conclusion of the "Soma Cruz Trilogy" that began on GBA; also the first DS Castlevania title. Lots of 2D Platforming-Action and exploration a'la Metroid. As the first DS Castlevania, it is most known for its innovative use of the stylus for spell casting.

Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
-An original Castlevania title for DS that utilizes a new "Glyph" system for special abilities. Glyphs are items that must be found then equipped, draining MP when they are used.

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
-Essentially the "20th Anniversary Special" of the Castlevania series. Lots of side-references to older entries and the classic Post-Symphony of the Night gameplay Castlevania fans have grown to love.

Children of Mana
-Part of Square-Enix's Mana series, which is known for its real-time Action-RPG gameplay. Children of Mana differs from previous titles with its heavy emphasis on dungeon crawling.

Chrono Trigger
-A remake of the SNES RPG classic of the same name. Features a re-translated script, FMV cutscenes from the PS1 remake, new areas to explore, and a new ending to achieve.

Contra 4
-A new spin on the classic Contra gameplay. Fast-paced, action-oriented, and very difficult.

Cooking Mama (any)
-A stylus-driven game in which the player is tasked with preparing various assortments of food.

Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen
-A remake of the JRPG Dragon Quest IV for NES. Features a re-translated script, 3D graphics, and all the extra content from the PS1 remake as well.

Dragon Quest V: The Hand of the Heavenly Bride
-A remake of the JRPG Dragon Quest V for SNES done in the same style as DQIV for DS.

Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie
-A remake of the JRPG Dragon Quest VI for SNES done in the same style as DQIV & V for DS. Coming in 2010!

Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies
-The ninth installment in the popular JRPG series Dragon Quest. Despite the strange decision to release a proper sequel on a handheld, DQIX was Japan's top selling game of 2009. Coming in 2010!

Electroplankton
-A Music-Rhythm game in which the player interacts with animated plankton and their enviornment to create music.

Elite Beat Agents
-A music-rhythm game starring a group of government agents charged with helping people in need. Gameplay involves dragging and tapping the stylus in time with the rhythm.

Estpolis: The Lands Cursed by the Gods
-Re-make of Lufia 2: Rise of the Sinistrals for the SNES. Coming in 2010!

Etrian Odyssey
-A Dungeon-Crawler RPG with a classic First-Person style.

Final Fantasy III
-Previously unreleased outside of Japan, Final Fantasy III is a DS remake of the NES classic of the same name, featuring with new areas and enhanced 3D gameplay.

Final Fantasy IV
-Previously released in the US as the SNES classic Final Fantasy II, this DS remake includes many of the extras from the PSX and GBA remakes, only now with full 3D gameplay.

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
-The sequel to Final Fantasy XII for the PS2, centering around Vaan and Penelo. Rather than classic RPG style gameplay however, Revenant Wings is a strategy game, playing very similarly to Final Fantasy Tactics.

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
-The sequel to Final Fantasy Tactics Advance for GBA, which was itself a re-imagining of the PS1 classic Final Fantasy Tactics. The game plays out in a manner reminiscent to a chess game in which characters are moved around on a grid-based field until they are in range to attack.

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon
-A remake of the first Fire Emblem title, which was previously unavailable outside of Japan. A Tactical-RPG with a medievil theme.

Fossil Fighters
-A Monster-Hunting game in which dinosaurs can be revived by digging up fossils buried in the ground. Once revived, the creatures can be used in various battles.

Front Mission
-A remake of 1995's Front Mission for SNES. A Tactical-RPG involving deep stories, unique characters, and mecha action.

Gardening Mama
-Similar to Cooking Mama but instead focusing on garden care.

Geometry Wars Galaxies
-A Shmup in which you pilot a neon shape and must destroy other neon shapes. Various challenges and Wi-Fi support make up an addictive shooter.

Golden Sun DS
-The third entry in the Golden Sun RPG series. Coming in 2010!

Guitar Hero: On Tour (any)
-A Music-Rhythm game which utilizes a four-button pad which attaches to the GBA slot on the DS and DS Lite. Gameplay is identical to console Guitar Hero games, with the excpetion of stylus controls.

Harvest Moon (any)
-A Simulation game that focuses on the life of a farmer. Gameplay involves maintaining the farm's crops, animals, house, and even the primary character's life.

