Nintendo DS

[Fire in the Hole]

Then what's wrong with Minnesota? and Target?

Working at Target, I don't believe we've gotten any DS since Christmas. Maybe one shipment. And we get people asking about it almost as often as Wii. Not sure what the deal is.

[Bahamut]

So I finally beat that shitty Jumpin' Jack Flash song with Agent Chieftain and unlocked the Divas in EBA - shit this game was worth full price, and I say that about few games.

[Kureejii Lea]

So I finally beat that shitty Jumpin' Jack Flash song with Agent Chieftain and unlocked the Divas in EBA - shit this game was worth full price, and I say that about few games.

Shitty? Jumpin' Jack Flash is a gas.






*runs*

[Ero Elohim]

How can you not like Jumpin' Jack Flash? I know the EBA steps (taps? moves?) are a bitch, but the song itself is a classic!

[Bahamut]

How can you not like Jumpin' Jack Flash? I know the EBA steps (taps? moves?) are a bitch, but the song itself is a classic!

Well, I think that song sucks - the lyrics are pretty crappy as far as lyrics go (I'll even say worse than Rhapsody or even DragonForce), and just focuses on a catch rather than a concept. What most people consider "rock classics" is what I consider prime examples of commercialization of music that neglects the artform of music.


And so, I'm up to the final two songs in EBA with the divas. I'm impressed at the difficulty of the game - I didn't expect them to be able to ramp up the difficulty this high, although I'm a bit miffed at times with the taps being off-beat. It's a good thing this game doesn't screw around when it comes to difficulty, something more games need to do.

[Soma]

I just beat EBA on cruisin and breezin'. (Easy and normal) I started the game on normal, and got about halfwaythrough, got stuck, so i went and got to the last stage on easy. I figured i would never get through it. But today i beat it and also beat it on normal. Just starting hard with chieftan, and it seems really crazy. but EBA has one of the best learning curves i've seen, I barely thought i would beat easy much less normal and now i'm making my way through hard. Stupid question maybe, but in the credits i noticed a destinys child song that i didn't see in the game, are there more songs later on?

[Kureejii Lea]

Stupid question maybe, but in the credits i noticed a destinys child song that i didn't see in the game, are there more songs later on?

That's not a stupid question. There are nineteen songs total; three of them are unlockable so you may not see them during an initial playthrough.

[Bahamut]

but EBA has one of the best learning curves i've seen

I'm a bit mixed with the learning curve in EBA - sometimes it seems pretty good, but there are some jumps in difficulty that is pretty frustrating.

[KakTheInfected]

That's not a stupid question. There are nineteen songs total; three of them are unlockable so you may not see them during an initial playthrough.

And two of the three were terrible. That was a real dissapointment.

[Kanthos]

What is EBA like? Everyone here and elsewhere seems to give it good reviews. What kind of game is it?

[SirChadlyOC]

What is EBA like? Everyone here and elsewhere seems to give it good reviews. What kind of game is it?

Elite Beat Agents is a music/rhythm game (in the same genre as Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero). The player clicks the stylus on "beats" that pop up in sequences across the screen. If you still want to try it before you buy it, most EB games/GameStop or similar video game stores have demos available in-store. I would also highly recommend it as what may be my favorite DS game.

[Bahamut]

What is EBA like? Everyone here and elsewhere seems to give it good reviews. What kind of game is it?

The soundtrack to EBA is pretty bad anyway. Or do you mean the fun factor for them?

[AzureZeal]

I just checked in Nintendo's main site and it said that Hotel Dusk will be releasing out in three days. Didn't really know it was coming out that soon.

[Steben]

So anyone playing Phoenix Wright Attorney at Law: Justice for All?

I'm in the middle of the first case. I'm hoping the music will grow on me, because so far it seems like the only thing that's changed, and I'm not impressed thus far.

Still wondering if anyone else has picked this up.

Having played through most of the game by now, I've decided that (a) the music grows on you, (b) it's funnier than the last game, and (c) it's more challenging than the last game.

The only real beef I have with it is a few typos here and there, and a few pieces of evidence which should work at certain points of the case, but don't. For example, in the first case... (select to see slight spoiler) you are supposed to point out the boyfriend is a police officer, but it won't let you use the picture of his body with the police hat in view - you have to use his profile instead.

[Katsurugi]

Hey,

I just bought Trauma Center the other day and it's pretty fun. There's a lot of text that adds to the whole character development which is great since the writing is quality. But you could just as easily skip it all if you wanted to by pressing 'select' and go straight to the operations where most of them talk you through it (in the beginning at least).

But I have a little problem, I don't know if other people have trouble with this game or if it's my DS lite. Does anyone have any particular trouble with using the top 0.5 - 1 cm of their touch screen? It makes this one operation almost impossible. Usually, most games don't use the uppermost portion of the touchpad and I'm only now encountering it. =\

[Black Mage]

Hey,

I just bought Trauma Center the other day and it's pretty fun. There's a lot of text that adds to the whole character development which is great since the writing is quality. But you could just as easily skip it all if you wanted to by pressing 'select' and go straight to the operations where most of them talk you through it (in the beginning at least).

But I have a little problem, I don't know if other people have trouble with this game or if it's my DS lite. Does anyone have any particular trouble with using the top 0.5 - 1 cm of their touch screen? It makes this one operation almost impossible. Usually, most games don't use the uppermost portion of the touchpad and I'm only now encountering it. =\

I haven't noticed any such problems with my DS. It does stand to reason, though, that sensitivity might be a bit less along the edges, as it would be naturally harder to depress the screen film as you got closer to the sides.

[linkspast]

Try recalibrating your screen just for that operation.

[Ray Falling]

I just finished Yoshi's Island DS the other day but I still have FF3 waiting.

I can go to the end, but since you cannot save anywere in any dungeon, I keep feeling tempted to warp out and save the fact that I leveled up and all that. But then you have to go alll the way back up through the dungeon, maybe only to find out you're still under leveled.

I'm not liking the DS too much, because there arn't alot of games out in Europe that interest me..which is a shame. Sometimes I even regret getting it in the first place.

Most games are just really pick up and play for a few hours right? I prefer the long games that make me sit down for a long time.

[JoeFu]

WTF my local gamestop doesn't even know what Hotel Dusk is...

They don't even have the game in the system.

I really want to play it too.

[Ero Elohim]

Most games are just really pick up and play for a few hours right? I prefer the long games that make me sit down for a long time.

There's no reason to play a handheld for hours at a time. Sure, it can be done, but the systems aren't really designed for that in mind. In fact, a major criticism of the PSP when it launched was that the games were designed like console games: long endeavors requiring you to play for an extended period of time.

This works fine for consoles, as one rarely boots up their PS2 to play for 30 minutes or less, but it undermines the philosophy of a handheld. Namely, the ability to get a quick game in here and there when you're waiting around for something.

If you're looking for a long, indulging experience, grab a 360 or something. If you want a handheld that perfectly embraces what portable gaming is all about, the DS is the de facto choice.

[KakTheInfected]

WTF my local gamestop doesn't even know what Hotel Dusk is...

They don't even have the game in the system.

I really want to play it too.

I heard that most stores won't even get copies of the game. It's baffling why it isn't getting advertised more.

[KWarp]

I heard that most stores won't even get copies of the game. It's baffling why it isn't getting advertised more.

...budget?

[Soma]

I heard that most stores won't even get copies of the game. It's baffling why it isn't getting advertised more.

I didn't feel like scouting out a bunch of stores since EBstop wouldn't let me reserve it, since they didn't know what it was. So i preordered it off ebgames' website.

[Aninymouse]

I wanna get Hotel Dusk pretty badly. Hopefully there'll be some in stores tomorrow, since I didn't check today.

[atmuh]

Is it just me or does Justice For All have terrible music?

[Darkmetamorphasis]

Hmm, never really noticed it, just was too busy trying to figure out how to play the damn thing. Still sort of new to the Pheonix Wright games.

[Raziellink]

Is Jump Superstars/ Ultimate Stars worth looking into? If not, what game (that currently has been released) is?

[Ray Falling]

There's no reason to play a handheld for hours at a time. Sure, it can be done, but the systems aren't really designed for that in mind. In fact, a major criticism of the PSP when it launched was that the games were designed like console games: long endeavors requiring you to play for an extended period of time.

This works fine for consoles, as one rarely boots up their PS2 to play for 30 minutes or less, but it undermines the philosophy of a handheld. Namely, the ability to get a quick game in here and there when you're waiting around for something.

If you're looking for a long, indulging experience, grab a 360 or something. If you want a handheld that perfectly embraces what portable gaming is all about, the DS is the de facto choice.

Yeah exactly, and I should have given it more thought before I got it. Some games are still fun though, but a couple of hours of entertainment like that isn't worth 45 Euros. Oh well, i'll hold on to it in case the good games actually decide to show up in Europe.
I did notice however that I can put down the DS after a short while and just pick it up again later or the day after.
I could never stop playing if it were a (new) console game :)

[Katsurugi]

Is Jump Superstars/ Ultimate Stars worth looking into? If not, what game (that currently has been released) is?

My friend owns Jump Superstars. I will have to say that it's not really a complete gaming experience. It's just fun to have a giant brawl type game consisting of lots of anime characters. There's even a wiki about it that lists the characters (playable and non-playable). It really is kind of impressive how they could fit all of them into one game. But if you like fighting games, it kind of gets old pretty fast.

I don't know about Ultimate though, I would assume that they did make improvements on it. But, I don't know to what degree. If you're choosing between the two games, I would get Ultimate. For the meanwhile, just save your money. Importing games is expensive.

[KakTheInfected]

Hotel Dusk is pretty sweet. The dialogue doesn't puss out like it does in a lot of Nintendo-published games.

[Raziellink]

My friend owns Jump Superstars. I will have to say that it's not really a complete gaming experience. It's just fun to have a giant brawl type game consisting of lots of anime characters. There's even a wiki about it that lists the characters (playable and non-playable). It really is kind of impressive how they could fit all of them into one game. But if you like fighting games, it kind of gets old pretty fast.

I don't know about Ultimate though, I would assume that they did make improvements on it. But, I don't know to what degree. If you're choosing between the two games, I would get Ultimate. For the meanwhile, just save your money. Importing games is expensive.
Don't worry, i'm used to it. ;)

[The Damned]

There's no reason to play a handheld for hours at a time. Sure, it can be done, but the systems aren't really designed for that in mind.
There are as many reason to play a handheld for hours as there are good games. The fact that you just dismissed, or even were ignorant of such games, is where your point is flawed. I could give you a list of games that one could happily play all day, non-stop. But that list would read like a reading of a game library. There would be dozens, if not hundreds, of games from the GBA, the DS and the PSP. Hell, if you counted the older systems like the WonderSwan, you could drive it up even more.

And actually look at the portables. They were designed for long-term use. They took the weight, the balance, the shape and even the texture into account. When you hold onto something for any amount of time, it will put a strain on your fingers, hands and arms. Companies spend millions of dollars trying to make their portable devices (gaming or otherwise) as ergonomic as possible, because they know that people are going to be using them all the time.

And while there are some that say such and such portable is uncomfortable to hold... maybe they aren't holding it right? Most people found the DS Lite uncomfortable, because they were holding it like it was a regular DS.

On a side note, I have minor nerve and tendon damage from an accident two years ago, and I can hold a DS for hours and hours. If I can hold the damn thing with my gimped arms, what's preventing other people from doing the same?

In fact, a major criticism of the PSP when it launched was that the games were designed like console games: long endeavors requiring you to play for an extended period of time.
I've never heard about this. Cite something that backs this up.

Besides, the whole point of the PSP was too offer a similar experience of your PS2 at home, but small enough to take it with you. The thing plays movies, for fuck's sake. How can it not be intended for continuous use? The only real issue with long playtimes is the battery in the PSP. The DS can run for almost a full day.

This works fine for consoles, as one rarely boots up their PS2 to play for 30 minutes or less, but it undermines the philosophy of a handheld.
Bullshit. There are games that are intended for short burst of play. Wario Ware, for example. There are also X-Box Live Arcade games that are perfect examples of playing for a few minutes.

Also, there the price issue. A console game is usually ten to twenty bucks more than a portable game. And yet, a lot of console games can be played through in less than fifty hours. Some are even just over twenty hours. And yet, there are portable games that can go over fifty hours, easily. Not just RPGs, either.

