Support NeoGAF

[IAmtheFMan]

Here's the backstory: I took advantage of the Gamerush trade in 3 games and get a 5 dollar pre-owned game... almost to the point of abusing it. I traded in 9 games in total; 6 console games and 3 GBA games, and was surprised to find out that you could trade in 3 GBA games and use the deal too... something I didn't know. I was really gunning for Jade Empire, but none of the Gamerush's (Gamerushes?) in Cincinnati had it. I settled for Halo 2 which I haven't played yet, KOTOR 2, likewise, and San Andreas which I had, but subsequently sold back.

I realized after this that I had a good amount of credit too; I then went home and got my GBA, my SP, and my 3 connector cords (no more FF:CC for me till Rev I guess ) and sold those back too. At this point, I was close to about 140 dollars worth of credit, and was thinking about paying the 10 dollars and getting a DS, or saving up a little more and splurging for the PSP. Weighing the pros and cons, the PSP looked DAMN sexy, and the inner tech-geek kept telling me to do it, but the only game that made me go "OMG, I really want that now" was Lumines; I'm not really into racing games, and some of the others don't really appeal to me. The DS seemed to have a better immediate future, I've never played SM64 (blasphemy I know) and aside from Lumines, has a better plethora of puzzlers which I would most likely seem to appreciate a lot more on the go then, say Ridge Racer or a game like MGA.

The bulk of my experimenting with the DS yesterday was with my old GBA games which look DAMN good now. Fire Emblem and Advance Wars look great, and I saw detail in Metroid Zero Mission that I didn't before. The only DS game I got was Polarium (they were sold out of SM64DS or whatever it's called) and though there's a few others out there that I want, I'll have to wait until after my final on Tuesday.

Thus far, I've been having a lot of fun with Polarium; you gotta wrack your brain for some of those puzzles. I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but a game like this is right up my alley; laidback, something that I can just sit back and stare at and try to figure out like a crossword puzzle or something. Plus, this might just be me falling into the Nintendo Propaganda machine, but I HAVE appreciated the new way of playing a video game. It seems fresh, even when I'm just touching things and turning them from black to white and vice versa.

Other games that I want that are either out or coming in the near future: SM64, Puyo Pop, Meteos, possibly Zoo Keeper, Wario Ware (and Twisted ) Yoshi, Advance Wars DS, Castlevania DS, AC DS, Mario Kart, and Trace Memory. Wow, that's a lot more than I expected.

 

[demi]

Welcome to the club

Allow demi to extend his hand in greeting

 

[IAmtheFMan]

Thanks, oh and I forgot to mention that I'll most likely pick up a Nintendog too.

 

[StoOgE]

Wario Ware touched isnt really that good. Most of the games are horribly derivative and only a few are fun. I wouldnt really get that one. If you want a mini-game kinda deal, I would go with Feel the Magic. Some of its games are downright stupid, but a few of them are REALLY REALLY good. Plus, they are much more varied and the game is a better showcase of the DS overall, IMO.

 

[MoccaJava]

demi, weren't you once in the PSP camp?

 

[IAmtheFMan]

Hmmm... that's sad to hear that Wario Ware Touched isn't that good. I really liked the first one. Oh well, I guess I'll settle for Twisted.

 

[Musashi Wins!]

Feel the Magic is such a tech demo. ugh.

Buy Wario Ware Twisted. It's about the best handheld game of all time.

 

[Unison]

I'd say you should get Mario 64 DS, Warioware Twisted, and Zoo Keeper.

I personally love Yoshi, but it seems like most people think it's not worth the cash & prefer Kirby.

 

[MoccaJava]

If you look at the other thread on it, it seems Kirby DS is quite the great game. Maybe you should try that instead.

 

[Ironclad]

Wario Ware touched isnt really that good. Most of the games are horribly derivative and only a few are fun. I wouldnt really get that one. If you want a mini-game kinda deal, I would go with Feel the Magic. Some of its games are downright stupid, but a few of them are REALLY REALLY good. Plus, they are much more varied and the game is a better showcase of the DS overall, IMO.

I agree, FTM makes much better use of the DS features than Touched does. Touched isn't all that bad. It still has its share of fun minigames but I would go with Feel the Magic if you had to pick one.

I've been toying around with Polarium lately as well. Some of those puzzles drive me insane but it's still fun. Very relaxed game.

 

[demi]

demi, weren't you once in the PSP camp?

Hm...I was interested in a PSP more than a DS, but then the demi factor kicked in (not to mention a cheap deal (Mario 64 + DS = $110)).

It saved my life, you know.

 

[StoOgE]

Hmmm... that's sad to hear that Wario Ware Touched isn't that good. I really liked the first one. Oh well, I guess I'll settle for Twisted.

