Essential DS Games

[Spanky Deluxe]

Ok... so if I were to buy a Nintendo-DS, which games would you guys consider essential? I would get Nintendogs and the brain thingy. Anything else?

[srobert]

I'll repost my post from the "ds games, i can't choose (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=204130)" thread here. My personnal 2 favorites:

2 two games I've played the most on my DS:

- Advance Wars: Dual Strike
220 hours played this far.
I've gone through the main story 3 times. I'm now playing the
combat maps. I've collectecd 223 medals and hope to eventually
get them all. I purchased all the extras and got all the secondary
suits. I'm still haven't unlocked one of the secret skill and the last
character. Lot's of unlockables in this game. I can easily see myself
busting the 500 hours mark on this title. It's a very challenging but
fun game. A great "pick-up-and-play" game.

- Castlevania: Dawn of sorrow.
A little over 100 hours.
I've done the main quest 3 times and can easily see myself playing
it again. The best I've achieved so far is 99.9% completion. I must
have missed a secret room. Peeping eye to the rescue! I've seen 2
different ending so far. Might be more. Once you've beaten the game,
you can also redo it using the supporting characters with the old style
Castlevania game mechanics. One of the best "additional material"
ever included in a game.

There a lots of other amzing DS games out there but those 2 gave me
the most for my money thus far.

[Yvan256]

Tetris DS. Unless of course you don't like Tetris. :D

Magnetica and Meteos if you like puzzles.

Animal Crossing: Wild World... a bit similar to The Sims, but more simple.

Metroid Prime: Hunters if you like first-person shooters (though I find this game rather difficult as I'm used to a keyboard+mouse combo for such games - it's easier than analog sticks though).

Edit: toysrus.ca states "This item cannot be shipped to Quebec." for Nanostray (probably doesn't have a french manual). I'll have to order it from someone on eBay... :(

[Bubbasteve]

As of now here are my games...

New Super Mario Bros.: Pretty fun game but far too easy

Mario Kart: After getting first in the first two circuits I thought I was the king at the game...3 losses in a row from other players over Wi-Fi put me in check....

Brain Age: This is just too fun IMO...it was definitely worth the $20 I payed to get it...very interesting concept

These games should hold me over for Children of Mana, Final Fantasy III, and Yoshi's Island 2

[Torajima]

Must have games?

Meteos - one of the most addictive puzzle games I've every played. And it has amazing production values... multiple game modes, tons of unlockable content, a bunch of different worlds (each with their own physics), and an enormous variety of music and sound effects.

New Super Mario Bros. - I'm not really a big Mario fan, but this game is so pretty (and so much fun to play), I might have to break down and buy it.

Metroid Pinball - the best pinball game since Alien Crush on the TurboGrafx.

Trace Memory - a beautiful anime adventure game that makes good use of both screens.

Trauma Center - I haven't played this one, but it's gotten rave reviews and makes good use of the touch display.

Mario Kart DS - another game with great reviews. Features online play.

Nintendogs - everyone is buying it, so it must be good, right? ;)

Brain Age - a "game" to train your brain... and who doesn't want to be smarter?

Animal Crossing DS - your life away from your "real life". Supposedly better than the Gamecube version...

Nanostray - shooter with awesome 3D graphics (and 2D gameplay). Doesn't make good use of the touch display, but it's still a very pretty game.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Nightmare Troubadour - great game for Yugioh fans

And as others have mentioned, Advance Wars Dual Strike, Tetris DS, Metroid Prime, etc.

There's more, but that's all the time I have for now...

[Dagless]

ah. this again. I'm not going to post reasons. but here is my top list

WarioWare
Kirby
Bomberman (multiplayer)
Nanostray
Nintendogs
Advance Wars
Mario Kart
Animal Crossing
Metroid Hunters
Mario DS
Castlevania DS

[Haoshiro]

Can anyone tell me what the difference is for multiplayer DS games concerning Single-cart vs. Multi-cart?

I don't care which games specifically, but I noticed some list that you can do both and some list one or the other. Those that have both, I can't really tell what the differences are. Is the single-cart multiplayer severely limited, etc?