Who here played Mario Kart DS, or Metroid Prime: Hunters, or Tetris, or Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops? Did you play it in short bursts? Or did you play it and play it and keep playing until you were too tired to keep going, or the battery died? I blasted through Mario Kart DS in day-long stints, because it was fun to play. I went online with Tetris for hours because playing against other people was fun. I maxed out the clock on Pokemon Sapphire because it was fun.

If your playing portable games that aren't fun enough to play for more than ten minutes at a time, you need to look for better games.

Namely, the ability to get a quick game in here and there when you're waiting around for something.

Unless it takes ten minutes for your home console to boot up and load a game, there's no reason at all to not play for only a short while. Hell, I played Twilight Princess for ten minutes the other day, just because I wanted to. I've played RPGs for a few minutes because I was bored. By your logic of portables and consoles, I'm some sort of heretic.

Any game can be played for any length of time. That's because games are meant to be played for any length of time. Sports games can be played for one match, or for a whole season. FPSs can be played for one round, or for a tournament. RPGs can be played for one battle or all the way to the next plot development. Puzzle games can be played for one game or for as long as you can go. It's not the hardware it's played on, it's the person that plays it.

If you're looking for a long, indulging experience, grab a 360 or something. If you want a handheld that perfectly embraces what portable gaming is all about, the DS is the de facto choice.
I've already said who consoles offer just as much quick-and-dirty gaming. But I do agree with getting a DS. Not because you think it's something to pick up and play with for a few minutes at a time, though. I say get one because of the large library of games, both short and long, that it has.

/rant

[KWarp]

Good Damned rant.[/pun]

I can't believe how good Phoenix Wright is. This game is sucking my free time away.

[Bahamut]

I finally beat EBA today with the Elite Beat Divas, and I feel great (bonus songs too). Great damned game.

[Katsurugi]

Yeah. Phoenix Wright is great. It's been a long while since I've played a game that made me say "I'll play until one more save point. Aww... it's time to go to sleep now." For those of you who have Justice for All, do you suggest it?? It seems as if there are some mixed reviews from several people.

In other news, I left my DS at home.. only to pick it up later this week. It feels so long from now... :(

[MajLink]

I finally beat EBA today with the Elite Beat Divas, and I feel great (bonus songs too). Great damned game.

I second that. Just have 4 more songs to beat on "Hard Rock" mode. I must have played that game for 5 hours stright only to find there was an even harder mode after sweatin'. Man was i happy that i could keep playing.

[CE]

I don't want to import more games since it's expensive, so I'm still waiting for EBA, PoR and JFA.

:[

I wouldn't buy them now anyway.

[Steben]

Is it just me or does Justice For All have terrible music?

Like I said earlier, I really didn't like it at first. It grew on me, though.

It's still not as good at the original, though.

Yeah. Phoenix Wright is great. It's been a long while since I've played a game that made me say "I'll play until one more save point. Aww... it's time to go to sleep now." For those of you who have Justice for All, do you suggest it?? It seems as if there are some mixed reviews from several people.

It takes time to adjust to the music, and the typos are a little annoying. However, the "lifebar" is fairly better implemented than the 5 ! system they had in the first game.

Case 3 of Justice for All is the best case out of both Pheonix Wright games. "You're the man now, doll!" However, I think Case 4 was the most disappointing out of all the Pheonix Wright games. It's not boring, or the worst, but it had a lot of potential that I feel was wasted.

[Soma]

i got my hotel dusk today from gamestop.com It's frozen up twice. and i've only played it an hour. It froze once right after you first get your hotel room. and the second time was after i answered the phone in my room. Hope it's not just my copy.. or worse my DS lite, which i've never had problems with. oh well.

[KakTheInfected]

My copy hasn't frozen once. You should take it back.

[XCloud419]

yeah i've heard that game glitched to my friend as well. like my elite beat agents copy glitches sumtimes when i play as the divas.

[Penfold]

Hope it's not just my copy..

lol, personally I would be saying, "I hope it's just my copy." I'd rather it be an isolated incident than all copies of the game being broken :p.

Anyway that sucks. Prince of Persia: Warrior Within was the only game I can recall playing at least recently that was really bugged out (it was almost unplayably broken the way it just kept freezing).

[Warmech]

I'm working on Case 3 in JFA right now and I must say, the twist at the end of Case 2 blew my mind at how cool it was.

[atmuh]

I'm working on Case 3 in JFA right now and I must say, the twist at the end of Case 2 blew my mind at how cool it was.

does the music stop being terrible?

[Warmech]

Nah but like that dude said before, it starts growing on you.

[Amayirot Akago]

I really need to finish PW1 already before I get spoiled to death about PW2.

[Katsurugi]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/25/technology/25game.html

I wish I could write for the New York Times... I think they need my expertise... as well as general awesomeness.

[G_D]

So, my DS has been collecting dust for a while now, and I'm looking to get a new game (I rarely buy video games, relying more heavily on Christmas/birthday...but unfortunately I didn't get any games for those occasions this year). The most recent game I have is MP:H. I'm looking for something with depth (not just mini-games or whatever), and something that'll keep me occupied for a while. Suggestions (suggestions not listed are also welcome)?

Possibilities:
Either Castlevania
NSMB
DQ: Rocket Slime
Hotel Dusk

Non-possibilities:
Diddy-Kong racing - It would have to be REALLY good to impress me
Elite Beat Agents - I'd like something with more depth

Neutral:
Phoenix Wright
Trauma Center

[Bahamut]

Supposedly Hotel Dusk is pretty hard to find even now.

And New Super Mario Bros.? That has less depth than EBA IMO. Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow can be hard to find, although you could always go for eBay. Portrait of Ruin is a great game though, but you have to be one of those gotta-collect-them-all types to get the most out of it.

[Kureejii Lea]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/25/technology/25game.html

I wish I could write for the New York Times... I think they need my expertise... as well as general awesomeness.

A game instruction says what to do with a Wii in “Smooth Moves.”

What a compelling and well-written caption!

They coulda used something like "Do as wii say, and as wii do."

[Katsurugi]

I agree with Bahamut on this one. You will spend more time with EBA than you will with NSMB. In your first runthrough, you can probably get through NSMB in in a couple of hours and in the end, it won't have too much replayability (much like the first SMB). I feel that it is done well, but you'll come back to it mainly for nostalgia factor if anything. Funny enough, NSMB comes with a bunch of mini-games that could entertain you and some other friends. It's very likely that this is one of those games that is opposite of what you described.

Phoenix Wright and Trauma Center are similar in that both have pretty engaging game mechanics and might be, in a word, intense. However, PW isn't too long and I hear that Trauma Center only increases its difficulty in the further levels almost ridiculously. So with those two games, either you'll end relatively quickly or you might stop due to frustration.

Go with either Castlevania games or some good old GBA RPGs (FFV or FFVI in Feb.)

[Oddllama]

ok, this thing is over 200 pages long.
When's Pokemon coming out?

[The Damned]

April 22nd, 2007. Expect the usual "pokeyman" comments, followed by the five millions copies sold a month later.

Sadly, I must refrain from buying it until I finish all exams...

[Black Mage]

I'm just glad that they're finally coming out with a normal PokéMon game for DS, none of this Ranger or Dungeon crap.

[Steben]

Nah but like that dude said before, it starts growing on you.

Nonetheless, no matter how many times you hear it, (SPOILER) Edgeworth's theme sucks. :(

April 22nd, 2007. Expect the usual "pokeyman" comments, followed by the five millions copies sold a month later.

Sadly, I must refrain from buying it until I finish all exams...

In a moment of weakness, I bought Leaf Green for $20.

I'll.. probably get Diamond/Pearl upon release. They'll have Wi-Fi, I'm sure, so I can be a PokeNerd and trade without actually letting any of my friends know that I play the game. D:

[Soma]

Those mini games in NSMB are pretty cool, i spent alot of time with them, or at least the ones that were included with mario64DS. Were they all exactly the same? I'd look but i traded in NSMB. I got EBA for christmas and i've beaten it on the first 2 difficulties now (i realize that's like nothing) EBA is one of my favorite games, definately my fav DS game. So i've recommended it for a few people to buy, since i got quite a few hours out of it. My brother purchased EBA and while he doesn't hate it he doesn't really love it. He says it doesn't seem that good, and "what's with all the stupid story scenes?" Maybe it isn't for everyone, but i thought it was a great game.

[CE]

How the hell could they make PW2's music suck? The first one was awesome!

EDIT: rofl

You roast meat over a fire by slowly turning the Wii over, or answer a phone by putting the remote on a table and picking it up at the right moment, or jump rope by standing with the Wii on your head and actually jumping.

[Warmech]

I think people don't like the music in PW2 because the music in the first one was just so catchy and whimsical. The second game has a more serious musical direction in the courtroom instead of the lightheartedness of the first game.

[KakTheInfected]

Just finished Hotel Dusk...and I really wish it hadn't ended. What a great friggin story.

[Avatar of Justice]

I think people don't like the music in PW2 because the music in the first one was just so catchy and whimsical. The second game has a more serious musical direction in the courtroom instead of the lightheartedness of the first game.

I kind of like the new music. It gives the courtroom this "batlefield" sort of feel that goes along with the general silliness of PW2. I liked the original's just fine and the new one is less memorable I have to admit.

[XCloud419]

Those mini games in NSMB are pretty cool, i spent alot of time with them, or at least the ones that were included with mario64DS. Were they all exactly the same? I'd look but i traded in NSMB. I got EBA for christmas and i've beaten it on the first 2 difficulties now (i realize that's like nothing) EBA is one of my favorite games, definately my fav DS game. So i've recommended it for a few people to buy, since i got quite a few hours out of it. My brother purchased EBA and while he doesn't hate it he doesn't really love it. He says it doesn't seem that good, and "what's with all the stupid story scenes?" Maybe it isn't for everyone, but i thought it was a great game.

EBA is a good game. I bought myself a copy and i bought a copy for my brother on xmas. Its that fun and sumtimes challenging. Especially with the divas, but then i figured that if you turn the DS upside down, its basically the same moves as Agent Chieftan(3rd difficulty). Yeah i need to get back and beat that game with the divas.

[Amayirot Akago]

Finally managed to get my hands on Hotel Dusk, gonna have a go at it later.

[G_D]

Thanks for the suggestions. Actually, the more I look at it the more I think Hotel Dusk might be closer to what I'm looking for. I was mistaken about NSMB, I guess. I never really looked into it much, and for some reason was associating it more with SMW than SMB.

I still don't know about EBA. I've played a couple short sessions in the store, and it just doesn't strike me as being anything I'd enjoy. I've heard a lot about it, but I'm still unsure.

Have any of you played Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime? I have a friend who practically worships that game, but I don't really know anything about it.

[Bahamut]

You may want to get Hotel Dusk simply because of its rarity, but EBA is easily the best or second best (to Mario Kart DS) DS game I've played yet.

[XCloud419]

You may want to get Hotel Dusk simply because of its rarity, but EBA is easily the best or second best (to Mario Kart DS) DS game I've played yet.

Rarity? now i GOTTA get a copy.

[KWarp]

Rarity? now i GOTTA get a copy.

#1 reason I buy niche games: I may never see them again.

[JoeFu]

Hotel Dusk is pretty awesome. I'm only on chapter 6 part 2 but the story is awesome and I can't wait to find out everything.

[Black Mage]

About how long does each chapter take to play? How many are there in total?

[NZman]

Just as I thought I was close to finishing EBA (I had B and A ranks in all songs in each difficulty), I get an S rank on a song. Seeing as how it took this long to get just one S, this'll take awhile...

I am actually having trouble re-adjusting to the lower difficulties after spending so much time playing as the divas. Amazing that I used to think those difficulties were so hard.

[Bahamut]

Just as I thought I was close to finishing EBA (I had B and A ranks in all songs in each difficulty), I get an S rank on a song. Seeing as how it took this long to get just one S, this'll take awhile...

I am actually having trouble re-adjusting to the lower difficulties after spending so much time playing as the divas. Amazing that I used to think those difficulties were so hard.

Yeah, I got some S ranks last night, including on Jumpin' Jack Flash.

