Saturday, February 18, 2012

Lifetime Review: Nintendo DS



Years have passed since the launch of Nintendo DS. When it was launched the first time, it was revolutionary, offering dual screen handheld console, touch screen creating a new standard in gaming industry. Seven years, hundreds of games have passed and it's still a very strong competitor in the market, even compared to its little brother , the 3DS. Before it gives way to its predecessor , let's review what make this handheld console such a hit.



Technical Specs:
  • Screens: Two TFT LCDs
    • 262,144 colors
    • Resolution: 256 × 192 pixels
    • The lower display is overlaid with a resistive touchscreens.
  • CPUs: Two ARM processors
  • RAM: 4 MB of mobile RAM, expandable via the Game Boy Advance slot
  • Voltage: 1.65 v required.
  • Storage: 256 kB of serial flash memory.
  • Wireless connectivity: Built-in 802.11b Wireless Network Connection

Gaming console would not be great without great games. Games sells consoles. This is where Nintendo do it right. There are too many great games created for this handheld console that you won't have time to finish them all. To celebrate those years of unforgettable gaming experience, let's look at the top games for Nintendo DS:




Phoenix Wright Series

Phoenix Wright games feature a unique style of gameplay where you take control of Phoenix Wright , a defense attorney with moral. The game is filled with great exploration and thrilling court actions where you will interrogate witnesses until you find the guilty party. Great character style and deep story will give you a hard time putting your nintendo DS down even for a meal. The series evolved and introduce various style of game play in the exploration side of the game



Dragon Quest IX

Dragon Quest IX shows everybody just what NDS is capable of. Gorgeous graphics and stellar gameplay make Dragon Quest IX a great roleplaying game for NDS, if not one of the best. It's quirky anime style characters are memorable and full of style. Prepare yourself for an unforgettable adventure in the world of Dragon Quest IX.





Castlevania Games

Castlevania games from Konami are always the game to wait for and Castlevania games for NDS are no exception. Amazing 2d sidescrolling combat system, combined with touchscreen use for magic makes this game a total fun. Fight through various lairs and dungeons as you fight enemies and use their power as your own and try to collect all powers to achieve different endings. Truly a masterpiece.



Nintendogs
A good game for all ages and all gender. This game is not only for dog lovers, but also for those who want to have a dog but don't want the mess. A cute pet raising game with mini games and competition that are very addictive. Train your dog to follow your command, take it walking around the neighborhood and compete in various competitions. Ready to make your dog number 1 ?




Pokemon Games

Nothing much changes from previous installments of Pokemon games in the NDS. Better graphic, additional menu and information using the touchscreen and still plenty of monsters catching activity. Battle system is left intact and that is not a bad thing. Gotta catch them all !






Advance Wars Dual Strike

The best strategy games for NDS. Period. Set in a world in war, advance wars dual strike combines the strategy type game with super powers that will help the war. Characters are unique and memorable. The regular rock paper scissor battle system is used and adding to that is the air combat system which makes the strategy slightly more complicated. Capturing town and factories are crucial to your finance as well as your unit creation. War has never been this much fun.


Professor Layton Games

Professor Layton games are truly addictive anime style detective puzzle games. Each game in its series are full of mind boggling puzzles which are addictive, fun, and sometimes make you say ' ahhh ... haven't thought of that before".  The puzzles are integrated in the captivating storyline and great animation and voice. This is the games that can be the reason to buy an NDS. To add replay value, more puzzles are available for download so you can work your brain once in a while.

Elite Beat Agents
    One of the earliest and best music game for the NDS. The concept and the characters might be weird for some people, however the game itself is very entertaining. Music are quirky and fun, and focused on rhythm and beats. Try it and you'll love the beat.


The World Ends with You

Developed by Square-Enix and quickly become one of the best action-rpg in NDS. The artwork, while not for everyone, is truly amazing. The story, which takes place in modern day shibuya, gives you a clear view of shibuya's culture and art. The combat system, which is called Stride Cross battle system, is very innovative although is a bit hard to master.



Zelda Series
Zelda games has always been the flagship of Nintendo games. Always innovative and fun, Zelda for the NDS incorporates the dual and the touch screen to deliver a new style of gameplay using the stylus and they work perfectly. The graphic is great and full of memorable places. Great story also never escapes Zelda games. It's new, it's fun, and it's Zelda. Go save the princess !






Mario & Luigi Games

Started in Gameboy Advance, the Mario and Luigi games combines a little bit of action with RPG. Featuring Mario and Luigi as well as Baby Mario and Luigi, the game is full of jokes and funny bit incorporated into the story. While the story is not really deep, the adventure and the battle system ( which you will never grew bored of ) are fun. Requiring you to press the button at the right time when hitting the enemy and various button pressing actions when using items, it really doesn't go far from Mario games roo


New Super Mario Bros

Super mario bros game never need explaining. Action game with better graphic, more power ups, more mini games, and a whole lot of mushroom actions. There is always one for every Nintendo System and Super Mario Bros always delivers including this one







Super Mario Kart DS

Since its SNES days, mario kart has grown. Mario Kart for NDS is one of the best, if not the best kart racing game in NDS. Plenty of tracks, plenty of racing and plenty of trophy to win. Characters and cars can have different impact to the power ups and the performance of the car. Choosing the right combination can be vital to winning the race. Don't forget the battle mode where you have to beat your opponents using the power up, steal stars etc. There are plenty of gameplay in this game. 


That's all folks. Have a great day ... Let's hope for another year of full gaming joy .. See you next year !

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