Heroes of Mana
-Unlike other games in the Mana series, Heroes plays out as a Mission-Based RTS. Though it supports multiplayer, it does not support online play.

Hotel Dusk
-A Detective-Style game in which the player interacts with the environment to solve puzzles and riddles. Characters are animated in a noir-esque fashion, giving the game a very artistic feel.

Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days
-Chronicles Roxas' time with Organization XIII between the events of Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II. Gameplay is Mission-Based, and must be played solo initially, but can later be played with up to four players.

Kirby: Canvas Curse
-A Kirby title for those looking for a fresh bit of originality. Rather than the typical Platforming-Action, Kirby must be controlled entirely with the stylus by drawing rainbows for him to ride on and tapping him to attack.

Kirby: Squeak Squad
-Typical Kirby Platforming-Action, akin to Kirby's Adventure/Nightmare in Dream Land. Not very long, but hidden treasures in each level add a little extra playtime.

Kirby: Super Star Ultra
-A full-fledged remake of the SNES classic Kirby Super Star. Enhanced graphics and multiplayer support alongside new challenges. Considered by many to be the finest entry in the Kirby series.

Legacy of Ys: Books I & II
-A 3D side-scrolling Action game that is a remake of an old PC game from 1989. New features include a four-player mode.

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
-Innovative touch-screen controls guide the hero Link across seas and through dungeons following the events of The Wind Waker. A good title for those unfamiliar with the series to start on due to the low difficulty and exploration levels.

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
-A follow-up to 2007's Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks takes place in the "New Hyrule" and features trains as the primary mode of transportation. Though very similar to its predecessor, Spirit Tracks improves on the style in subtle ways, making it more accessible and less repetitive.

The Legendary Starfy
-A basic Platformer made by the same team as Super Princess Peach. Aimed at younger players, the game has few enemies and basic obstacles.

Lost in Blue (any)
-A series of highly interactive games focusing on surviving the harsh conditions of a deserted island.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
-Like other Mario RPG titles before it, Bowser's Inside Story employs a "Timed-Hit" system that allows you to dodge and counter during combat, which is unusual for JRPGs of its caliber. Also like other Mario RPG[i]s before it, the game is hilarious, and features Bowser as the central protagonist.

[i]Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
-Classic Mario RPG action with a time-travel twist. Princess Peach is captured by an alien race, and the Mario Bros. must team up with baby versions of themselves. Special attacks now involve up to four characters, which can lead to some complex and unique combos during battle.

Mario Kart DS
-Probably the last good Mario Kart ever. 32 tracks to race on with an all-new "Challenge Mode" and up to 8-player Local or Wi-Fi support. Classic chaotic kart racing action.

Mario Party DS
-An interactive Board Game of sorts with loads of mini-games and playable characters. High emphasis on multiplayer support.

Mega Man: Zero Collection
-A compilation of all four Mega Man Zero games from the GBA. Coming in May!

Mega Man ZX Advent
-Action-platforming gameplay following in the style of the Mega Man Zero series. Though technically a sequel to Mega Man ZX, it can be played as a standalone story. Easily among the best Mega Man titles ever released.

Metal Slug 7
-A gun-heavy 2D Action game similar in style to Contra.

Metroid Prime Hunters
-A spin-off of the Metroid Prime series. The main character, Samus, is controlled with a combination of D-Pad and stylus functionality. Gameplay is very similar to the Prime series, focusing heavily on FPS elements of exploration and combat.

Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits
-A puzzle game in which the player must drill through the ground under certain objectives. Air, which acts as a "life bar", can be refilled via capsules that can be collected as the player drills.

Namco Museum DS
-A collection of old Namco Arcade games including Xevious, Galaga, Galaxian, Pac-Man, Dig Dug II, The Tower of Druaga, and Mappy.

New Super Mario Bros.
-Really anything but "New", NSMB revisits the gameplay style of the original Super Mario Bros., only with enhanced graphics and movement. Not altogether difficult, but fun and pure.