[KakTheInfected]

Have any of you played Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime? I have a friend who practically worships that game, but I don't really know anything about it.

Aside from Hunters, that might be my favorite DS game of last year. No online multiplayer really blows though.

[Bahamut]

So, I got some more S ranks in EBA, and so far I'm up to Five Star Commander in the ranks. I'm wondering what's the highest, and not even GameFAQs lists all of them yet.

[KWarp]

So, I got some more S ranks in EBA, and so far I'm up to Five Star Commander in the ranks. I'm wondering what's the highest, and not even GameFAQs lists all of them yet.
My cousin got there I think. Hey says it's [Spoiler]Love Machine

I may be mistaken though.

[Warmech]

Like I said, I got up to "Hero's Hero" and still wasn't there yet. Once I beat Justice for All I'll probably start playing again though.

[Bahamut]

Alright, so I got the last copy of Hotel Dusk at Walmart today and played a little of it (gotta love having to seek out rare games :rolleyes: ). So far, the game seems somewhat sluggish to me, but I'm hoping it will pick up.

[Airwalker]

I'll.. probably get Diamond/Pearl upon release. They'll have Wi-Fi, I'm sure, so I can be a PokeNerd and trade without actually letting any of my friends know that I play the game. D:

I'm gonna buy it. And I am gonna let everybody know I am playing Pokemon. (I'd probably draw the line at using pokemon terminology in conversation.)

[The Damned]

I'm gonna buy it. And I am gonna let everybody know I am playing Pokemon. (I'd probably draw the line at using pokemon terminology in conversation.)
Bu-bu-bu-but... how will you get all the jokes and strategies that will emerge when we all start playing?

CM Cune has no weak! BP Ninjask dies to 1 SR on switch. Boah! BOAH! BOOOOAAAAH! McGraw!

[Airwalker]

Bu-bu-bu-but... how will you get all the jokes and strategies that will emerge when we all start playing?

CM Cune has no weak! BP Ninjask dies to 1 SR on switch. Boah! BOAH! BOOOOAAAAH! McGraw!

I think the line I was thinking about was if people asked me what I was doing--I wouldn't yell out "Just about to get a Master Pokeball to catch a level 45 smurloffachu." But rather, I'd say "Playing me some pokemon, PUNK." (or something to that extent.)

Buuuuut--I'm pretty sure I also don't want to know what you are talking about either--just for the sake of my brain's ability to function correctly.

[The Damned]

Well, it doesn't matter. What does matter, however, is setting up trades and battles.

In fact, there are a few interesting (and highly useful) things about online battling.

1. The game will automatically adjust your teams level to 100. So you can take you team of level 20-30, and still use them against a level 100 team. All the stats will be adjusted as well, of course.

2. Since the game adjusts the level, you can go into a game, check the stats, and perform IV calculations. The higher the level, the more accurate the results are. And at 100, they're perfect.

3. Disconnecting doesn't seem to count as a loss, so you can just do it over and over again. Sort of sucks when you're kicking someone's ass, though. I don't know if it will still count as a win for you.

So, since a lot of us are going to get it, we should update the OCR DS list, and try to arrange a little tourney, trades and IV checking battles..

[Steben]

Okay, I'll bite. What's this IV mess you keep talking about?

I mean, I guess I know a little bit about how each PKMN's temperment affects its growth... but that's about it.

Also, thank God that Nintendo decided to do that automatic-100 thing. I can assure you I won't be playing the game enough to level anything up past 70, much less 100. (I think my record back in the RBY/GS days was 60-something..)

[The Damned]

Okay, I'll bite. What's this IV mess you keep talking about?
The way the stat system works is each stat (HP, Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense and Speed) are determined upon the appearance of a pokemon (be it in a wild battle, an NPC giving it to you, or being downloaded from a special game function). Each stat is given a number value ranging from 0 (the lowest) to 31 (the highest). These are called Individual Values (although sometimes you will see Diversified or Diversification Values). Having an IV of 0 gives you the lowest that the stat can be, while having 31 gives you the highest it can be. Once said pokemon appears, the system randomly determines these, and are set permanently. They do not change under any circumstance.

For example, I have an Aerodactly that has both Attack and Speed IVs of 31. That means that both of those stats are perfect. And since Aerodactly here is known for its high Attack and Speed stats, this only helps it. Throw in some Effort Values on top of those, and you have its best two stats either maxed out or greatly boosted above normal.

Pokemon is really just a giant numbers game. Having that single extra point in a stat could make a big difference in a battle. Getting the right combination of stats, nature and moves is what most people end up spending all their time on. Well, that and leveling up.

I mean, I guess I know a little bit about how each PKMN's temperment affects its growth... but that's about it.
Natures (as they are properly known) affect two stats by 10 of their maximum. Most will raise one and lower another. Modest will boost Special Attack by 10%, and lower Attack by 10%, so it makes sense on something like Alakazam, but not a Machamp.

[Terial]

And then there are EVs... which are more imprtant in raising pokes than natures and IVs. just as important as your movesets.

A poke EV trained well will fair better in battle than a poke with 31 IVs in all stats with no EV training.

[The Damned]

Yeah, but if you're serious about your team, you go for all of them. Max IVs, right nature, good EV spread and even using PP Ups on certain moves.

If you want to just make up teams and try out different movesets and stats, try Netbattle. You can play against other people online (on your computer, not your GBA or DS. Netbattle is a fan-made program that accurately simulates the battle system. Not official or Nintendo sponsered in any way).

[chfuji]

More games like Hotel Dusk need to be made and/or brought stateside (and/or to Canadia/Britania or anywhere else that it isn't but should be). As soon as I found out it was released I dropped the 30 plus bucks over at my local GameStop. The clerk was super shocked that anyone even knew about the game. If the companies involved in the game can't muster a proper ad campaign, I say we, as the loyal fans of games that don't suck, should do our part to educate the masses. Show or tell folks about Hotel Dusk. If you work at a game store, or like to lurk at one, drop hints to prospective buyers. If this game, and whatever possible greatness is yet to come, dies before it even gets a chance, it will be hard to forgive the gaming community at large. How many other games have been so great, yet suffered poor sales? Too many if you ask me. Spread the love!

[JoeFu]

OMFG JUST BEAT HOTEL DUSK!! Such an awesome game. The story is one of the best I have ever read like ever. I'm going to have to beat it again just to get the best ending.

I can't wait to see what Cing is going to make for the Wii.

[Bahamut]

So, I've poured several hours into Hotel Dusk...and I'm quite impressed, although some things about the game really pisses me off. Good for gamers who just want to stroll through their games though.

[Warmech]

Just beat Justice for All. A damn enjoyable game indeed. Guess I need to find Hotel Dusk since FFIII is still pissing me off and I don't want to get into MegaMan ZX yet.

[Penfold]

Just beat Justice for All. A damn enjoyable game indeed. Guess I need to find Hotel Dusk since FFIII is still pissing me off and I don't want to get into MegaMan ZX yet.

What's pissing you off in FFIII?

[Katsurugi]

You don't want to get into Megaman ZX yet? All right... your loss. Anyway, I think I'm close to ending it. I finally picked it back up after leaving my DS at home for a week. :( What a long week that was. I guess I'll be changing my sig after I beat it afterwhich I think a lot of people might be sad.

I mean, come on! It's Megaman and he DANCES!!

[Bahamut]

Alright, so I beat Hotel Dusk today - the game surprised me, but I'm not quite sure whether it was worth $32 over at least two good books.

[Oddllama]

Yeah, but if you're serious about your team, you go for all of them. Max IVs, right nature, good EV spread and even using PP Ups on certain moves.

If you want to just make up teams and try out different movesets and stats, try Netbattle. You can play against other people online (on your computer, not your GBA or DS. Netbattle is a fan-made program that accurately simulates the battle system. Not official or Nintendo sponsered in any way).

Aren't they changing Sp. Attack/Attacks in the next game, so that it is not by element-type, but by certain moves?

[Warmech]

What's pissing you off in FFIII?

The final boss. Can't save for a really long time before you fight him and he kills me. Just made me turn the game off for awhile.

And I don't want to get into MMZX yet because I haven't played MMZ 2-4. I've beaten the first one but that's it so unless the story doesn't affect this game I don't want to jump into it yet.

[Smoke]

And I don't want to get into MMZX yet because I haven't played MMZ 2-4. I've beaten the first one but that's it so unless the story doesn't affect this game I don't want to jump into it yet.

Good news: You need about as much background from the MMZ series to play ZX as you need from the original MM series to play X1. Which means "pretty much none".

Although having played at least Zero 1 helps a bit in enjoying the references, and some characters will make a bit more sense.

[Warmech]

Ah, awesome, thanks!

[The Damned]

Aren't they changing Sp. Attack/Attacks in the next game, so that it is not by element-type, but by certain moves?
Yes, they are. The move itself determines what stats are used and affected. Before, it was Normal, Fighting, Rock, Ground, Steel, Flying, Ghost, Poison and Bug that were Attack-based, while Fire, Water, Grass, Electric, Ice, Dark, Psychic and Dragon was Special-based.

Flamethrower and Fire Punch are both Fire-type attacks, but Flamethrower is powered by Special Attack and Fire Punch is now powered by Attack. Alakazam used to do serious damage with Fire Punch, Thunder Punch and Ice Punch, but now it can't do jackshit with them. But now it gets to use Shadow Ball with its high Special Attack.

A lot of pokemon got screwed out of their most valuable attacks, and some get attacks that they don't have the stats to use them. The split really mixed things up.

But there are a few interesting twists now. If you have a pokemon with similar Attack and Special Attack, it can use one Physical and one Special attack of the same type. It you come up against a strong Physical or Special Wall, you can easily use the one that will do the most damage. But the drawback is that you will lose a moveslot for another attack, or even another type of attack. I only see a few pokemon really being able to pull this off.

[KakTheInfected]

Diddy Kong Racing kind of sucks...it's not bad, but there are some really stupid touch features that are tacked on. Trying to get a turbo-start is nearly impossible if you're right handed. Online looks promising though, especially since there is no snaking.

[The Damned]

Spore. On DS. And it's Official (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=12628).
Regarding both the Wii and Nintendo DS, Electronic Arts noted that the company has 15 SKUs in development for both platforms, including several original IP offerings. Confirmed titles in development for Nintendo platforms include My Sims for both the DS and Wii, Sim City, as well as official confirmation of a Nintendo DS version for Will Wright's highly anticipated Spore.
Well. Even though the sales and other popular titles like Mario Kart, Animal Crossing and Nintendogs secured the portable market for Nintendo, having not only Dragon Quest but Spore as well... wow. Is there such a thing as overkill in a console war?

[Oddllama]

Yes, they are. The move itself determines what stats are used and affected. Before, it was Normal, Fighting, Rock, Ground, Steel, Flying, Ghost, Poison and Bug that were Attack-based, while Fire, Water, Grass, Electric, Ice, Dark, Psychic and Dragon was Special-based.

Flamethrower and Fire Punch are both Fire-type attacks, but Flamethrower is powered by Special Attack and Fire Punch is now powered by Attack. Alakazam used to do serious damage with Fire Punch, Thunder Punch and Ice Punch, but now it can't do jackshit with them. But now it gets to use Shadow Ball with its high Special Attack.

A lot of pokemon got screwed out of their most valuable attacks, and some get attacks that they don't have the stats to use them. The split really mixed things up.

But there are a few interesting twists now. If you have a pokemon with similar Attack and Special Attack, it can use one Physical and one Special attack of the same type. It you come up against a strong Physical or Special Wall, you can easily use the one that will do the most damage. But the drawback is that you will lose a moveslot for another attack, or even another type of attack. I only see a few pokemon really being able to pull this off.
BTW, I really like this move.
It was too easy to predict and practically useless to bother with either SP or AT with pokemon.
Now, strategy will be more prevalent than just "I'm water time to raise special!"

[Oddllama]

New post for a completely different topic.
I just ordered a DS, Yoshi's Island 2, Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2, and Bomberman Land Touch yesterday.

I anticipate their arrival with great anticipation!

[G_D]

Spore DS confirmed. (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/01/ea-pledges-to-be-nintendos-2-spore-ds-confirmed/)

Discuss.

[KWarp]

Bit late to the party there. :P

DS > SNES?

