Ode to the DS
I bought my DS back in 2005 in an anticipation of a long international flight.(Thailand to see my fiance Nong) I had no way of knowing that it would go on to be my favorite game system. Here is a brief review of the games in my collection which may be of interest to anyone who is thinking about buying DS or interested in expanding their collection.
The Essentials:
Super Mario 64 DS- This was a launch title and it proves that the DS really has all the power of a portable Nintendo 64. I never played the original game (except for limited hands-on time at a friend's house) This was a very enjoyable game, which exceeds the original by adding the option to play as other characters, as well as some supplemental mini games. The touch screen stands in for the analog stick, and while it is not ideal, it gets the job done.
Nintendogs - When the DS first released, display kiosks in stores were running a demo for Metroid. I was not very enamored with this demo. I found it confusing and non-intuitive. After nintendogs was released the demo kiosks switched to this game. I had the complete opposite reaction to this than I did to Metroid. Nintendogs was cute, simple, and immediately approachable, even to a beginner. The way you interacted with the puppies was intuitively obvious. As for the game itself: The novelty of the virtual pet does wear off eventually, and you are left with a game that is very repetitive and limited. Still, it is an essential part of your collection if only for the short term experience or to use a gateway drug for non-gamers.
Elite Beat Agents - This rhythm game is the Western adaptation of a Japanese game. They kept the same game play but swapped out the main character with a crew a musical helper "Agents" who dance to the rhythm of the song. The better you keep time, the more successful the struggling character will be in their story line that accompanies the song. The songs are good, the game play is addictive. This might be a perfect game.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - adventure games are well past their heyday, so that makes games like this a rare treat. Like Law and Order, you divide your time between investigating crime scenes and defending clients in the courtroom. There is a lot of text to read and the game is very linear... still, this game has a lot humor, charm, and fun and should not be missed.
Soul Bubbles - The first game I ever bought was a PC game called bubble ghost. Soul Bubbles is sort of a spirtual ancestor to that game. Unfortunately it has also been largely overlooked by many gamers. If I had to pick one word to describe Soul Bubbles I'd say "poetic". The game is beautiful and creative. The way the bubble flows through the various tunnels and environments does a great job of capturing this zen-like peace. The only flaw is that the experience is over a little too soon. Check this game out.
Kirby: Canvas Curse - One of the best things about the DS is how it inspires the sort of games that would never have existed on any other system. This entry into the Kirby franchise is one such unique specimen. Kirby is controlled entirely with the stylus, by drawing paths to guide him through space and tapping on enemies to knock them out. The short game is extended somewhat by making a host of items to collect, necessitating multiple play-throughs. Its one of the most original and entertaining experiences on the DS.
Legend of Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass - I remember being very intrigued by the original Zelda, especially the sprawling world maps and artists cartoon renderings of the 8-bit creatures that graced the pages of Nintendo Power. I never had the patience or ability to make it through that game. And I simply skipped over all the subsequent offerings. Judging by how much I enjoyed the Phantom Hourglass I may need to revisit some of those earlier entries. This game rocks! Its graphics might be the best I've seen on the DS, they are done in the same cartoon style as The Wind Waker. The puzzles, action, and story of this game are simply enthralling. Plus I found it very accessible as a newcomer to the series. The main complaint I have heard leveled against this game is that it repeatedly returns to this one challenging temple. Personally, I did not mind that aspect and I am eager to try the next game in the series.
The Essentials:
Super Mario 64 DS- This was a launch title and it proves that the DS really has all the power of a portable Nintendo 64. I never played the original game (except for limited hands-on time at a friend's house) This was a very enjoyable game, which exceeds the original by adding the option to play as other characters, as well as some supplemental mini games. The touch screen stands in for the analog stick, and while it is not ideal, it gets the job done.
Nintendogs - When the DS first released, display kiosks in stores were running a demo for Metroid. I was not very enamored with this demo. I found it confusing and non-intuitive. After nintendogs was released the demo kiosks switched to this game. I had the complete opposite reaction to this than I did to Metroid. Nintendogs was cute, simple, and immediately approachable, even to a beginner. The way you interacted with the puppies was intuitively obvious. As for the game itself: The novelty of the virtual pet does wear off eventually, and you are left with a game that is very repetitive and limited. Still, it is an essential part of your collection if only for the short term experience or to use a gateway drug for non-gamers.
Elite Beat Agents - This rhythm game is the Western adaptation of a Japanese game. They kept the same game play but swapped out the main character with a crew a musical helper "Agents" who dance to the rhythm of the song. The better you keep time, the more successful the struggling character will be in their story line that accompanies the song. The songs are good, the game play is addictive. This might be a perfect game.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - adventure games are well past their heyday, so that makes games like this a rare treat. Like Law and Order, you divide your time between investigating crime scenes and defending clients in the courtroom. There is a lot of text to read and the game is very linear... still, this game has a lot humor, charm, and fun and should not be missed.
Soul Bubbles - The first game I ever bought was a PC game called bubble ghost. Soul Bubbles is sort of a spirtual ancestor to that game. Unfortunately it has also been largely overlooked by many gamers. If I had to pick one word to describe Soul Bubbles I'd say "poetic". The game is beautiful and creative. The way the bubble flows through the various tunnels and environments does a great job of capturing this zen-like peace. The only flaw is that the experience is over a little too soon. Check this game out.
Kirby: Canvas Curse - One of the best things about the DS is how it inspires the sort of games that would never have existed on any other system. This entry into the Kirby franchise is one such unique specimen. Kirby is controlled entirely with the stylus, by drawing paths to guide him through space and tapping on enemies to knock them out. The short game is extended somewhat by making a host of items to collect, necessitating multiple play-throughs. Its one of the most original and entertaining experiences on the DS.
Legend of Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass - I remember being very intrigued by the original Zelda, especially the sprawling world maps and artists cartoon renderings of the 8-bit creatures that graced the pages of Nintendo Power. I never had the patience or ability to make it through that game. And I simply skipped over all the subsequent offerings. Judging by how much I enjoyed the Phantom Hourglass I may need to revisit some of those earlier entries. This game rocks! Its graphics might be the best I've seen on the DS, they are done in the same cartoon style as The Wind Waker. The puzzles, action, and story of this game are simply enthralling. Plus I found it very accessible as a newcomer to the series. The main complaint I have heard leveled against this game is that it repeatedly returns to this one challenging temple. Personally, I did not mind that aspect and I am eager to try the next game in the series.
posted by Geo | 2:31 PM
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