Twisted is a much better game. Not to say that Touched isnt fun, because I had alot of fun with my first playthrough.. but going for gold crowns was a real chore to the point where I just stopped because I wasnt having any fun at all... replay value is pretty much nill on the thing.

 

[Unison]

Hmmm... that's sad to hear that Wario Ware Touched isn't that good. I really liked the first one. Oh well, I guess I'll settle for Twisted.

Ah, it's pretty darned good, but Twisted is simply better.

 

[Ferny84]

demis

 

[demi]

demis

Hi

 

[Sanjuro]

I'm a DS owner since launch and was a PSP owner from launch for about 2 weeks. The value and the quality of upcoming games is astounding where the PSP is overpriced by a great deal and is shitting out X-Treme SPORT titles that have already been outplayed on the consoles for some time now.

Lumines kicks all sorts of ass though and reading comics was a great thing as well , thats about all I can say about the PSP

 

[IAmtheFMan]

The reason why I'm kinda hesitant on FTM is tht I tried a demo at an EB where you have to get a fish or something out of a stomach; I don't know if I was doing it wrong, but I was rubbing the shit out of the thing and the thing was going up; but not to where it needed to be or something and it got to the point where my hand was cramping up. Is the whole game like that?

Speaking of which, is there a specific screen protector that i should pick up somewhere?

 

[demi]

I've had no reason to get a screen protector yet, because I am kind and gentle to my precious

 

[Kon Tiki]

demis

What the hell man? Quit spamming two boards and drop the obsession with demi.

 

[siege]

My DS is the only thing I play anymore. Glad to see you took the plunge. Lot's of great games coming soon!

 

[StoOgE]

The reason why I'm kinda hesitant on FTM is tht I tried a demo at an EB where you have to get a fish or something out of a stomach; I don't know if I was doing it wrong, but I was rubbing the shit out of the thing and the thing was going up; but not to where it needed to be or something and it got to the point where my hand was cramping up. Is the whole game like that?

Speaking of which, is there a specific screen protector that i should pick up somewhere?

No, all of the games are very different.. that particular one isnt very good. Im not saying get FTM. I have it, and like it alot, but there are better games. Im just saying, if you want a mini-game thing that uses the DS functions, its better than Warioware touched.

also, stay away from the screen protectors, I bought one from Pelican and it wound up making the thing unplayable and took me an hour to get back off without damaging the unit. Its a pretty well built little bugger, Ive had it since Xmas, play it a ton (mostly mini-game stuff that involves rubbing the screen) and have not a scratch on it.

 

[captmcblack]

It's threads like these that make me wish there was a "Welcome To The Family" picture for the DS.

But yeah, GG on the pickup. DS rox, and all that.

 

[Madame M]

I command you to get Puyo Pop Fever immediately for the following reasons:

1.) Atlus
2.) Oshare Bones
3.) 8 player single cart download
4.) You suck if you don't

The DS games I own, from best to worst:

Puyo Pop Fever
Feel the Magic: XY/XX
Sprung
Zoo Keeper
Mario 64 DS

 

[IAmtheFMan]

Thanks for the recommendations and all guys. I'll be sure to update this thread with more impressions, but for now, I'm off to sleep.

 

[mutsu]

You have made the right choice for joining with the force. May the force be with you.

 

[BreakyBoy]

It's threads like these that make me wish there was a "Welcome To The Family" picture for the DS.

But yeah, GG on the pickup. DS rox, and all that.

I forsee two strangely happy people posing for the camera, with flip sunglasses. Each lens with a DS logo on it and the words WELCOME TO THE FAMILY underneath in the DS logo font.

Someone get to work on this.

 

[b_dawk]

well, i liked touched... maybe it was short-lived fun but i didn't put my ds down for like two days. don't forget all the great gb games out there you can own and play (though that black unused screen is a sad thing). i recently bought super mario and have been wearing my ds ragged. hurrah for old school!

 

[BuddyC]

Hmmm... that's sad to hear that Wario Ware Touched isn't that good. I really liked the first one. Oh well, I guess I'll settle for Twisted.

When it comes to the Wario Ware games, Twisted is the furthest thing from a settlement. It's the high point of the franchist thus far, and while Touched is entertaining, it really doesn't even come close to Twisted.

 

[drohne]

i just got a ds too. electroplankton is really neat. but it starts to seem less neat with each passing day. also rented wario ware touched, and boy...this was never meant to be a franchise. the first one got by on novelty. touched still has moments of scatterbrained brilliance, where the ugly graphics and irritating sounds obscure the one-note paucity of the gameplay. but they don't last. i might pick up kirby, but after that yoshi game, i'm not sure there's any point to touchscreen platforming. it's going to be a long wait for fall and real games.

in the meantime, though, gba games do look great on that screen. the ds is an ergonomic disaster, but maybe i'll get used to it.