[G_D]

Dang. It was lost in the Pokemon discussion, so I missed it.

Anyway, that's pretty good news for DS. I personally can't wait for Sim City.

Is there such a thing as overkill in a console war?

Not until the DS sells a billion units...

[The Damned]

DS > SNES?
In what regard? In sales, software, fun factor? The Snes had a lot of each.
Not until the DS sells a billion units...
According to Wikipedia, the DS has sold 35.6 million DSs as of December 31, 2006. Soooo, at that rate, it would take Nintendo 56 years to reach a billion units sold.

Yeah, even with Nintendo milking successful hardware for as long as possible, I don't see that happening. Unless there is a sudden, exponential increase in sales in the next couple of years.

[KWarp]

Yeah, even with Nintendo milking successful hardware for as long as possible, I don't see that happening. Unless there is a sudden, exponential increase in manufacturing in the next couple of years.

fixed

extra letters

[Black Mage]

Spore DS confirmed. (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/01/ea-pledges-to-be-nintendos-2-spore-ds-confirmed/)

Discuss.

YES! There is a god!

[bouncerboy15]

Spore DS confirmed. (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/01/ea-pledges-to-be-nintendos-2-spore-ds-confirmed/)

Discuss.
Woo hoo, more DS gaming goodness.

[Thalzon]

Bought the one copy of Hotel Dusk my EB had. A little slow to start, but it's hooked me. I must know the significance of all these people!

Hotel Dusk is only my fourth DS game, by the way.

[Bahamut]

Bought the one copy of Hotel Dusk my EB had. A little slow to start, but it's hooked me. I must know the significance of all these people!

Hotel Dusk is only my fourth DS game, by the way.

I ended up feeling Hotel Dusk was too much money for what it was. I rather would have spent it on 4 Agatha Christie mysteries instead.

[The Damned]

I think Hotel Dusk is more of a stylized mystery than a serious mystery. I mean, look at it. It's got a completely original art style for a game.

If they had a lot more time, I suspect that the story could have been a lot longer, or better. But as it is, it's still a decent game.

[Soma]

I love hotel dusk but haven't played it in about a week. I'm sorta kinda stuck.

SPOILERS AHEAD
>>>>>>>>>>>>>


I'm stuck on the part where you sneak into Jeff's room and find his dupe key of 215 and you have to get the paper off the lobby table and bust him. I've tried it a few times, and even tried doing it with a faq, think i just did something wrong before i saved it, and when i try to retry it makes me start a bit further back, so i always just reload my save. >_<

[mr.wholesome]

just got myself a M3 DS simply card and a 1GB micro sd card.
i predict too much fun for me and my ds in the near future.

only thing that irks me about it is that the battery life has dropped from around erm 15-20 hours play to about 8-12 hours play before the red light comes on.

Of course i just pulled those numbers outta my ass,but there is a noticable drop in battery life.

and ive not had much luck getting emulators to work
the snes one worked kinda but was quite broken(tested with megamanx)
the mega drive one is just knackered as is the nes. im guessin it must be incompatability issues with the sd card.

Anyway its opened a lot of games to me now.
very happy bunny :D

[Bahamut]

So, I just got back from an EB, and I heard good things about DKR DS - this EB employee says he normally doesn't like racing games either.

Just bought FFIII DS too, so comments on it later (after I finish my hw)

Edit: Funny you should mention the drop of battery life there - I noticed a drop in the battery life of my DS Lite. It could be from lots of playing though...

[Katsurugi]

Battery life is still okay for me. I haven't noticed anything yet, but I've only had mine for a couple of months... 4, maybe not even. I only really remember charging it about 3 times. So I charge it once a month? It only takes a 2-3 hours, I think... I don't keep track of it.

As for gaming news: so far almost done with Megaman ZX. I need to complete all of the side quests though that the NPCs give you. Then off to the place where you have the final battle! Then after that I should be playing Trauma Center.. but I've gotten to a place where I think I'll be stuck for a while, so I'll probably play some other game at the same time.

[Terial]

I wouldn't think your battery life would change that much... but the drainage of your charge definetly depends on what game your playing. You could play MegamanXZ and new super mario bros. all day long because of the low poly count. But you play FF III or Animal Crossing for about 10 hours and your battery's bout gone.

Regardless, the lite is sooooo much better than the DS phat battery wise.

[Kureejii Lea]

Dunno how valid this is, but I've always been told that such batteries' ability to hold a charge lessens if you don't let it deplete fully before recharging.

[Necrotic]

Charging a lithium ion pack is a conversion between different chemicals, but there are some irreversible byproducts which very sloooowly build up. Because of that, constant conversion of chemicals from a lithium ion pack lose more and more power every time you charge them. AND, if you charge your DS when the battery isn't almost completely drained you could totally be ruining the efficiency of your battery because those byproducts build up faster instead of the chemicals you need to create the charge. After a hundred charges you're definitely going to notice a difference, especially if: a) you didn't charge the battery before you turned your DS on for the very first time ever, and b) you constantly charge your battery mid-way through a charge, and c) you don't give your battery an opportunity to charge nearly fully whenever you do happen to charge it.

And yeah, what the DS parts have to push out should also contribute to the low battery life somewhat but definitely make sure you take care of your battery if you want to keep it in good condition.


-Nick

[Kanthos]

I have to go pick up a copy of Tetris tomorrow, as well as Final Fantasy VI Advance. My wife finally decided to try out my DS and loved it, so she's ordered a pink one from Amazon, so I get to get her Tetris. I'm pretty excited, since I've wanted to play games with her for quite a while. I don't think I'll be seeing my copies of Clubhouse Games or Mario Kart DS for a while though :)

[SirChadlyOC]

After a hundred charges you're definitely going to notice a difference, especially if: a) you didn't charge the battery before you turned your DS on for the very first time ever, and b) you constantly charge your battery mid-way through a charge, and c) you don't give your battery an opportunity to charge nearly fully whenever you do happen to charge it.


Oops, I failed on (A) and (B). I definitely noticed a loss in battery life.

[Golzernurf]

Damn, tons of awesome games coming to europe and I don't got the money. Elite beat agents, FFIII, Hotel Dusk, Lunar Knights, Starfox (is out now) and Yoshi's Island 2. I also wanna import FMA Dual symphony, and I thank god the DS isn't region locked.

[The Damned]

After a hundred charges you're definitely going to notice a difference, especially if: a) you didn't charge the battery before you turned your DS on for the very first time ever, and b) you constantly charge your battery mid-way through a charge, and c) you don't give your battery an opportunity to charge nearly fully whenever you do happen to charge it.
a) Oops.

b) I only ever charged after it died, or an hour or so once the red light came on.

c) Overnight, while I sleep. I have to assume the leaving it plugged in after it finishes charging has no effect on the battery at all, seeing how there is no current running through it.

But I still notice it dying pretty quickly these days... should I get a new battery (easy install, and I can always keep the other one as a spare if I need one, for some reason) or just go get a DS Lite?

$20 for a battery, be able to play GBA games without sticking out so much but still have a few dead pixels, or $150 for new everything, brighter and more colorful screens, but have GBA games stick out... decisions, decisions.

[Kaiger]

Weird. I'd always heard that Li-ion batteries lose their charge if you don't charge them often. I'm sure they aren't like Ni-cads, or maybe that was li-poly batteries. Anyways. I usually keep my DS charged and use it every day but usually not till the red light. When I go home for a weekend (Living in dorms) I can use it till the red light comes on (because FFIII is fun), and I'm sure I'm still getting 15 or so hours out of it. I've had this Lite since they came out.

*Edit*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_ion_battery#Guidelines_for_prolonging_Li-ion_battery_life

Not the best source, but I'll see if I can find a better one later.

[Necrotic]

Weird. I'd always heard that Li-ion batteries lose their charge if you don't charge them often. I'm sure they aren't like Ni-cads, or maybe that was li-poly batteries. Anyways. I usually keep my DS charged and use it every day but usually not till the red light. When I go home for a weekend (Living in dorms) I can use it till the red light comes on (because FFIII is fun), and I'm sure I'm still getting 15 or so hours out of it. I've had this Lite since they came out.

*Edit*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_ion_battery#Guidelines_for_prolonging_Li-ion_battery_life

Not the best source, but I'll see if I can find a better one later.

Seems I was thinking of Ni-Cd batteries then, bleh.


-Nick

[AzureZeal]

Haven't had the privilege of playing the previous spore game, so I might watch out for this title. Also, I'm enjoying Hotel Dusk. Neat little game.

[Ero Elohim]

Haven't had the privilege of playing the previous spore game, so I might watch out for this title. Also, I'm enjoying Hotel Dusk. Neat little game.

Please tell me that's a joke?

(P.S. WTF minimum character limit)

[The Damned]

Maybe... maybe he's from the future.

That or he's thinking of a completely unrelated game.

[mr.wholesome]

Might i add that i only noticed the big drop in battery life AFTER i started using the M3 Simply.Im probs gonna get another battery some time soon.

[Katsurugi]

Might i add that i only noticed the big drop in battery life AFTER i started using the M3 Simply.Im probs gonna get another battery some time soon.
Any software that you might use will definitely drop battery life. Not only does it have to run the game graphics, but also the emulation app as well. This is analogous to using Rockbox on an iPod if you wanted support for .ogg or other sound formats. Battery life definitely reduces in this case since the software has to be constantly used. It isn't some sort of loading program that only has to be applied once per song, but constantly when the song is playing.

Big drop? I should probably not get an M3 then. I wasn't planning on it, but my friends wanted to. I should probably at least warn them.

[Airwalker]

The DS battery life is awesome. I have the old silver model.

But, after having not played it for several months, I just picked it up and played around 12 hours over the course of a weekend without it ever going to red. I've had it since it was first released, and I have never had much problem with it.

[Bahamut]

I was playing a lot of FFIII DS last night, and the battery lasted me 5-6 hours before turning red.

[The Damned]

But, after having not played it for several months, I just picked it up and played around 12 hours over the course of a weekend without it ever going to red. I've had it since it was first released, and I have never had much problem with it.
As opposed to us that are playing it almost everyday since we got ours... Hmmm. I don't think that's a fair comparison. But then, that may very well be why it's so worn down.

Maybe a DS Lite as a graduation present for myself in May...

I was playing a lot of FFIII DS last night, and the battery lasted me 5-6 hours before turning red.
Yikes. I can't imagine that the game would be that big a drain on the battery. That doesn't seem right at all.

The Lite has differrent light settings, right? How much of a battery life difference is there when using the lowest and highest settings?

[atmuh]

So DKR is out today and I'll be getting it when I get home from school. I LOVED the original...so this had better be good. Also at my job I have a chance to win a DKR standee signed by Reggie, an ORIGINAL DKR strategy guide, and a new DS lite. All I gotta do is write a 150 word essay about why DKR owns...I am such a fanboy I may have a chance.

[Oddllama]

May have been covered already - I can't figure out how to adjust brightness settings (that I heard existed) in the DS Lite.

?

[andyjayne]

May have been covered already - I can't figure out how to adjust brightness settings (that I heard existed) in the DS Lite.

?
It's at the bottom left on the main menu thing (standard brightness icon).

[The Damned]

Here you go. (http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/ds/settings.jsp#brightness)

EDIT: Damn you, andyjayne, and your quicker posting.

[mr.wholesome]

Any software that you might use will definitely drop battery life. Not only does it have to run the game graphics, but also the emulation app as well. This is analogous to using Rockbox on an iPod if you wanted support for .ogg or other sound formats. Battery life definitely reduces in this case since the software has to be constantly used. It isn't some sort of loading program that only has to be applied once per song, but constantly when the song is playing.

Big drop? I should probably not get an M3 then. I wasn't planning on it, but my friends wanted to. I should probably at least warn them.

aah ok i understand now,thanks.
id say its something i can live with seeing as now i can play all the "backups" i ever wanted too.Mabye there are a couple of models that mightnot drain the battery so hard? Mabye.

[Penfold]

So DKR is out today and I'll be getting it when I get home from school. I LOVED the original...so this had better be good. Also at my job I have a chance to win a DKR standee signed by Reggie, an ORIGINAL DKR strategy guide, and a new DS lite. All I gotta do is write a 150 word essay about why DKR owns...I am such a fanboy I may have a chance.

Good luck man.

