Two more reasons I love my DS

[Cthulhu]

I just picked up Goemon and Advance Wars DS (well, Famicom Wars DS, but whatever) and they're both excellent. The Goemon games are all over the map in terms of quality - some are great, some are just plain bad - but I'm really enjoying this one. It's set up a lot like the SNES games, which were the best ones in the series IMHO. No sidescrolling stages (yet?), but the game plays really well, looks great, and sounds great (the narration is done by a famous storyteller, and the character voices fit their roles extremely well). Quarth is a bonus game in it (woot!), as is the first level of Space Manbow if you have the GBA Goemon game... unfortunately, it's only the first level of Manbow.

I simply adore the Advance Wars games, so it's no surprise that I like the DS incarnation. The added units are fine, the new maps are well designed, and the play balance is still spot on. The added bonus "combat" mode, which uses the same visual engine but makes the game into an action game, plays far better than I was expecting too.

Hey PSP, you got anything interesting yet? C'mon, I'm sick of just playing Space Invaders 95/Majestic 12 over and over and over...

[Icecap Veiwin]

My friend is looking forward to Dragon Quest Monsters. If you ever import it, tell us how it is!

[Cthulhu]

Will do. I'm really in love with the DS now that the games have gotten out of the "gimmick rut" that they were sort of stuck in near launch. The upcoming Castlevania game has me -drooling- in anticipation.

[Turrican]

Someone please grab the Another Code DS, it is already out and available at play.com. I wish to hear impression from this game.

Why don't I get it instead? Good question: I'm stuck with the lousy Metroid demo and it's not nice, I tell you. But unfortunately can't afford to buy it for this summer...

Geez, Nintendo released the GB with Tetris and later Super Mario Land, two absolute masterworks. Now I get the ds and all I get is this dull demo. Good days are gone...

[Cthulhu]

Someone please grab the Another Code DS, it is already out and available at play.com. I wish to hear impression from this game.

I've got it. If you like older PC adventure games, you'd really enjoy it. It's got a decent storyline and lots of puzzles to solve, plus good writing and well drawn visuals. The touchscreen is well used for a lot of the puzzles too - you rotate dials and set switches and the like.

The big stumbling block for this game is the language barrier: if you're not really good at Japanese, don't bother. The game is totally pointless (and nigh-impossible) if you don't understand what the characters are saying. That said, if you're comfortable with Japanese, I highly recommend it.

[Turrican]

Err, already available at PLAY.COM, not Play-Asia.com. That means, already available in English!

[jp]

Another Code 2 Memory is out in the US now as well?




DAMMIT! How the hell are so many DS games slipping under the radar?

[BrianC]

Is the Quarth in Goemon DS based on the arcade or GB versions? The GB version has some major differences that make it better than the arcade one IMO.

[Cthulhu]

Wow, apparently there is an English release upcoming, under the title "Trace Memory." It's not out in the US yet (it's due out in late Sept according to EBGames.com), and I don't know if that Play.com UK listing is premature or not... at any rate, it appears they actually translated it. Yay!

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

^ I read something about it at IGN shortly after E3. A few years ago, I'd have jumped up and down to hear a new adventure game is being published but not now. Anyways, there's some interesting stuff getting released on the DS, so I'll definitely pick one up once the price drops (hopefully during Christmas.)

[Strychnine]

How's the language barrier? Is it playable (and enjoyable?) with rudimentary Japanese knowledge? I'm not sure if I can wait for the damn stateside release.

[8 1/2]

Hey PSP, you got anything interesting yet? C'mon, I'm sick of just playing Space Invaders 95/Majestic 12 over and over and over...

Two words: Sengoku Cannon

[Specineff]

Guys, I was thinking of starting another thread regarding the DS. I was thinking this morning about all the buzz surrounding the release of the system a few months ago when all those companies were saying how innovative and cool the idea was, blah blah blah, yadda yadda...

My question is, where are them darn games? I somehow got the feeling the DS is going to suffer the fate of the 32X. Released shortly before the next gen console is coming out, and eclipsed by the previous and upcoming rivals. Opinions?