Nintendogs (any)
-Take care of puppies of varying breeds! Raise! Interact! Love! Ideal for anyone who loves animals, and the undisputed king of the Pet-Simulation sub-genre.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (any)
-A court-based Simulation game in which the player acts as an attorney. Gameplay involves various court-based tasks, and occasionally some on-sight investigating.

Planet Puzzle League
-A Tetris style puzzle game in which blocks must be matched by color to be cleared.

Pokemon: Diamond/Pearl Version
-Classic Pokemon gameplay in a new land. Now with touch-screen features, Wi-Fi enabled play, new contests and missions, and compatibility with all five GBA Pokemon titles.

Pokemon: Heart Gold/Soul Silver
-A remake of 2000's Gold and Silver Versions. Coming in March!

Pokemon: Platinum Version
-Pokemon: Diamond/Pearl with enhanced features and new areas. Some "Legendary" Pokemon not in the previous titles also make an appearance, while others are now in different areas.

Professor Layton (any)
-A series of Detective-Novel/Puzzle games. Each game boasts over 100 puzzles to be solved over the course of the story which boasts superb animated sequences and voice acting.

Retro Game Challenge
-A tribute to classic '80s gaming. Complete challenges across a slew of different games ranging from Platformers, to Shmups, to RPGs. Many of the games are "throwbacks" to popular '80s titles such as Galaga, Ninja Gaiden, and Dragon Quest.

Rhythm Heaven
-An eclectic mix of mini-games similar to WarioWare but all focused on rhythm-based gameplay.

Scribblenauts
-Call forth random objects through an in-game dictonary that boasts thousands of outcomes to solve various Platformer-based puzzles.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor
-Part of the Megami Tensei series, Devil Survivor focuses on Mission-Based Tactical Role-Playing gameplay taking place in a demon-filled Tokyo.

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
-Part of the Megami Tensei series, Strange Journey harks back to the older titles with its dungeon exploration and turn-based battles. Coming in March!

Sonic Rush
-Classic 2D Sonic-style gameplay utilizing both screens and occasional touch commands. Features two playable characters with alternate stories.

Sonic Rush Adventure
-A sequel to Sonic Rush starring both Sonic and Tails after they have crash-landed on an island. Gameplay is very similar to Sonic Advance 2, utilizing a "trick system" to propel the character to new heights.

Space Invaders Extreme
-A re-imagining of Taito's arcade hit Space Invaders with bright graphics, eclectic sound, and alternate levels.

Star Fox Command
-A unique entry in the Star Fox series which mixes classic Shmup gameplay with Strategy. Characters are moved in a grid-based manner while on the map, and when a battle starts the game switches to a flight mode similar to Star Fox 64.

Super Mario 64 DS
-A remake of Super Mario 64 for the N64. This version features Yoshi, Luigi, and Wario as playable characters. While some of the original missions have been omitted to to the DS's lack of an analog stick, there are now 150 stars to collect (as opposed to the original 120), with several new areas to explore.

Super Princess Peach
-A basic Platformer in which Peach is tasked with saving Mario and Luigi. Action is much more forgiving than standard Mario titles, and is aimed at younger players, particularly young girls.

Tetris DS
-Arguably the greatest version of Tetris/[i] ever created. Nintendo themed variations include Marathon, Touch, Push, and more.

[i]Trace Memory
-A Detective-Style game in which a young girl named Ashley is attempting to solve the mystery of her missing father. Gameplay involves various forms of stylus-based environment interaction to explore and solve puzzles.


Trauma Center (any)
-Eccentric stylus-driven games with a focus on performing surgery to cure strange diseases and odd problems.

Wario Ware: Touched!!
-A series of random and quirky touch screen and microphone based mini-games that last in the range of 3-10 seconds each. Hilarious, fast-paced, and often indecipherable.

The World Ends With You
-An Action/JRPG in which you journey across the shopping district of Shibuya in Tokyo, Japan. Features a battle system in which you control two characters simultaneously, engaging JRock music, a cryptic story, and character design by Kingdom Hearts creator Tetsuya Nomura.

Yoshi's Island DS
-A sequel to the SNES classic Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. Gameplay is nearly identical to its predecessor, but with added playable characters: Baby Peach, Baby Wario, and Baby Bowser.

[Freedan]

I think you've nailed most of the essentials, but I'll toss in any (actually, all) of the Castlevanias.