 

[DEO3]

After reading so many positive DS posts as of late, I finaly convinced myself to pick one up. So I grabbed a few PS2/GC games which I had laying around and hadn't played in ages, and brought them down to the local shop to trade them in. But while waiting in line I chickened out and ended up just buying a couple more PS2/GC games instead.

I've been gamging for 15+ years now and I've begun to get really bored with what I see being offered. More and more sequals/copy cats and less creative/novel ideas (which is the entire draw to gaming IMO), so naturaly the DS has intrigued me. Almost every DS game I read about seems unique, interesting, and most importantly, fun.

But I'm not still in school so there's no time for me to play it on a bus or inbetween classes, and I drive for a living so I can't play it at work. The only time I'd be able to play it is when I'm at home, where I have a hard time believing that a handheld can really compete with my PC, my consoles, and my home theatre...

And yet still, I find myself longing to purchase one.

How can I justifiy it?

 

[neptunes]

Drohne, I remember you mentioning that you had purchased a pearl white DS, would you mind posting some pics?

I might actually buy one.

 

[demi]

After reading so many positive DS posts as of late, I finaly convinced myself to pick one up. So I grabbed a few PS2/GC games which I had laying around and hadn't played in ages, and brought them down to the local shop to trade them in. But while waiting in line I chickened out and ended up just buying a couple more PS2/GC games instead.

I've been gamging for 15+ years now and I've begun to get really bored with what I see being offered. More and more sequals/copy cats and less creative/novel ideas (which is the entire draw to gaming IMO), so naturaly the DS has intrigued me. Almost every DS game I read about seems unique, interesting, and most importantly, fun.

But I'm not still in school so there's no time for me to play it on a bus or inbetween classes, and I drive for a living so I can't play it at work. The only time I'd be able to play it is when I'm at home, where I have a hard time believing that a handheld can really compete with my PC, my consoles, and my home theatre...

And yet still, I find myself longing to purchase one.

How can I justifiy it?

You can't. Get a GBA player for GCN and stick with that for the time being.

 

[drohne]

my camera's broken. i wouldn't recommend importing a white ds, though...it doesn't look that good, and i have a dead pixel i can't do anything about. i should've just bought a domestic unit.

 

[Virgin Wii]

i might pick up kirby, but after that yoshi game, i'm not sure there's any point to touchscreen platforming.

GAF Japan loved Kirby, every single one of them if I'm not mistaken. While I do think most of them liked Yoshi as well, the concensus is that Kirby is a much better example of touchscreen gameplay. It's the DS game I'm most excited about, after Castlevania of course.

 

[StRaNgE]

i'm thinking hard about taking the plunge as well this month after that blue electric one comes out.

anyone know a game release list of what's out as of now and what is due out this june and july?

 

[Brandon F]

WarioWare Touch single-handedly killed my interest in Twisted, but it's getting quite difficult to ignore the praise.

I'm buying Kirby on the basis that it will be the first palpable representation of the DS capabilities(Metroid demo notwithstanding given how dumb the actual content is). The positive comments are certainly fueling that purchase as well.

Yoshi probably would have been a purchase if it were called Gumshoe 2005 instead. I'd have preferred to play that.

Of the 4 DS games I have purchased thus far, only Mario remains a keeper. It's hard not to be excited for those Q3/4 releases though.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

:lol I like how when Gamerush first opened, the freakin MANAGER was explaining to everyone how to abuse the "Get any preowned game for $5" deal to get a brand new Xbox. FEEL THE RUSH, BITCHES!

 

[Koshiro]

The DS games I own, from best to worst:

Puyo Pop Fever
Feel the Magic: XY/XX
Sprung
Zoo Keeper
Mario 64 DS

Is this a joke post?

 

[Mallrat83]

Soon I will join the fast growing number of DS owners. Soon.

 

[demi]

Soon I will join the fast growing number of DS owners. Soon.

I welcome all DS owners with open arms, all are welcome in the house of demi

 

[Falch]

Since you're into puzzle games, check out this flash version of Zoo Keeper. Perhaps it'll convince you to buy the DS version.

 

[jarrod]

it's going to be a long wait for fall and real games.

There's actually some good looking stuff coming this summer too...

06.13 Kirby: Canvas Curse (Nintendo)
06.21 Bomberman (Ubisoft)
06.27 Meteos (Nintendo)

07.19 Nanostray (Majesco)

08.16 Lost in Blue (Konami)
08.16 Pac 'n Roll (Namco)
08.22 Advance Wars: Dual Strike (Nintendo)
08.30 Yu-Gi-OH! Nightmare Troubadour (Konami)

...it's better than PSP anyway.