[Bahamut]

Wow, DKR DS is getting trashed by sites. I'll start on it when I beat FF3 DS. So far, I have to say this - if you can stand the old leveling up style in RPGs ala FF7, then it won't be a horrible buy, but I'd stay far away from it as long as it sports the $40 price tag. Of course, this won't stop those hooked on FF from buying it.

[Soma]

I got DKR today and i'm pretty impressed with how well it held up. It always was one of my favorite N64 games though. I've played about 4 matches online i think and seems to run pretty smoothly. And they took out the coin races in the adventure mode and replaced it with this on-rails baloon popping thing (remind me of the canoe thing in Zelda). anyway here's my friend code for DKR 356573814682. I know it should probably go in the clan DS thread, i'll probably post there as well.

[Power Surge]

Wow, DKR DS is getting trashed by sites.
Most game review sites have a bad habit of judging games (particularly Nintendo games) too harshly, especially as of recently. I own several games that scored in the 6 - 7/10 range on most sites, but said games deserve at least an 8 after I had a go at them. Rather than go by what they say, it's best to rent in case you have your doubts. After all, since when do the opinions of a single person or select group of people represent those of every gamer?

In the case of DKR DS, I can understand the touch-based challenges and the removal of sliding being frustrating, but it should more than stand up to the original in other respects: extra tracks, track editor, online multiplayer with up to 6 players at a time, etc.

[Penfold]

Wow, DKR DS is getting trashed by sites.

I dunno if I'd call 69/100 (http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ds/diddykongracing) trashing it, but it's certainly not a great score (then again, it was a similar score for Killer7 that kept me from getting it till last yr :(). I'm still interested in trying it, though the tacked-on touch control like getting the boost at the beginning of the race seems kinda dumb from what I saw. Btw, how is the track editor?

EDIT: How is Lunar Knights (http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ds/lunarknights) looking to you guys? I didn't play Boktai, but it looks like a pretty fun game.

[Bahamut]

I dunno if I'd call 69/100 (http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ds/diddykongracing) trashing it, but it's certainly not a great score (then again, it was a similar score for Killer7 that kept me from getting it till last yr :(). I'm still interested in trying it, though the tacked-on touch control like getting the boost at the beginning of the race seems kinda dumb from what I saw. Btw, how is the track editor?


I'd call that trashing when you got sites like Gamespot & IGN giving those scores. I still haven't played it yet, as I'm busy on FF3 DS first. I'll start that after though.

[Black Mage]

Most game review sites have a bad habit of judging games (particularly Nintendo games) too harshly, especially as of recently.

I think there's an expectation anymore that every new game is supposed to break all new ground in the realm of gaming, somehow. I've heard it dozens of times, "if a new game doesn't display some revolution in the world of gaming, then it is sub-standard."

[Czar Diego]

I wish EB had called me like they were supposed to to tell me it was in. Now I lost my reserve.

[MisterBiggler]

Just finished Hotel Dusk: Room 215. Pretty compelling story, compelling enough to toss aside studying for this cell bio midterm I've got tomorrow. I think I logged in about 20 or so hours, maybe longer. If my friend hadn't let me borrow it, I would have been worth my money. Either way, I thoroughly enjoyed playing this game.

[andyjayne]

The boss touch challenges on DKR are pretty bad.

[Black Mage]

Heh, I just realized that the DS does not accommodate the old, big, GameBoy cartridges. Good this I still have all my old GameBoys.

[Less Ashamed Of Self]

Just thought I'd mention; if you're in to cute platformers, that both Kirby Squeak Squad and Yoshi's Island DS are solid choices. Both deliver action much like their prequels, full of character, colour and fun...

BUT

If you have to pick one, defintely Yoshi's Island. I've probably put about 15 hours into Yoshi's Island and 5 into Kirby and, from what I can tell, Kirby's 1/2 done while Yoshi's sitting, more difficultly, at about 1/4.

Y Hello thar replay value.

[Bahamut]

The boss touch challenges on DKR are pretty bad.

Holy shit are they ridiculous. They are a big WTF.

So far I'm going to have to give DKR a big NO

[G_D]

Seeing as how I wasn't at all excited about DKR before, and now I'm hearing a lot of people say 'Meh' about it, I think I won't be getting this game.

On a completely unrelated note, does anyone know of even the slightest rumor of plans to bring Tales of Eternia to the US?

[Bahamut]

On a completely unrelated note, does anyone know of even the slightest rumor of plans to bring Tales of Eternia to the US?

Supposedly it was supposed to come out here on the PSP...but Namco has remained mum about it, which means it probably isn't going to happen. I'm just going to get Smoke to import it for me from Europe.

[G_D]

Dang, I can't keep them straight. I meant Tales of the Tempest.

Tempest, Tempest, Tempest, not Eternia, you dolt...

[watkinzez]

DKR's critical response seems unjustified to me. I'm sold on the online play.

[Bahamut]

DKR's critical response seems unjustified to me. I'm sold on the online play.

Well, I'm very annoyed at the single player. I don't have access to the internet with the game atm so I can't judge on that, but some of the changes is frustrating like the startup & the Boss Touch Challenge sucks so much.

[JoeFu]

Dang, I can't keep them straight. I meant Tales of the Tempest.

Tempest, Tempest, Tempest, not Eternia, you dolt...
I wouldn't even buy the game if it came out here. According to many japanese gamers who bought the game, it sucks and is very short. The game can be completed in 10 hours. It's a freaking RPG too.

[Bahamut]

I wouldn't even buy the game if it came out here. According to many japanese gamers who bought the game, it sucks and is very short. The game can be completed in 10 hours. It's a freaking RPG too.

Damn, that's short for a Tales game :( .

So, I'm up to the last boss of FFIII DS...and wow this game fucking sucks. The tedium towards the end is reminiscent of the shitty end dungeon of Lunar II: Eternal Blue, which ranks as one of my worst gaming experiences ever, along with the entire game of 7th Saga. Stay clear of this game if you value your sanity.

Also, Square-Enix is a whore for letting you buy Bahamut at the end of the game :( .

[andyjayne]

like the startup & the Boss Touch Challenge sucks so much.
Yeah, those two things are really my only problems with this game. There are some really cool additions such as 6 players in multi-player, the track editor, bonus tracks and then there's the stuff from the original.

[Ero Elohim]

So I picked up a copy of Lunar Knights when it popped into my store the other day. So far, I'd have to recommend it to anyone looking for a good dungeon crawl with depth.

Basically, it's the spiritual successor to the Boktai series. You get two characters, one powered by the moon and wielding the "Dark Sword" and the other powered by the sun and using the "Solar Gun." Each character gets multiple weapons that can be switched on the fly (ala Metal Gear style, you hold L and a little quick-change menu appears), which actually change your attacks and such. For instance, the first two Solar Guns you get give you the choice between a standard pea-shooter, fire one bullet at a time gun and a hefty bazooka-staff type weapon that fires slower, but does more damage and homes in. All of your weapons can be upgraded via item alchemy, though the result is a pretty boring attack power bonus.

Add on to this the ability to charge your weapons with elemental energy via beings called Terrenials and the boost in power you get with the Trance gauge and you end up with a pretty enjoyable hack-and-slash.

But wait, that's not all! On top of this, after every boss battle, you load into your "Casket Rocket" and engage in a touch-screen based rail shooter that actually succeeds at being quite enjoyable. I doubt it'll supplant anyone's love of Star Fox, but it's far and away better than the Gummi Battles of Kingdom Hearts infamy. During the rail-shooter segments, your Terennials give you additional weapons to use against your enemies. The fire one gives you a slow grenade shot, while the light element gives you a quick-firing machine cannon.

Finally, the game sports some really nice anime cutscenes, a load of voice-acting (bearable, though not the best I've ever heard), and bears the mark of Hideo Kojima's studio.

Definitely a game to consider purchasing.

(EDIT: Just for clarification, I've never played either of the Boktai games, so I have no idea how the game relates to those, except that I know you can link Boktai via the GBA slot into Lunar Knights and play with the Sun Sensor enabled. Otherwise, the game uses the in-game weather system to determine energy recharge and such. However, take this as a postive note, too: You can enjoy Knights without ever having touched Boktai.)

[Bahamut]

So, I'm almost done with DKR, and I change my initial impressions - it's much better than I originally thought, although the AI can be cheap as fuck.

One question though - anyone know where the other balloon(s) is (are)? Wizpig won't let me race him a second time until I got all the balloons and won the Future Funland trophy race, and I have the trophy and 46 balloons...

[KakTheInfected]

I actually got bored of Lunar Knights pretty quickly, and thought the space stages sucked too.

[Power Surge]

So, I'm almost done with DKR, and I change my initial impressions - it's much better than I originally thought, although the AI can be cheap as fuck.

One question though - anyone know where the other balloon(s) is (are)? Wizpig won't let me race him a second time until I got all the balloons and won the Future Funland trophy race, and I have the trophy and 46 balloons...
I've been keeping away from DKR DS for several reasons, mainly because of the touch-based stuff. I'm curious though, has sliding for the car really been removed? And for the plane and hovercraft as well? (in the case of the hovercraft, it hops instead of sliding)

As for the balloons, all I know is that there were 47 in the original.

[Bahamut]

I beat one of the single player modes (I still have Adventure Mode 2 to go), so I found the missing balloon - it appears they added a little puzzle which kinda sucked.

One thing I like is the addition of the coins - the game having unlockables definitely improves it, especially the ability to upgrade your vehicle. The touch boss challenges aren't so bad, although 2 of the 4 still suck completely. Right now I have the Adventure Mode 2 & the unlocking of T. T. left - holy shit does the hovercraft still suck ass.

They did remove the powersliding, but they still let you use R to turn sharply without losing speed, which is still key. Barrel rolls and somersaults are also removed as far as I can see too.

[mr.wholesome]

Just thought I'd mention; if you're in to cute platformers, that both Kirby Squeak Squad and Yoshi's Island DS are solid choices. Both deliver action much like their prequels, full of character, colour and fun...

BUT

If you have to pick one, defintely Yoshi's Island. I've probably put about 15 hours into Yoshi's Island and 5 into Kirby and, from what I can tell, Kirby's 1/2 done while Yoshi's sitting, more difficultly, at about 1/4.

Y Hello thar replay value.

Thats true, but i cant put down Kirby SS and im finding myslef only playin about 2 levels of Yoshi DS.

EDIT: actually i take that back about the controls feeling cheap,they're just didnt feel as nice as Yoshis Island

I loved the original yoshis island(who didn't?), but so far im not a big fan of the DS rendition. The controls feel kinda cheap,the music is absolute cheddar and the sound effects just annoy the shit outta me(HURGHMMMMMMMMMMM!!!).Also i find its generally too slow paced.

But then again im just basing this all off first impressions(haven't even finished the first world)

[Warmech]

So, I'm up to the last boss of FFIII DS...and wow this game fucking sucks. The tedium towards the end is reminiscent of the shitty end dungeon of Lunar II: Eternal Blue, which ranks as one of my worst gaming experiences ever, along with the entire game of 7th Saga.

Exactly. I presume the boss killed you too, so you get the fun of doing EVERYTHING over again?

[SmartOne]

I know it has probably already been talked about, but I don't have time to read this whole thread. Does anyone know anything about the DS shortage and when Nintendo will start meeting the demand? This is especially frustrating me because I got a DS for Christmas (a white one) that had a dead pixel. Grrr stupid green dead pixel. At the time I had no idea how hot of an item the DS was/is, so I decided to exchange it as soon as possible.

While I was getting a haircut, my mom returned my DS to Target before checking to see if any were available. Of course there were none, and the grouchy old return lady sent us on a hunt to a different Target store claiming they had 5 in stock. Wrong. This happened the week after Christmas. To make a long and agonizing story short, I'm out of a DS, have started Final Fantasy III and Yoshi's Island DS and cannot play them, and I can't play any of my siblings games either.

Oh and I have to get one from Target because that's where my dad works and I get a discount. So my options are further limited.

Suck.
Thinking about it makes me want to punch someone.

Got a new one today. Wow, they were sold out for a long time.

[Bahamut]

Exactly. I presume the boss killed you too, so you get the fun of doing EVERYTHING over again?

