Nintendo DS

[Calvinist4Him]

...is alot cooler than I thought it would be. I already owned an old Gamebody Advance, the model without a backlite screen, and several games like Castlevania Circle of the Moon, which is difficult to play without a backlite screen, because the game is set in a dark atmosphere. Not wanting to buy any hype, I checked out the prices of a new Gameboy Advance "SP" and compared them with the price of a new Nintendo DS. Somewhere in that time frame I learned that not only does the Nintendo DS have a backlite screen, but it can also play Gameboy Advance games. I noticed the price of the Nintendo DS wasn't nearly what I thought it would be, only $129 for the barebones Nintendo DS package versus like $79 for the barebones Gameboy Advance SP. For a difference of $50, I could play my old Gamebody Advance games on a backlit screen, and play the best Nintendo DS games. So I checked out the selection of DS games and noticed a few titles I was interested in including: Mario Kart DS, Super Mario 64 DS, and Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow. Then I noticed a new Nintendo DS bundle, the core system (in Nintendo red) packed with Mario Kart DS for $149. Not only would I get an exclusive color, but versus the barebones package, I would be saving money on Mario Kart DS (which comes to only $20 in the bundle package). So, I decided to order a DS, and the games I mentioned above, which were reasonably priced IMO ($34). So I received my order a few days ago, and I must say, I really am pleased with everything about the DS, and all the games I selected are great.

I give the DS two big thumbs up! If you've been waiting, wait no more!

[quaist]

Well, I haven't thought about buying the DS yet, because I kept my money just to buy the PSP. What do think about the PSP? Which handheld would win if you let them fight?

[CatholicSage]

DS all the way! If you want decent battery life, wireless multiplayer, fantastically innovative games, and a cheaper price tag, it's gotta be DS. I know I sound like a commercial, but I do highly recommend DS over PSP.

[furay]

I've had one since around launch time. The DS had the best year ('05) of all the gaming platforms out there. Here's what I'm looking forward to for 2006 so far:

Metroid Prime Hunters
New Super Mario Bros.
Final Fantasy III (Remade with sweet graphics)
The Rub Rabbits!
ASH
Tales of the Tempest
Children of Mana
Super Princess Peach (maybe)
Contact

[Calvinist4Him]

Well, I haven't thought about buying the DS yet, because I kept my money just to buy the PSP. What do think about the PSP? Which handheld would win if you let them fight?

I dunno about the PSP. The hardware is nearly twice as expensive, and the games tend to be more expensive. So far, I dunno of any "must have" games for the PSP. I'm sure there are a few descent titles, but for the price of the hardware, I couldn't settle for rehash after rehash, I would expect top notch games. And to me, when I buy hardware, I look for enough top notch games to justify the price of the hardware.

I'm sure it's cool to watch movies on the PSP, and although I havn't compared the specs, I imagine the PSP is clearly the better hardware. But througout all my years as a gamer, I learned that hardware is not where it's at. Fun games is where it's at.

[Calvinist4Him]

DS all the way! If you want decent battery life, wireless multiplayer, fantastically innovative games, and a cheaper price tag, it's gotta be DS. I know I sound like a commercial, but I do highly recommend DS over PSP.

I've now spent some time with all of the games I bought, and so far, I have to say I like Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow the best. I'm embarassed to say this, but it really is kinda cool how the touch screen 'wand' is used in the game. Obviously the developers had the exclusive features of the DS in mind when creating the game. So far, I'm thinking it's even better than Symphony of the Night for the PS1 (which I played all the way through).

Mario 64 was one of my favorite N64 games, and the enhanced reworked DS port isn't bad, but the controls take some getting used to because the game wasn't designed to play on the DS in the first place. You have to hold down a button to run, but of course that is because the DS lacks an analog stick. So running around is kinda like the old school Super Mario Bros. games where you had to hold down a button to run. In the case of Mario 64 where there are many more moves to perform, it can be difficult to hold down the run button and push the right combination of other buttons at the same time.

The DS Mario Kart game is awesome. So far I've played through the courses on the easiest setting (50cc). I've unlocked another character or two by going through the complete circuit. I've been working on obtaining an "A" on all of the courses in a circuit to see if I can unlock more tracks or other cool bonus characters. At first the game didn't seem to have much depth, but after spending some time with it, I see more depth, and the need to use the items to not only win (at a higher difficulty setting) but to get better times on the tracks.

[furay]

The DS Mario Kart game is awesome. So far I've played through the courses on the easiest setting (50cc). I've unlocked another character or two by going through the complete circuit. I've been working on obtaining an "A" on all of the courses in a circuit to see if I can unlock more tracks or other cool bonus characters. At first the game didn't seem to have much depth, but after spending some time with it, I see more depth, and the need to use the items to not only win (at a higher difficulty setting) but to get better times on the tracks.

When it first came out online was awesome. Now everyone and their grandma snakes so it's not so much fun.

[Philbot]

Now that I have my iPod, I have no real reason for my PSP. I'm thinking about selling it and getting a DS.

[Epoetker]

I've found that it's Atlus now that's making all the really odd games for it. They've made a lawyer game and an emergency room game already. I can see how the second one would use the touch screen, but what would you need it for as a lawyer? Convincing hand gestures?

[CatholicSage]

I've found that it's Atlus now that's making all the really odd games for it. They've made a lawyer game and an emergency room game already. I can see how the second one would use the touch screen, but what would you need it for as a lawyer? Convincing hand gestures?

I've been wanting to play both of those, but I haven't gotten around to it. Atlus deserves a rental for the games' amazing titles alone.

[furay]

I thought Capcom made Phoenix Wright.

[Epoetker]

They're almost identical, but for the fact that Atlus really loves RPG complexity, multi-tiered music, and individual anime portraits in 15 different forms for everyone.