 

[Kiriku]

There's actually some good looking stuff coming this summer too...

06.13 Kirby: Canvas Curse (Nintendo)
06.21 Bomberman (Ubisoft)
06.27 Meteos (Nintendo)

07.19 Nanostray (Majesco)

08.16 Lost in Blue (Konami)
08.16 Pac 'n Roll (Namco)
08.22 Advance Wars: Dual Strike (Nintendo)
08.30 Yu-Gi-OH! Nightmare Troubadour (Konami)

...it's better than PSP anyway.

So, when's Trace Memory coming? Fall? I was hoping for a summer release.

 

[jarrod]

So, when's Trace Memory coming? Fall? I was hoping for a summer release.

It's summer (late June) for you, fall (late September) for me.

 

[Tim the Wiz]

There's actually some good looking stuff coming this summer too...

06.13 Kirby: Canvas Curse (Nintendo)
06.21 Bomberman (Ubisoft)
06.27 Meteos (Nintendo)

07.19 Nanostray (Majesco)

08.16 Lost in Blue (Konami)
08.16 Pac 'n Roll (Namco)
08.22 Advance Wars: Dual Strike (Nintendo)
08.30 Yu-Gi-OH! Nightmare Troubadour (Konami)

I'm all over that. This summer looks to be great for the DS!

So, when's Trace Memory coming? Fall? I was hoping for a summer release.

Sadly, it looks that way: 09/26/05, it is.

It's summer (late June) for you, fall (late September) for me.

Colour me confused, but isn't Trace Memory (aka Another Code) out in Japan, already?

 

[Kiriku]

It's summer (late June) for you, fall (late September) for me.

Alright, a small victory for Europe.
But it would actually be better with a US release first, since it's cheaper to import.

Colour me confused, but isn't Trace Memory (aka Another Code) out in Japan, already?

I'm assuming the June date was for Europe, which is where I live.
Or maybe you were asking anyway, in which case: you're absolutely right, the Japanese version is out already...was released some time ago, was it in March perhaps?

 

[Musashi Wins!]

You really, really shouldn't let Touched keep you from playing Twisted.

Twisted is maybe the best in the series and just incredible fun. I disagree with drohne about the first game being sort of a pointless gimmick, I still enjoy it, but Twisted makes the whole premise fresh again.

Touched is an abomination and reeks of cash-in. It seriously lacks fun. It's pretty clear from interviews that it was a rush job that the team wasn't as able to polish and refine as the others. I don't want them to sequelize it to death, but the original and Twisted are classics.

 

[borghe]

twisted is a must have.

Fell the Magic is awesome, but short. I was fine with it being short, and absolutely loved it. Actually I can't think of anyone that wouldn't love the game, but yeah, it's pretty short. I beat it in a few hours. but I still go bak and play it every here and there.

Puyo Pop Fever is possibly THE must have title on the DS. you may have played puyo pop a million times to death already, but being able to play eight player is just awesome, and the other players only need to supply a ds.

Mario 64DS is a must have in every DS owners library. The control is really good for not being true analog, and the mini-games rule.

Nintendogs most people will like it. a lot of people will love it. the minority will hate it. I am in the camp that loves it.

Meteos is a Lumines killer. Lumines is one of the best puzzle games ever, but my problem is that it isn't very pick up and go. the main game, to get a good score, goes on for 30+ minutes at times. yes you can use sleep mode, but taking yourself out of the game, especially with a stacked screen, and trying to come back later can be pretty difficult. meteos on the other hand is ever bit as addictive as lumines but is much more conducive to pick up and go play. games last minutes, not half hours or hours.

kirby is possibly one of the greatest games I have ever played. just freaking genius. really the only game anywhere near as ingenious as kirby in recent history is warioware twisted.

those imho are the must have games right now (well, except for nintendogs which is august).

 

[ZeMMiK]

a lot of those games are good games but not worth the full price. I buy them at least with 50 or 60% off (2nd hand). It saves me a lot of money that way, and most of the times I can pick those games up within 4 weeks.
Ony for Meteos I pay the full price.

 

[Brandon F]

You really, really shouldn't let Touched keep you from playing Twisted.

Twisted is maybe the best in the series and just incredible fun. I disagree with drohne about the first game being sort of a pointless gimmick, I still enjoy it, but Twisted makes the whole premise fresh again.

Touched is an abomination and reeks of cash-in. It seriously lacks fun. It's pretty clear from interviews that it was a rush job that the team wasn't as able to polish and refine as the others. I don't want them to sequelize it to death, but the original and Twisted are classics.

It really won't be long before I take the plunge, but those comments you mentioned about playing on a DS in the other thread have me slightly worried as well. I sold my GBASP to help fuel the DS purchase.