I *almost* died - I was one round of attacks from losing my last three guys, so I just decided to fuck it and go all out. Turns out that two of my party members died and the last one remaining dealt the final blow to the final boss so I massively lucked out.

[Warmech]

Wow...nice. I'd like to think I was close to that, but I can't say for sure. The damn Lightning/Photon Ray attack was just too much. Guess more leveling is in order.

[KWarp]

Thats true, but i cant put down Kirby SS and im finding myslef only playin about 2 levels of Yoshi DS.

EDIT: actually i take that back about the controls feeling cheap,they're just didnt feel as nice as Yoshis Island

I loved the original yoshis island(who didn't?), but so far im not a big fan of the DS rendition. The controls feel kinda cheap,the music is absolute cheddar and the sound effects just annoy the shit outta me(HURGHMMMMMMMMMMM!!!).Also i find its generally too slow paced.

But then again im just basing this all off first impressions(haven't even finished the first world)
I felt the same way about Yoshi's Island. It doesn't get better.

[mr.wholesome]

I felt the same way about Yoshi's Island. It doesn't get better.

:(
the more i play it the more im left thinking "why did u change that?" like the star spitting tulip sound effect,that owned!
and running across water no longer produces splashes,etc etc...

anyway enough bitching from me
not awful but not great.[/whinge]

[Bahamut]

So...does anyone know how to unlock Drumstick in DKR DS? I already unlocked everyone else.

[JoeFu]

:(
the more i play it the more im left thinking "why did u change that?" like the star spitting tulip sound effect,that owned!
and running across water no longer produces splashes,etc etc...

anyway enough bitching from me
not awful but not great.[/whinge]
Nintendo outsourced the game, that's probably why it isn't as good as YI. Though I haven't played YIDS yet.

[KakTheInfected]

For any importers...Bleach 2nd for DS is out. It's basically the same thing as the first game but with characters from the newer manga chapters.

[andyjayne]

So...does anyone know how to unlock Drumstick in DKR DS? I already unlocked everyone else.
SPOILER






Scroll to reveal------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->It's another gimmicky touch thing. Basically in the main area of the adventure mode there is a set of platforms going up in steps with a green frog-like shape at the top. You have to throw a frog onto the top platform and then a "drumstick frog" will jump down. Run over the drumstick frog and you'll unlock drumstick.







/SPOILER

[Citris]

I *almost* died - I was one round of attacks from losing my last three guys, so I just decided to fuck it and go all out. Turns out that two of my party members died and the last one remaining dealt the final blow to the final boss so I massively lucked out.
I'm almost there again. I restarted because my fiance got a copy for her birthday. She was at the end too on my cart, so I decided to play on the new one.

I love boss battles like that. Paper Mario 2 ended that way and I've never felt so...exhilarated after beating a boss. I can't wait to beat Final Fantasy III.

[BlueMage]

Anyone played the Sudoku game that's been released for DS? And if so, is it worth the 50AUD I'd be paying for it?

[Bobwillis]

You could buy at least 5 books filled with sudoku puzzles for that much GP.

[Warmech]

In my quest to totally beat EBA, I've gotten 'S' ranks on all of J's stages, and have about five more to get on Chieftain's. After that, I'll get Spin's and save the Divas for last.

And getting Commander Kahn to replace the lead diva is worth it. Quite hilarious.

[Bahamut]

In my quest to totally beat EBA, I've gotten 'S' ranks on all of J's stages, and have about five more to get on Chieftain's. After that, I'll get Spin's and save the Divas for last.

And getting Commander Kahn to replace the lead diva is worth it. Quite hilarious.

Wow...that's hardcore.

[KWarp]

And getting Commander Kahn to replace the lead diva is worth it. Quite hilarious.

..I need to unlock that.

[Bahamut]

I'm almost there again. I restarted because my fiance got a copy for her birthday. She was at the end too on my cart, so I decided to play on the new one.

I love boss battles like that. Paper Mario 2 ended that way and I've never felt so...exhilarated after beating a boss. I can't wait to beat Final Fantasy III.

I don't mind boss battles like that but...if they erase 2+ hours of gaming with no possible way to save in between that's some bullshit

[Kureejii Lea]

In my quest to totally beat EBA, I've gotten 'S' ranks on all of J's stages, and have about five more to get on Chieftain's. After that, I'll get Spin's and save the Divas for last.

And getting Commander Kahn to replace the lead diva is worth it. Quite hilarious.

I thought you only needed to complete all songs (regardless of rank) on all difficulties for that? I'm a handful of hit markers away from beating JFF with the Divas...

[Bahamut]

I thought you only needed to complete all songs (regardless of rank) on all difficulties for that? I'm a handful of hit markers away from beating JFF with the Divas...

Those last few are a bitch - you just gotta get used to tapping faster than ever. Once you beat it though every song suddenly feels pretty easy though.

[KWarp]

Those last few are a bitch - you just gotta get used to tapping faster than ever. Once you beat it though every song suddenly feels pretty easy though.
Until you get those moments when you tap too lightly for the screen to detect. #$%&!

[Warmech]

Lea, yeah all you have to do to get Kahn is beat all four level's stages. Sorry for the confusion.

I swear, it's actually easier to get 'S' ranks on the more difficult ones like 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' or 'ABC' or 'Survivor' simply because there are so many markers to hit you can get about 20 or so 100 hits and still score an 'S'.

[Kureejii Lea]

Well, I tried again today... I was about to say "screw it" when I failed on the 14th hit of the last set of 15 hit markers, but then I tried one more time and while it didn't go too impressively (I knew I could have done a lot better in the earlier sections), I beat it with an A.

I can't tell whether Kahn is hilarious or scary.

[KWarp]

The storyline in Diddy Kong Racing is fundamentally flawed:
why did taj have all the balloons?
If wizpig was terrorizing the island and all the animals were fighting him, why did they then compete against each other to get the balloons rather than working together?
If they were that important for getting wizpig to leave, why didn't taj just give them to diddy and his friends?
The stats for all three kongs in the DS version are terribly poor and worse than the original characters - so why did they even send for diddy's help in the first place?

and all the stuff that taj did seemed to coincide with wizpig's plan.. we speculated that they're actually working together and that it's really some kind of sick game to see all the little furry things compete against each other, they're probably in wigpig's spaceship watching the races, guffawing with glee
.

[DrEw.]

A racing game with bad plot?

[Ab56 v2 aka Ash]

Say it ain't so!!

[Katsurugi]

Racing games hardly have good plots, just like fighting games. I really don't think it's something you have to put against a racing or fighting game nowadays. It's always been less important versus the mechanics of the game but as long as there are no contradictions or holes, then I'm perfectly fine with it.

Does anyone have any good prospects for upcoming DS games? Right now, the upcoming games list posted on Gamefaqs doesn't look too appetizing. Most of them sound like horrible titles. But then again, the popular systems usually get a lot of them just to ensure some number of sales. Apparently, there's a frisbee game that's coming out in March or something. I'm probably in the minority if I say the concept interests me, but I'm almost positive that it won't really target the hardcore ultimate frisbee player and that disappoints me.

[Graycascade]

I mentioned this in the Wii forum, but ultimate frisbee on the Wii could potentially be nine kinds of sweet.

[Soma]

Racing games hardly have good plots, just like fighting games. I really don't think it's something you have to put against a racing or fighting game nowadays. It's always been less important versus the mechanics of the game but as long as there are no contradictions or holes, then I'm perfectly fine with it.

Does anyone have any good prospects for upcoming DS games? Right now, the upcoming games list posted on Gamefaqs doesn't look too appetizing. Most of them sound like horrible titles. But then again, the popular systems usually get a lot of them just to ensure some number of sales. Apparently, there's a frisbee game that's coming out in March or something. I'm probably in the minority if I say the concept interests me, but I'm almost positive that it won't really target the hardcore ultimate frisbee player and that disappoints me.

Lunar knights is already out but i didn't get a chance to play it yet, it sounds pretty sweet. Pokemon and that Chocobo Adventure game come out in April i believe. but nothing cool in march that i know of.

[Warmech]

Well, my quest to totally beat EBA is over. No, I didn't get all 'S' ranks for everyone (only for Spin and J), but I did get the highest ranking possible. That's what I was striving for anyway. On to MMZX!

[Katsurugi]

Well, my quest to totally beat EBA is over. No, I didn't get all 'S' ranks for everyone (only for Spin and J), but I did get the highest ranking possible. That's what I was striving for anyway. On to MMZX!
Welcome to my world. I haven't touched it in a long while though. I'm pretty sure I can beat it in an hour. Despite people putting down the game a bit in the Megaman ZX Advent thread, I really like this game. I haven't played a Megaman game ever since X3, and it made me love Megaman all over again. I like the tiny things they put into it though, like the different metal pitches. Very cool. The map sucks, though, I will agree with that. But if you know where you're going, then it's all good.

I'll probably beat the game this weekend since I've gotten sick of Brain Age.

[KWarp]

I BEAT ELITE BEAT AGENTS!!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

I can do anything now.

Also beat Kirby DS. Despite being mostly recycled content from the GBA Kirbies, it has the Kirby feel that makes the series so wonderful. <3

Beat Pheonix Wright recently too. :smile:

[Gamelore]

I beat Touch Detectives last week.

Pure excellence! Easily the best game I have for the DS (and I have about 35 now).

HIGHLY recommended! Any other games like this???

[KakTheInfected]

Since I'm not seeing it anywhere in here...Nintendo announced Ouendan 2. All I can say is yay.

[atmuh]

Since I'm not seeing it anywhere in here...Nintendo announced Ouendan 2. All I can say is yay.

I am considering buying Ouendan since they have it next to my school at some store...maybe

[Evilhead]

Finally got my hands on two DS lites (I'm giving one to my girlfriend). They are impossible to find for retail here and I lucked out by checking some store out in the sticks. My R4 card with a 1 gig micro SD should be here soon, so now the world of the DS is my oyster. What are some lesser known gems that you guys have liked lately?

[Bahamut]

Finally got my hands on two DS lites (I'm giving one to my girlfriend). They are impossible to find for retail here and I lucked out by checking some store out in the sticks. My R4 card with a 1 gig micro SD should be here soon, so now the world of the DS is my oyster. What are some lesser known gems that you guys have liked lately?

Haha one of my friends is doing the same shit when he gets a DS Lite (mainly pirating - it's the only thing he can't really pirate on his PSP).

I definitely recommend Elite Beat Agents though, even if the music is shitty. Of course I bet you'll try the Castlevanias, but other than that...I find it hard to recommend DS games myself.

[Evilhead]

Haha one of my friends is doing the same shit when he gets a DS Lite (mainly pirating - it's the only thing he can't really pirate on his PSP).

I definitely recommend Elite Beat Agents though, even if the music is shitty. Of course I bet you'll try the Castlevanias, but other than that...I find it hard to recommend DS games myself.


Yeah, I own both of the Castlevanias already. I finally got PoR a week or so ago and can't stop playing it. I had been holding out for the English version because I love all the crazy translations of the items. I've already got a pretty good library of DS games (about 15) but from now on it's all piracy baby (aside from any other Castlevania games that come out). I'll check out EBA.

Also, homebrew is probably not even bothing with since PSP homebrew blows it out of the water, but are there any intersting DS homebrew apps? Maybe some stylus enabled games or something...

[Drack]

Finally got my hands on two DS lites (I'm giving one to my girlfriend). They are impossible to find for retail here and I lucked out by checking some store out in the sticks. My R4 card with a 1 gig micro SD should be here soon, so now the world of the DS is my oyster. What are some lesser known gems that you guys have liked lately?

These aren't "Lesser known" but I recommend all of the following:
Club House Games
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
Electroplankton
Final Fantasy III DS
Kirby Canvas Curse
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
Mario Hoops 3 on 3
Mario Kart DS
MegaMan Battle Network 5
Mega Man ZX
Meteos
Metroid Prime Hunters
New Super Mario Bros.
Nintendogs
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Tetris DS
WarioWare: Touched!

I guess now that I'm keeping track of all the games I've played and whether I liked em, I can pull out lists like this. Nifty.

[Bahamut]

These aren't "Lesser known" but I recommend all of the following:
Club House Games
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
Electroplankton
Final Fantasy III DS
Kirby Canvas Curse
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
Mario Hoops 3 on 3
Mario Kart DS
MegaMan Battle Network 5
Mega Man ZX
Meteos
Metroid Prime Hunters
New Super Mario Bros.
Nintendogs
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Tetris DS
WarioWare: Touched!