[GFLPraxis]

Can anyone tell me what the difference is for multiplayer DS games concerning Single-cart vs. Multi-cart?

I don't care which games specifically, but I noticed some list that you can do both and some list one or the other. Those that have both, I can't really tell what the differences are. Is the single-cart multiplayer severely limited, etc?

Depends entirely on the game.

In Mario Kart, for example, they are the same except for single cart players are limited to only one character and 8 tracks. In Tetris DS they are exactly the same IIRC. In New Super Mario Bros however you can only do minigames in single cart.

[DavidLeblond]

Who woulda thunk that Macrumors would be where I get all my DS info from? I'm planning on picking up a DS later this week after I put my Gamecube up on eBay (I only need one system to play at a time.) I was saving up for the upcoming iMac but a broken washer put that on hold :P.

[sk1985]

Anything with the world mario in it. No joke Mario kart, NSMB, Mario 64, ect.... All of those games are good to great.

[2nyRiggz]

My picks:

NSMB(I love this one)
MP:H
Trauma Center
P.Wright(OBJECTION!!!....i love doing that)
Mario Kart
Brain Age(This grew on me)
Castlevania DS(good game)
Kirby

Any game that makes you use the stylist more!


Bless

[Dandaman]

anyone tried big brain academy yet? I'm gonna buy either brain age or big brain academy, but not sure which one yet. any help?

thanks

daniel

[Bubbasteve]

anyone tried big brain academy yet? I'm gonna buy either brain age or big brain academy, but not sure which one yet. any help?

thanks

daniel
brain age pwns ;)

[2nyRiggz]

Indeed..brain age is lots of fun....makes me think a lot...good job.


Bless

[.Andy]

This thread needs some Ouendan Love. Classic game and very fun and challenging.

http://www.maj.com/gallery/drawne/Curve/ouendan.jpg

It's also very import friendly. No knowledge of japanese is required to navigate - it's really easy to figure out the single menu.

Youtube gameplay vids to get you enthused - Clikity (http://www.youtube.com/results?search=ouendan&search_type=search_videos&search=Search)

[it5five]

I only have 3 DS games, and I've had my DS for a while now :(

All of them are great, though

Mario 64: I never had a 64, so I got this for DS. If you have played this game before/owned a 64+this, I wouldn't make it a priority.

New Super Mario Bros.: So fun. But easy. Still, get it though.

Advance wars Dual Strike: Fun game, but difficult. Should go ahead and get it, it will last a while, which makes it worth the money.

[rosalindavenue]

Mario 64: I never had a 64, so I got this for DS. If you have played this game before/owned a 64+this, I wouldn't make it a priority.



I was just about to ask why noone had listed Mario 64-- after all, the original is considered to have been one of the best games of all time. Is it because the core DS fans are all N64 fans who were looking for something new? Or is it a weak title for some reason? I was out of the console wars for 20 years and I plan for Mario 64 to be my first purchase when I get my DS-- any reason not to?

[simon-says]

I was just about to ask why noone had listed Mario 64-- after all, the original is considered to have been one of the best games of all time. Is it because the core DS fans are all N64 fans who were looking for something new? Or is it a weak title for some reason? I was out of the console wars for 20 years and I plan for Mario 64 to be my first purchase when I get my DS-- any reason not to?
I loved Mario 64 on the N64, but for the DS it's just different. Maybe I just miss the N64 controller, I'm not sure. The mini games on there are fun, but I guess I just miss the controller for this game too much.

As for the games I'd pick up.
Metroid Prime Hunters
Nintendogs
Mario Kart DS

[Foxglove9]

I've been playing Big Brain Academy all week. It's loads of fun, though I don't own Brain Age so I couldn't compare. They both seem great, for me it was a toss up I chose Big Brain because I liked the puzzles on the website demos. But Brain Games might be my next purchase.

You have to figure Brain Games you can probably get used for cheap since it's a real hot seller and there will be lots floating around when people get bored of it. Maybe?

anyone tried big brain academy yet? I'm gonna buy either brain age or big brain academy, but not sure which one yet. any help?

thanks

daniel

[it5five]

I was just about to ask why noone had listed Mario 64-- after all, the original is considered to have been one of the best games of all time. Is it because the core DS fans are all N64 fans who were looking for something new? Or is it a weak title for some reason? I was out of the console wars for 20 years and I plan for Mario 64 to be my first purchase when I get my DS-- any reason not to?

