Purchasing a DS - What to Get With It?

DarrenMcLeod · 04-10-2005, 03:34 PM

Well, I decided that I need a portable system, and as sexy as the PSP is, I think I'm going to have to go with a DS. My brother's girlfriend stole my GBA so she could play Tetris while waiting for clients at the hair salon she works at, so I'm going to get him to send me down all my games, and she can keep the GBA and Tetris.

I need a DS because this summer I'll be taking a bus every other weekend to visit my girlfriend who lives about 5 hours away.

Now, that being said, what games/accessories are "must haves" with the DS? Right now, I'm assuming all I'll buy is the system, and one or two games. Probably just one though. I'm thinking right now that I'll go with Yoshi's Touch and Go. I'm a big fan of oldschool highscore gameplay, and I've heard lots of good things about YTaG.

Anyone have any accessories that they feel are great with a DS or games I should get instead of Yoshi?

KillerGremlin · 04-10-2005, 04:48 PM

Well.....The DS is pretty self-sufficient. I mean, you might want to buy a custom stylus, but I think the default one works fine. As far as games go, a lot of stuff is still in the making. I'd personally get the Minish Cap if I had not already purchased that, and then play that on the DS. But, seeing as how that doesn't do your new handheld any justice, I'd suggest picking up Super Mario 64 DS if you want a lengthy adventure game, despite the fact that I'm sure you've played it before. Warioware is a lot of fun, but it's also very easy to beat and it's very similar to all the other games in the series. Yoshi Touch And Go looks fun, but I haven't personally played it. It got a decent review.

I'm so pissed Nintendo didn't just bite the bullet and wait a few months for some third party developement on the damn thing. It's a great little portable, with a really small library. And don't give me that "it has GBA games" crap because playing DS games is a hell of a lot cooler then playing GBA games. Especially when you get the thing.

DarrenMcLeod · 04-10-2005, 04:57 PM

Thanks. I agree with you on the GBA games thing. It is not an excuse for the lack of software on DS, but just a nice little bonus. I'm thinking about Mario 64 DS, but how does the control scheme work? I played it for a couple minutes in a kiosk and i couldn't come to grips with using the stylus for control (although I hear using the strap is better).

WarioWare is something else I was considering. I never played the GBA version, and I thought the GameCube game was a clever little diversion.

I'm also curious about the poker game that gets released in a few days. I love poker, but most handheld games just don't cut it because of poor AI.

Jason1 · 04-10-2005, 06:09 PM

I really tried to get used to playing Super Mario 64 DS with the Thumbpad, but I just couldnt. It was just too akward for me. Luckily the traditional Dpad works decently enough. You've gotta hold a certain button to run, and it works. Its not Analog thumb pad, but it gets you through it. Just dont expect N64 quailty control.

Canyarion · 04-10-2005, 06:23 PM

I don't think Wario Ware will keep you busy all the 5 hours... it's more of a short pick-up-and-play game for lost moments.

Yoshi sounds good.

DarrenMcLeod · 04-10-2005, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canyarion

I don't think Wario Ware will keep you busy all the 5 hours... it's more of a short pick-up-and-play game for lost moments.

Yoshi sounds good.

As far as the five hours goes, I'll be switching back and forth between games. I'm not a marathon gamer, I'm more of a play one game for an hour, take a break or play another game, etc. That's why one of my favorite games for GBA is Puyo Pop. I can't play it for more than an hour, but i'll be damned if I haven't plugged more hours into that than any other game because I always go back to it.

So Jason, would you still recommend it even with the DPad?

KillerGremlin · 04-10-2005, 06:29 PM

I don't know much about the poker game, but I got used to the controls on the DS.

My biggest complaint regarding the PS1 was always the lack of an analog stick, and after a while you just overcome that problem. The DS is a lot like that.

Super Mario 64 on the DS is fine, but it will take about an hour or two for you to get used to it. I personally used the D-pad most of the time, but I did use the thumb stylus on certain parts. The thumb stylus works MUCH better then the pen stylus, and with a little practice, you'll quickly learn how to manuever mario using it. However, I promis you cheap deaths from the controls. Seeing as how Bowser World 1 can be opened 8 stars into the game, I found myself dying one to many times on that damn level, just because I was having trouble with the controls. And yeah, some of the levels, like Clockworld, Rainbow Road, and Tiny Big Island are a bit harder then before, just because of the controls. But, by the time I got to Rainbow Road, I was used to the controls, and I didn't really die because of that.

As far as depth and or length are concerned, Mario 64 DS has a decent amount of gameplay. You have the 150 stars, and then the minigames. So, basically you have an already decent-sized adventure game made longer. As far as originallity is concerned, the game gets a 1 out of 10.

But yeah....it all depends on what you want. Poker games are a lot of fun, and I could see Poker DS being hella fun. Especially with the touch screen..I wanna deal cards using the stylus.

Jason1 · 04-10-2005, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarrenMcLeod

So Jason, would you still recommend it even with the DPad?

Hmmm...Would I recommend it? Probably. Depends on how much you liked Mario64, and how much you think you'll enjoy playing through it again. It's certaintly a showcase for the DS's graphics capabilities if your wanting to show it off. That and the Minigames are quite fun, one or 2 even border on being addictive. So yea, id recommend it overall.

GameMaster · 04-10-2005, 09:48 PM

Every serious DS owner needs to pick up an official Nintendo crafted carrying case:

Official embroidered DS logo on front and Nintendo seal engraved on zipper.

Special net carrier for additional accessories:

Game sleeve, net carrier, and DS compartments:

Case when closed and sealed:

Close-up of game sleeve compartment:

bobcat · 04-11-2005, 07:06 AM

niiiice

Canyarion · 04-11-2005, 09:37 AM

but how big is that thing?

Dark Samurai · 04-11-2005, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canyarion

but how big is that thing?

It looks like it can fit a DS and some games in there...

MuGen · 04-11-2005, 12:23 PM

Why is everyone overlooking Ridge Racers? That's a good game to go back to once in awhile on the DS.

DarrenMcLeod · 04-11-2005, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyuzo

Why is everyone overlooking Ridge Racers? That's a good game to go back to once in awhile on the DS.

I'm gonna wait and see how Need for Speed Underground 2 turns out... it's looking better than Ridge Racer.

MuGen · 04-11-2005, 01:36 PM

Well it IS better then Ridge Racer in terms of spending hours on hook ups and such. But isn't that going to come out soon or is it now?

I've played Ridge Racer DS and it's pretty addicting.