[Capt. Takehiko]

Unfortunately, that is very likely. Once the PSP is released everywhere it will have more support and will probably beat Nintendo all over again. I'm not saying the DS will be un-popular - it will just be seen to people as a handheld only worth for buying the Nintedo games and a few others.

[Vexorg]

I don't know much about the future outlook for the PSP, but it sure seems to be off to a slow start. There's a total of 1 new PSP release scheduled in July in the US 8 in august, and 9 in September, not exactly flooding the market with new games. , and only about . The only thing I'm even interested in a PSP for is that I'd like to get one to compare its video capabilities to my PPC, and maybe try out Lumines. Beyond that, it's basically just a shrunken PS2 with a short battery life.

[tsunami0ne]

Have you played Band Bros? I normally don't play those Konami Beatmania games, but I love playing Band Bros, especially since there are NES medleys in it.

The multiplayer mode is also damn fun. Having a friend mess up the beat is always loads of fun since it will usually screw you up as well.

Meteos and Band Brothers were the 2 games that convinced me to buy my DS. Man, I can't wait for Advance Wars DS. I didn't play the GBA versions until a few months ago, but I am addicted. I always thought simplistic strategy games were all boring (Shining Force) but Advance Wars proved me wrong.

[Brian]

I am looking forward to the new DS Dig Dug game.

[BrianC]

Is the hidden Quarth mini game in Goemon DS like the arcade with special effects activated by color bricks, or more like the GB version with a qualifying quota and power ups earned by making large squares?

[SFKhoa]

Have you played Band Bros? I normally don't play those Konami Beatmania games, but I love playing Band Bros, especially since there are NES medleys in it.

Band Bros as in "Daigasso Band Bros."

yeah, that game is loads of fun, something that all of you guys should consider getting if you're into Bemani or any other music games.

[dai jou bu]

Not to sound like a complete jerk, but to me, the PSP is like trying to put a PC hard drive in your pocket/hand bag and walking all over the place with it.

I'm also curious though how the DS is "gimmicky." Isn't gamepad design gimmicky (as in, it tries to emulate an arcade stick, which is how I try to hold my gamepads if I can because it's a lot more efficient pressing more buttons with three fingers than one thumb)? How about the analog stick, PC mouse, and "force feedback" (as in, the controller weakly vibrates and not forcibly jerk the gamepad all over the place)?

[jp]

Guys, I was thinking of starting another thread regarding the DS. I was thinking this morning about all the buzz surrounding the release of the system a few months ago when all those companies were saying how innovative and cool the idea was, blah blah blah, yadda yadda...

My question is, where are them darn games? I somehow got the feeling the DS is going to suffer the fate of the 32X. Released shortly before the next gen console is coming out, and eclipsed by the previous and upcoming rivals. Opinions?

Where are the games?

Out now(in the US) and kicking ass:
Wario Ware Touched
Feel the Magic
Kirby's Canvas Curse
Bomberman DS
Meteos
Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits
Yoshi's Touch N Go
Pac Pix

July:
Nanostray

August:
Advance Wars DS
Nintendogs
Pac'n'Roll (Maybe)

September:
Lunar Dragon Song (prequel to Silver Star Story)
Dig Dug: Digging Strike
Trace Memory
Lost in Blue

October:
Castle-fucking-vania DS
Viewtiful Joe DS
Metroid Prime: Hunters DS

November:
Mario Kart DS
Electroplankton
Bust-A-Move DS
Sonic Rush
Guilty Gear Dust Strikers
Animal Crossing
Mario and Luigi 2

December:
Metroid Pinball


*Goes to look at the PSP dates*

Oh look... movies... because thats why I would buy a $250 handheld game console that will break when you look at it.

[Vexorg]

And don't forget you can play GBA games on the DS too. That puts the DS's game library at somewhere around three orders of magnitude beyond the PSP. I don't see New Super Mario Brothers on there, although I don't expect to hear anything on that until Spaceworld, and I'd actually be surprised to see it make this year.