I guess now that I'm keeping track of all the games I've played and whether I liked em, I can pull out lists like this. Nifty.

Clubhouse Games is ok, but not really that great for people who love to play games hardcore. Final Fantasy III DS sucks ass - the tedium is mindblowing. Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time isn't special either. Mario Kart is great but I'm sure he knows to play that. Mega Man ZX is solid. Meteos is alright, worth some playing, especially fans of Lumines. Metroid Prime Hunters is sort of meh IMO, same wiith NSMB. Wario Ware Touched! is good too of course.

[atmuh]

Clubhouse Games is ok, but not really that great for people who love to play games hardcore. Final Fantasy III DS sucks ass - the tedium is mindblowing. Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time isn't special either. Mario Kart is great but I'm sure he knows to play that. Mega Man ZX is solid. Meteos is alright, worth some playing, especially fans of Lumines. Metroid Prime Hunters is sort of meh IMO, same wiith NSMB. Wario Ware Touched! is good too of course.
metroid was fun when everyone here used to play it

[bucky o'hare]

Also, homebrew is probably not even bothing with since PSP homebrew blows it out of the water, but are there any intersting DS homebrew apps? Maybe some stylus enabled games or something...
I haven't looked into homebrew games yet, but I have moonshell set up on my DS. It is a linux based gui (not that I know shit about the technical workings of linux, or computers in general), which essentially acts your desktop/browser of sorts.

http://mdxonline.dyndns.org/archives/nds/
http://wiki.pocketheaven.com/MoonShell

If functions as a sort of multimedia browser- basic image types are supported but it seems that videos have to be converted to another format, which I haven't tried yet. The best part about it, for me, is that it plays nsf, spc, and mod files. Because ripping tons of emulated soundtracks to mp3 would be insane, moonshell effectively turned my DS into my portable NSF player.

I also went through and replaced all the standard moonshell images with a little smb3 theme I came up with. There's one thing left I have in mind to make it look a little nicer, but I'm happy with how it looks-
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/abstartselect/DSC00001.jpg
Browsing NSFs (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/abstartselect/DSC00003.jpg)
Listening to some Metroid. The Power Meter is the progress bar (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v281/abstartselect/DSC00006.jpg) ;)

You would think that with the stylus and all there'd be a decent flash/ swf player for the DS, but a working one doesn't seem to exist yet. :( I'd like to get some flash games on here.

[Bahamut]

metroid was fun when everyone here used to play it

Well, I found single player kind've bland and generic. I only vaguely remember having played multiplayer, and I don't remember it being that great since holding the DS on one hand really made it tiresome to play.

[KakTheInfected]

The single player really wasn't a game. The main focus of Hunters was online multiplayer, and that got messed up because of the inability to patch the game.

Everyone started disconnecting the second things turned sour or they'd pick Trace and constantly run after getting one kill. Not to mention the leaderboards were messed up from people playing in friend games...

But it's still a good game if everyone plays right. I'll defend it anytime someone knocks it.

[atmuh]

The single player really wasn't a game. The main focus of Hunters was online multiplayer, and that got messed up because of the inability to patch the game.

Everyone started disconnecting the second things turned sour or they'd pick Trace and constantly run after getting one kill. Not to mention the leaderboards were messed up from people playing in friend games...

But it's still a good game if everyone plays right. I'll defend it anytime someone knocks it.

yea it was fun except you kept beating everyone

[JoeFu]

Anybody mention that Ouendan is getting a sequel?

[KakTheInfected]

yea it was fun except you kept beating everyone

learn2usesamus

Yeah Joe, but it could be said 100 times. Pretty sweet news.

[Evilhead]

These aren't "Lesser known" but I recommend all of the following:
Club House Games
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
Electroplankton
Final Fantasy III DS
Kirby Canvas Curse
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time
Mario Hoops 3 on 3
Mario Kart DS
MegaMan Battle Network 5
Mega Man ZX
Meteos
Metroid Prime Hunters
New Super Mario Bros.
Nintendogs
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Tetris DS
WarioWare: Touched!

I guess now that I'm keeping track of all the games I've played and whether I liked em, I can pull out lists like this. Nifty.

Yeah, those are all pretty well known and I own about half of them already, but I didn't know there was a MegaMan Battle Network game for the DS! I loved the ones for the GBA so I'll definitely check it out. I bet it would make the battles pretty slick using the stylus the move, etc.

And agreed on the Metroid game... I played for a total of like 15 minutes when I got it and got incredibly bored. Never even tried multiplayer, but disconnects and assholes already made games like Mario Kart pretty terrible so I figured it would be the same. I guess if you were playing with a group of people you know it would be cool. I think the best online games for the DS so far are Animal Crossing and Tetris DS.

[Smoke]

Yeah, those are all pretty well known and I own about half of them already, but I didn't know there was a MegaMan Battle Network game for the DS! I loved the ones for the GBA so I'll definitely check it out. I bet it would make the battles pretty slick using the stylus the move, etc.

BN5DTDS is pretty much just a remake of BN5 with both versions in one cart(And you can pick which one you play, with two saves). There's no real gameplay additions, and the stylus tends to be used in a somewhat gimmicky way(For the NaviCust for example, as well as chip/folder management and menu navigation) Still, worth checking out if you haven't played BN5 yet, especially for the turn-based strategy stuff. There's a few added voice samples that are pretty decent, as well as maps for all areas, and compatibility with the older BN titles for alternate battle music and stuff.

[Drack]

Concerning metroid, the multiplayer is where it's at - and it really only hits the sweet spot when you have a group of friends (ClanOCR in my case) to play it with. If you want a great single player metroid, MP:H is not what you're looking for. But friend matches online rock. We need to do them more often.

And Bahamut: I challenge you to produce a better list than mine!

[Bahamut]

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (not as good as Portrait but still solid)
Mega Man ZX
Mario Kart DS
Elite Beat Agents
Meteos (if you find it for cheap)
Tetris DS (if you find it for cheaper)
Clubhouse games (if you find it for cheaper)
Diddy Kong Racing (at first it starts off bad but it gets better)

So pretty much a subset of your list. The other games, I can't really recommend, mostly due to not being worth a buy or much of a play unless you're really strapped for games to play, or a few I haven't got around to playing (i.e. Kirby Canvas Curse and Phoenix Wright).

[Katsurugi]

Apparently, my older sister got a DS lite for her birthday. She got NSMB with it. Even she said it was easy and for her, that's saying a lot. She stopped playing video games back in the NES era, more or less, but plays those flash games online every once in a while. It's kind of cool though, knowing someone else has a DS lite that's close by. Let the multiplayer goodness begin!

NSMB has fun mini-games but it gets a bit boring after you play stage after stage. I also find that the 'shuffle' feature isn't as random as I would like it to be. Card games are selected a bit too often if you ask me.

I am contemplating on either getting Tetris, or Mario Kart. Those seem like staple games I should have in my library. That and my sister has a 50 dollar gift card to Best Buy. It would have been better if it were at Gamestop or some place where it sells used games though.

Oh yeah, does anyone own Super Princess Peach? It might seem random, but I want to know how it is as a whole. I played a demo of it and it wasn't bad. It was kind of like your normal platformer, but I want to know how the difficulty progresses throughout the game. My sister doesn't like hard games like I do.
(But if she got it, I would play it.)

[Drack]

I hear Super Princess Peach is even easier than New Super Mario Bros. I haven't tried it yet for this reason.

Also, half the fun in NSMB is the multiplayer, and I'm talking mostly about the star battles, not the minigames

If I had to pick between Mario Kart DS and Tetris DS, I'd pick MKDS - Both the single player and the multiplayer kept me entertained longer. As with metroid, though, (This actually applies to all the online games) local and friend matches will keep you entertained much more than random internet matches.

[Evilhead]

Yeah, Super Princess Peach was one of the first games I got for the DS and I was really dissapointed. I quit playing it after a few worlds, so maybe the later levels are more interesting, but to say it's an easy game is an understatement. You pretty much just walk around and find the three toadpeople in each level. It's like playing a Kirby game that is even easier, and with fewer skills. I would definitely avoid it if you are looking for a challenging Nintendo platformer. Seems those died out with the SNES.

Wish I would have bought the flashcart sooner! Now I can check out games like SPP before I waste the money on them.

[Warmech]

So anyone know about this Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja?

[KakTheInfected]

It's basically the same thing as that Pokemon dungeon crawler that came out awhile ago, but it's a bit simplified and more fun to play.

[Red Shadow]

And agreed on the Metroid game... I played for a total of like 15 minutes when I got it and got incredibly bored. Never even tried multiplayer.
oh come on now :[

[Evilhead]

oh come on now :[


Yeah, I really appreciate you sending it though! But I just didn't get into it. Maybe I should try out the multiplayer? From what I hear here the single player game was pretty boring compared to the online play. Is Clan OCR still active?

[atmuh]

Yeah, I really appreciate you sending it though! But I just didn't get into it. Maybe I should try out the multiplayer? From what I hear here the single player game was pretty boring compared to the online play. Is Clan OCR still active?
yes we are we kinda all talk in a skpype chat. I would seriously love to start playing Prime: Hunters with you peeps again.

[Citris]

Yeah, Super Princess Peach was one of the first games I got for the DS and I was really dissapointed. I quit playing it after a few worlds, so maybe the later levels are more interesting, but to say it's an easy game is an understatement. You pretty much just walk around and find the three toadpeople in each level. It's like playing a Kirby game that is even easier, and with fewer skills. I would definitely avoid it if you are looking for a challenging Nintendo platformer. Seems those died out with the SNES.

Wish I would have bought the flashcart sooner! Now I can check out games like SPP before I waste the money on them.

QFE.

Now I'm going to go play my DKC2 rom.

[G_D]

Wow. I don't know if any of you care a lick about sales data, but I find this absolutely astonishing:

I was just reading last week's hardware sales data from Japan (http://gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=7499), and the DS has almost outsold the GBA there. Next week it will certainly overtake it.

6,582,991(DSPhat) + 8,690,758(DSLite) = 15,273,749
8,823,554(GBA) + 5,927,930(GBSP) + 571,128(GBM) = 15,322,612

Amazing.

[Bahamut]

For those interested, Children of Mana @ Amazon.com for $15 today for the Deal of the Day!

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/go.php?http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000FW4OHS/ref=nosim/cheapassgam08-20

(Note: The link is to give due to CAG for reporting it, it links to the right page though)

[Penfold]

For those interested, Children of Mana @ Amazon.com for $15 today for the Deal of the Day!

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/go.php?http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000FW4OHS/ref=nosim/cheapassgam08-20

(Note: The link is to give due to CAG for reporting it, it links to the right page though)

Interesting. Seems like a relatively worthwhile deal.

[Bahamut]

I'm willing to give it a shot at $15, instead of the $35 EB/Gamestop was selling it for in store. Then I'm going to hit up Pricegrabber.com and get another $5 rebate on it, and sell the second copy I bought too on ebay.

[Evilhead]

Wow. I don't know if any of you care a lick about sales data, but I find this absolutely astonishing:

I was just reading last week's hardware sales data from Japan (http://gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=7499), and the DS has almost outsold the GBA there. Next week it will certainly overtake it.

6,582,991(DSPhat) + 8,690,758(DSLite) = 15,273,749
8,823,554(GBA) + 5,927,930(GBSP) + 571,128(GBM) = 15,322,612

Amazing.

I don't find it too surprising. First of all, the DS is insanely popular here. They don't stay on the shelves for more than a day and sell on auction for $200 or so. Not only do most little kids and gamers own it, but it's popular with people who don't normally play games. It's become a bit of a fashion accessory for girls since the lite is so cute. I went out to eat with a few of my friends and THREE of the girls bought DS lites that day. It was funny seeing them all playing games and talking into the DS's mic all through dinner. My girlfriend's snobby super fashionable little sister bought one as well. One of my coworkers, who is a 50+ year old women, bought one to study English. I just got one for my GF since she wants one to study English too. Plus the gap between the regular DS and the DS lite is enough for a lot of people to buy the system twice. I know I did, and I know several other people who did as well. Whereas with the original GBA and all of it's incarnations, if you had one of them it was pretty much good enough unless you are a maniac.