I'd get it, it's a blast. Plus there are about 20 extra stars (give or take a few, I can't recall). It was the only game I owned for about a month, and I still play it from time to time.

[.Andy]

I was just about to ask why noone had listed Mario 64-- after all, the original is considered to have been one of the best games of all time. Is it because the core DS fans are all N64 fans who were looking for something new? Or is it a weak title for some reason? I was out of the console wars for 20 years and I plan for Mario 64 to be my first purchase when I get my DS-- any reason not to?
I really love Mario 64 DS and I still pick it up and play occasionally. I had it for the 64 and like most people played it and played it until it was every level was combed through :p. It was one of my first purchases for the DS and I wasn't dissapointed - it was amazing to play it on the go. The extra charatcters (Yoshi, Wario, and Luigi and their individual characteristics) and bunnies/stars added more than enough to keep me interested. You could probably pick it up cheap - either way it's unlikely you'll be disappointed. I think some people just have sentimental (perhaps rose-coloured ;)) N64-o-phile memories....

If you play it on the DS lite chances are it'll be the best and brightest screen you'll ever have had the privilege of playing it on....

[Caitlyn]

For me, the one's I've used and love:
Animal Crossing: Wild World
New Super Mario Bros
Yoshi Touch & Go
Mario & Luigi: Partners In Time
Mario Kart DS
Nintendogs

[Dagless]

I bought Castlevania DS yesterday




:eek:

it's single handedly destroyed every other DS game in my little opinion. just wow.

[MS bulldog]

I bought Castlevania DS yesterday



is that one rare/hard to find?

[Dagless]

In my neck of the woods. yes. I searched for months in Oldham, Ashton and Manchester to find this. all the little back alley shops, all the main shops. nobody had it. it was a stroke of luck I found it in Game, an employee commented that people have been asking for this game for a while. they only got a mini-shipment that day and mine was the last one.

it's easy to buy online but it's at the point where online charges the same as high street. £25 is the running figure. no less. seemingly.

[MacRumorUser]

I Just bought castlevania on the glowing reviews of everyone here on the forums...

And now ..... I've got a copy of Castlevania DS up for trade on Marketplace :)

I just didnt enjoy it and have decided instead of losing loads of money to put it up for trade.

[jalagl]

I only have 3 DS games, and I've had my DS for a while now :(

All of them are great, though


Same here. I've only had three games since I got my DS last year. They are all awesome:


Mario Kart DS
Meteos
Castlevania DS


I am still hooked on Meteos, I played it for about two hours last Friday on a long flight I was in. Other games I would recommend:


Advanced Wars: DS
New Super Mario Bros. (my next purchase, as soon as I finish Castlevania)
Mario & Luigi
Metroid Prime Hunters

[madog]

I've been reading about the DS here for quite a bit and am fairly certain that I want to buy a new DS Lite; however; with the lack of a game included with it and the fact that there only seem to be around 10 DS games that everyone 'loves' it's becomming far less appealing. For some reason I was under the assumption that it came with the new SMB or at least a Tetris game.

It's disappointing too. I read through that whole 8 page "PSP or DS" thread and that pretty much convinced me to go out and buy one right after work. In fact, I was thinking about it so much that I had a dream about it when I took a nap this evening =P

So basically, stop posting about DS you asses! :cool:

:D

BTW, any RPG's out there for the DS? Like a FF or a Star Ocean [that would be sweet] or anything?

[Dagless]

Lost Magic is a sort of offline MMORPG
Lunar Story (I think it's called) is a pretty average, bordering on bad game.

The real RPG's are hitting soon. Final Fantasy 3 is coming out with a WiFi play mode, A Pokemon game is due out. I dunno really :) I don't follow RPG's as much. Frankly I'd get a DS Lite and go buy Golden Sun 1 and 2 (GBA) for a beautiful RPG mini series.