Why is Elite Beat Agents not on that list?

The Phoenix Wright games and Hotel Dusk, for a more laid-back gaming experience that focuses mostly on story (involves a lot of reading).

Nice to see The World Ends With You getting some love.

[EverPhoenix]

give it a few months and the only reason anyone will ever need to own a ds will present itself.

POKEMON HEARTGOLD/SOULSILVER!!

[Lenc]

Castlevania DoS and OoE (didnt like PoR), Mario RPGs, Etrian oddeysey, Dragon Quest, Phoenix Wright, Mario kart ,Devil Survivor, FFTA2, Chrono Trigger, Hotel Dusk, Proffesor Layton and last but not least PLANET PUZZLE LEAGUE

A flash card with GB, GBC games (to bad they never perfected the snes one only a handfull of snes games play on it in fullspeed without glitches)

The Ds is a great handheld.

[psychokind]

tay120n64 wrote:

Chrono Trigger -A classic SNES RPG released for DS with new dungeons and features. Touch screen commands are optional, but enhance the experience seamlessly. A new menu system makes navigating easier. Same classic story and overall gameplay as the original.

enough. awesome rpg, new dungeons should be enough reason to buy

[tay120n64]

I didn't include Castlevania, Hotel Dusk, Trace Memory, Brain Age, Dragon Quest, Phoenix Wright, or Elite Beat Agents because I haven't played any of them. I put it together in a hurry, so I skipped the ones I didn't know much about. I may add them later for funzies.

[SoulBlazerFan]

I don't own a DS, but I do own a copy of Resident Evil Deadly Silence. While I haven't gotten around to the multiplayer aspect, the new version is pretty cool, and they've obviously added new dialogue to the came, as well as new puzzles and tougher gameplay aspects. Good game if you're a fan of the franchise.

Note: Based on the original Resident Evil for PSX.

[inferiare]

I'm going to throw out that no matter how much one might love the Lunar series, Dragon Song was TERRIBLE.

Elite Beat Agents is awesome, as is Hotel Dusk (I've been playing that on and off lately), and a really niche game I found called Time Hollow is pretty good. It's pretty linear, but the story is a good one.

[Miss Prime Blue]

I have a DS lite, along with zelda: PH, metroid and some other mario games.

I'm not sure if I want/need DSI though.

[EverPhoenix]

Miss Prime Blue wrote:

I have a DS lite, along with zelda: PH, metroid and some other mario games. I'm not sure if I want/need DSI though.

i think the dsi is quite useless. who needs a camera on their ds anyway? and removing the dual slot feature? stupid

[Miss Prime Blue]

EverPhoenix wrote:

Miss Prime Blue wrote: I have a DS lite, along with zelda: PH, metroid and some other mario games. I'm not sure if I want/need DSI though. i think the dsi is quite useless. who needs a camera on their ds anyway? and removing the dual slot feature? stupid

Hmm. This is true. I think i'll stick with my DS.

[tay120n64]

DSi is for people who don't have a DS yet. Don't upgrade.

Granted, I bought one, but then I'd buy poop if they put a Nintendo logo on it.

...
...wait...
...
...pretend I didn't say that.

[inferiare]

I'm really only waiting for the price of a ds lite to drop. I've got the really amazing FFIV ds lite cover + Rydia screen cleaner set to use, and I can't use it with my old original version ds.

[EverPhoenix]

rainichan wrote:

I'm really only waiting for the price of a ds lite to drop. I've got the really amazing FFIV ds lite cover + Rydia screen cleaner set to use, and I can't use it with my old original version ds.

pics plz

[Jason Tandro]

now that you mention it, why would somebody need a camera on their DS? The PSP allows you to connect a camera to it, via USB cable... but even that seems a tad superfluous to me. Like you're gonna whip out your PSP or DS and say "hey let's take pictures!"

Then again people criticized added cameras to cell phones. hell, the iPhone is just another example of technology run amok. Imagine if they had a bastard love child of PSP, DS, and iPhone.

Capable of Internet, Video, Music, Cell Phone, expandable memory, pictures, Apps, and on top of that it could play UMDs and DS cartridges... God what a machine that'd be. Make it Bluetooth Accessible and you've got a monster there.