[Soma]

For those interested, Children of Mana @ Amazon.com for $15 today for the Deal of the Day!

http://www.cheapassgamer.com/go.php?http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000FW4OHS/ref=nosim/cheapassgam08-20

(Note: The link is to give due to CAG for reporting it, it links to the right page though)

well i just ordered it... seems like estimated delivery march 5th. I ordered lunar knights and that Izuna game too, Just impulse i suppose. They were both 29.99 each which is actually cheaper than the EBstops around here, usually everything is 34.99 unless you go to walmart/target/toys r us. So i suppose it's a little on sale (or i keep telling myself that to justify the purchase ^_^)

[Bahamut]

well i just ordered it... seems like estimated delivery march 5th. I ordered lunar knights and that Izuna game too, Just impulse i suppose. They were both 29.99 each which is actually cheaper than the EBstops around here, usually everything is 34.99 unless you go to walmart/target/toys r us. So i suppose it's a little on sale (or i keep telling myself that to justify the purchase ^_^)

You missed out on the $15 Children of Mana by a little more than 2 hours - it was part of the Amazon.com video game deal of the day.

[Katsurugi]

You missed out on the $15 Children of Mana by a little more than 2 hours - it was part of the Amazon.com video game deal of the day.
I missed it as well. =(

If I heard about this earlier (or if the deal lasted longer), I would have ordered this and a PC gamepad for myself. >_<

[Czar Diego]

So, Clubhouse Games. How is the pool in that game?

[Bahamut]

The pool is kinda stupid in it.

So I played some more Trauma Center DS, and damn I like it, even though it's hard - it's a fair hard.

[Soma]

You missed out on the $15 Children of Mana by a little more than 2 hours - it was part of the Amazon.com video game deal of the day.
I meant that i ordered CoM, but in addition i ordered those other 2 games. At least my email says this

"1 "Children of Mana"
Video Game; $14.99"|

[Katsurugi]

So I played some more Trauma Center DS, and damn I like it, even though it's hard - it's a fair hard.
Just wait until you get to that part where you have multiple aneurysms. That's where the difficulty spikes up a bit.

[KWarp]

Just wait until you get to that part where you have multiple aneurysms. That's where the difficulty spikes up a bit.
After that the difficulty settles down for a bit. It doesn't get insanely hard again for a while.:smile:

[Bahamut]

Just wait until you get to that part where you have multiple aneurysms. That's where the difficulty spikes up a bit.

Yeah I beat that after a few tries and then stopped for a little while.

[Warmech]

Five patients in ten minutes? Sign me up!

[KWarp]

Five patients in ten minutes? Sign me up!
I was disappointed with that mission. spoilers: I only had to save three of them to pass the mission. :(

[Warmech]

I was disappointed with that mission. spoilers: I only had to save three of them to pass the mission. :(

Really? *spoiler* I've read that it's four you only have to save and I did get three done and it still failed the mission for me.

[Bahamut]

Really? *spoiler* I've read that it's four you only have to save and I did get three done and it still failed the mission for me.

*spoiler*But I only saved 3 and still passed on my first try*/endspoiler*

So I'm on the final boss...I was at the very last blow I think and I died. That blows.

[Bigfoot]

I can't wait for a new EBA.

Also, oops. lol I really killed the spins too, oh well.


Jumpin' Jack Flash.
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/3853/jjflashyg4.jpg

[Drack]

Drack's rambling review of Diddy Kong Racing DS

Executive Summary: Diddy Kong Racing DS fails to impress.

I replayed the N64 version all the way through about 2 weeks ago so it's fresh in my mind - That was a hell of a lot of fun by the way. What impressed the most me about DKR (N64) - And Rare in general during that period - was attention to detail. This is completely lacking in DKR DS.

While DKR DS has somewhat preserved the cool trick used in DKR (and more extensively in Banjo-Kazooie) where the island's music would change based on location, but they overlooked the Dragon Forest entrance, and proximity to Taj changes to the island music. Speaking of Taj ... His voice sounds like a gay, emo teenager in DKR DS. In DKR N64 brake + slide in the car made you do an animation where two wheels would lift off the ground due to the shift in center of gravity - that doesnt happen in DKR DS. In DKR N64, if you kept holding brake after you had stopped, you would reverse. DKR DS requires you to let go and re-press the brake button to reverse after you stop. TT's voice is the only one that's remotely close to the original's voice acting. Honestly, why not just import the wavs from the N64 game? DKR N64 changed the color of boost flames based on what rank boost you had, and whether you let off the accelerator for a better boost ... DKR DS does not change the color of the flame. The music is worse than the N64 version - They kept the same note patterns, but they changed the samples, mostly replacing them with similar, though definitely worse, samples. The SFX are worse as well - the "whoosh" sound of the boost is gone, replaced by a rush of static. Also gone is the "bullet" sound your missiles made
Even the "win race, get a gold balloon" animation is half assed. No 3D camera panning, no "This is for you!" no very well rendered golden balloon in your face ... Just a static camera watching Taj silently and linearly ride up to you, hover doing nothing a few seconds, and send a shrinking balloon UNDER YOUR CAR! WTF

One thing that was done well was the conversion from 640x480 to 256x192 - the DS screen doesn't feel cramped at all and the graphics are fine.

The missiles now upgrade single -> 5x -> Homing, instead of Single -> Homing -> 10x ... they also cause a much greater time penalty when you're hit, as do oil spills. Also, if you shoot a homing missile in first, you hit YOURSELF! The genie races are left unchanged - Still waaay to easy and if you veer so much as an inch off the path it immediately cancels the race. I'm not going to fault DKR DS specifically on that point though, N64 DKR was exactly the same way. A level 3 boost will no longer do the cool animation where it moves the camera forward temporarily.

Even the characters are now unbalanced. Timber is the obvious all around choice - Diddy, Dixie, Tiny, and Bumper all have the same stats - Timber's, but with one less top speed. Why remove the diversity, and create unwanted characters? Also, why did they remove the skull on Krunch's jacket?

If this game were a straight port, reusing as much code / content (and by content I mean samples, voice wavs, etc) as possible - It would be awesome. The only things DKR DS did wrong were the changes from the original - and while I am aware of the nostalgia bias, I still say this and can back it up

This is not a port, it's a half-assed remake.

[Katsurugi]

@Drack:
I appreciate the review. This is considering the fact that there are some titles on the DS that I would like to get but are also reincarnations of other titles. The details do matter from one game to another. I think that it's hard to ask for the exact same game but better most of the time. But it's another thing to make a poorly made hash of a remake than making a game with forgiveable mistakes.

I know it sounds stupid, but with the Yoshi's Island game on DS. I don't think I want to get it because someone mentioned they took out that water noise. =( I really liked Yoshi's Island for the SNES. It's hard not to be disappointed when you buy a sequel when you loved the previous game so much. Sad but true.

[Bahamut]

A lot of those complaints seem like nitpicks in the wrong direction - a lot of them are basically non-issues, and the game had other more serious problems that plagued it than that.

[Airwalker]

Drack's rambling review of Diddy Kong Racing DS

Executive Summary: Diddy Kong Racing DS fails to impress.

I replayed the N64 version all the way through about 2 weeks ago so it's fresh in my mind - That was a hell of a lot of fun by the way. What impressed the most me about DKR (N64) - And Rare in general during that period - was attention to detail. This is completely lacking in DKR DS.

While DKR DS has somewhat preserved the cool trick used in DKR (and more extensively in Banjo-Kazooie) where the island's music would change based on location, but they overlooked the Dragon Forest entrance, and proximity to Taj changes to the island music. Speaking of Taj ... His voice sounds like a gay, emo teenager in DKR DS. In DKR N64 brake + slide in the car made you do an animation where two wheels would lift off the ground due to the shift in center of gravity - that doesnt happen in DKR DS. In DKR N64, if you kept holding brake after you had stopped, you would reverse. DKR DS requires you to let go and re-press the brake button to reverse after you stop. TT's voice is the only one that's remotely close to the original's voice acting. Honestly, why not just import the wavs from the N64 game? DKR N64 changed the color of boost flames based on what rank boost you had, and whether you let off the accelerator for a better boost ... DKR DS does not change the color of the flame. The music is worse than the N64 version - They kept the same note patterns, but they changed the samples, mostly replacing them with similar, though definitely worse, samples. The SFX are worse as well - the "whoosh" sound of the boost is gone, replaced by a rush of static. Also gone is the "bullet" sound your missiles made
Even the "win race, get a gold balloon" animation is half assed. No 3D camera panning, no "This is for you!" no very well rendered golden balloon in your face ... Just a static camera watching Taj silently and linearly ride up to you, hover doing nothing a few seconds, and send a shrinking balloon UNDER YOUR CAR! WTF

One thing that was done well was the conversion from 640x480 to 256x192 - the DS screen doesn't feel cramped at all and the graphics are fine.

The missiles now upgrade single -> 5x -> Homing, instead of Single -> Homing -> 10x ... they also cause a much greater time penalty when you're hit, as do oil spills. Also, if you shoot a homing missile in first, you hit YOURSELF! The genie races are left unchanged - Still waaay to easy and if you veer so much as an inch off the path it immediately cancels the race. I'm not going to fault DKR DS specifically on that point though, N64 DKR was exactly the same way. A level 3 boost will no longer do the cool animation where it moves the camera forward temporarily.

Even the characters are now unbalanced. Timber is the obvious all around choice - Diddy, Dixie, Tiny, and Bumper all have the same stats - Timber's, but with one less top speed. Why remove the diversity, and create unwanted characters? Also, why did they remove the skull on Krunch's jacket?

If this game were a straight port, reusing as much code / content (and by content I mean samples, voice wavs, etc) as possible - It would be awesome. The only things DKR DS did wrong were the changes from the original - and while I am aware of the nostalgia bias, I still say this and can back it up

This is not a port, it's a half-assed remake.

I agree. Still, Diddy Kong Racing was all I played with my friends the entire summer my fifth grade year. That and Starfox 64. So, even though they messed it up, it still brings back the memories.

[Penfold]

SimCity DS announced today (http://ds.ign.com/articles/768/768856p1.html). SimCity is somewhat played out IMO, but who knows, might be fun. We'll see how it progresses, but there are many other games I'm more interested in at this point.

[Hector]

I wouldn't say so. There are plenty of games that people play for a while, but put down for one reason or another. I remember playing a lot of Sim City (original) and a fair amount of Sim City 2000--but haven't touched the series for roughly a decade. With any long-lived series their will be some people who enjoyed the older versions, missed out for a while, and are willing to consider newer versions.

[JoeFu]

SimCity DS announced today (http://ds.ign.com/articles/768/768856p1.html). SimCity is somewhat played out IMO, but who knows, might be fun. We'll see how it progresses, but there are many other games I'm more interested in at this point.
Uhh... SimCity DS came out in Japan like last week I think.


You can find impressions if you look.

[Drack]

Yes, I nitpicked the hell out of the game. In its current state, especially if you turn the sound off, DKR DS is ... decent. Not appropriate homage to the original, but decent.

I guess we can't hold Rare to the standards we did in ye olden days.

Anyone want to netplay? Or even better, netplay the original using an emulator?

[Penfold]

Uhh... SimCity DS came out in Japan like last week I think.


You can find impressions if you look.

lol, whoops. Well, damn that IGN then (the first sentence in their article was "Today, Electronic Arts announced that its popular SimCity franchise would be returning, and this time it is getting the dual-screen treatment.").

I wouldn't say so. There are plenty of games that people play for a while, but put down for one reason or another. I remember playing a lot of Sim City (original) and a fair amount of Sim City 2000--but haven't touched the series for roughly a decade. With any long-lived series their will be some people who enjoyed the older versions, missed out for a while, and are willing to consider newer versions.

I wouldn't doubt that it will still definitely appeal to people out there and whatnot, but for me personally I got a little sick of the franchise during SimCity 2000's reign. For that reason, the DS version doesn't immediately appeal to me. Like I said, gonna take a wait-and-see approach (just gonna wait for the metacritic score to total, since I'm not interested in this enough to do further research).

[G_D]

^ What EA *just* announced was that SimCity DS is coming to The Rest Of The World. Previously it was only known that it would be out in Japan.