Now that the DS has been here for 7 months, same opinions?

[PDorr3]

Hard to believe it has been nearly 7 months since the DS' release, but the question is, did it live up to your expectations? surpass them? or are you still waiting it out to decide if the DS was worth the wait and hype, or if it lived up to the hype. Discuss how you feel the DS has strived so far.

[Half Japanese]

I want to like the DS, I really, really do, but Nintendo isn't really doing anything to appeal to me in particular. The only games I'd play on it at this point are games I already own for another system (Mr. Driller) or games that controlled so awful when I tried them that I was repulsed (Mario 64). The amount of games for it is certainly an issue too. What are there, maybe 25 or so games for it? And out of those, how many are above/average or good? I don't mean to derail this into another PSP thread, but it's been out a little over 3 months and it has a larger library (this is a games-only discussion). I'd like to get Castlevania when that comes out, but I think when it comes down to it, I'll have a hard time doling out $150 for a system with a woefully underimpressive lineup.

[AlexKidd]

I didn't buy my ds at launch. I bought it like a month or two ago,after I already had psp. I didn't buy it at first because it seemed like a cool system but Mario was the only really essential game out for awhile. However there seem to be tons of good games coming out starting with yoshi,then star wars,then kirby,then bomberman,then meteos and eventually we'll have castlevania,animal crossing,lunar etc .

I'm really enjoying this system and have been playing it more than any of my other handhelds and most of my consoles. It would have been almost worth buying just for the gba games. They look so good on here,i'm playing Castlevania:HoD on my ds right now. 8-)

[garyfoo182]

I do not own a DS but i do think a good type of format that needs to be explored for it is the RPG. You cold easily have one screen display cut screens or conversations between characters while you fight/ explore in the other.

Are the any games like this either out or coming out.

ZAG

[slip81]

I don't own a DS yet either, and I'm still on the fence as to what to think about it. Right now it's not something I would buy because there aren't enough games I would really play, but I think once Nintendo starts rolling out the bigger games in the fall I am going to pick one up.

I do like how Nintendo is trying new things with the whole touchscreen and not just releasing a bunch of ports *cough PSP cough*.

[Nesmaster]

I love the DS. Its the first handheld that has ever really appealed to me in this way. I WANT to play it, but the lack of games right now is preventing me from doing that. Kirby was great fun and i still havent beat it 100%, but the good games up until now are/were far and between. Cant wait for mario kart and a few other choice titles though :D

[Leroy]

Pac-Pix. Yeah! Finally Namco of Japan brings Pac-Man back from the world of complete and utter stagnation Namco Hometek has thrust him into with the horrible Pac-Man World series.

[Oobgarm]

Got mine right after launch, and if it weren't for Zoo Keeper and Wario Ware, I don't think it would have gotten much play. Meteos is a good game, but there for a while I was using it as a GBA. After I'd played through Feel the Magic, which was only like a week's worth of playtime, it kinda just sat there.

I won't say it passed my expectations, but it didn't disappoint me either. We'll see once Animal Crossing hits shelves.

[Mianrtcv]

I like the DS. The game library needs time. Right now I like my psp better. Just having a better time with those games. Once the DS gets a more varied library maybe that can change. I got DS at launch, no pre-sell. Same with psp. No I didn't camp out for them. SIDENOTE:The last system I went early for was the dreamcast (only like an hour before store opened). WHY DREAMCAST? WHY ?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jumpman Jr.]

I didn't buy a DS right away because I ddin't think it would meet what I wanted in a portable console. I eventually broke down and bought one, and I was fairly suprised at what it could do. I'm definitely very pleased with mine 8-)

[le geek]

Broke Even!

There are a lot of games that are coming soon though that look awesome though...

Animal Crossing DS
Black & White Creatures
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
ElectroPlankton
Lunar: Dragon Song
Nintendogs
Trace Memory
Viewtiful Joe DS

I do want to pick up Meteos soon (but will probably pick up Riveria GBA first). I really liked Feel the Magic while it lasted.

I had fun with, but eventually traded Zoo Keeper, Polarium and Yoshi Touch and Go. I still want to try Pac Pix and Warioware. Even Retro Atari if I can find it cheap...

Strangely enough I've spent the most time with the Urbz! LOL

Cheers,
Ben

[Mayhem]

The DS is doing better in my eyes than the PSP so far. Most things for it have been new as opposed to just being plain ports over from the PS2.

Well... I'll quantify new as being "different", "ideal" and "innovative".

Different - Electroplankton, Nintendogs (great non-gaming experiences)

Ideal - Meteos, Zookeeper (can't see playing them WITHOUT the touch screen now)

Innovative - PacPix, Kirby, Yoshi (can't see how they'd be possible without the touch screen)

The touch screen interface is the real key... the two screen thing just helps matters, but writing games that use both screens without using the touch interface isn't going to go as far imo.

[Gamereviewgod]

It's fair. Too many companies/developers are using the touch screen simply because they feel the need to. Half the stuff down there could be controlled with the standard controls. To do otherwise would be annoying, and that's most of the library. Game that do use it are hit or miss to. Pac Pix and Yoshi's Touch and Go we glorified tech demos. Zoo Keeper and Feel the Magic work flawlessly.

[googlefest1]

cant stand the DS - im so glad i didnt pay for mine -- dust collector like the original gameboy was for me - i dont need a portable N64 -- oh and i also think the second screen is a waste - AND personaly i dont like the way the 2 screens are used - i think they should be reversed - also the stylus anoys the crap out of me - i realy realy realy hope something real cool (in my eyes) starts comming out -- please dont let this be another GBA (even though im somewhat pleased with my GBA i just dont like seeing so many snes ports -on the other hand it is the one hand held that i use the most) -- im looknig forward to a couple price drops on the PSP i think that one will end up being better but so far im not impressed with that one either except for the way it looks and feels

[UndeadKing]

Far exceeded my expectations. When it was first announced I laughed and claimed it would be Virtual Boy 2. As games started getting announced I quickly changed my tune. I got one a few months after launch and I couldn't be happier. Sure, the library of games isn't overflowing, but I've found more games *I* enjoy on Ds than Psp. As they say, it's quality not quanity and for *my* money the DS is the better buy. Not a popular opinion, but oh well.

[Cmtz]

cant stand the DS - im so glad i didnt pay for mine -- dust collector like the original gameboy was for me - i dont need a portable N64 -- oh and i also think the second screen is a waste - AND personaly i dont like the way the 2 screens are used - i think they should be reversed - also the stylus anoys the crap out of me - i realy realy realy hope something real cool (in my eyes) starts comming out -- please dont let this be another GBA (even though im somewhat pleased with my GBA i just dont like seeing so many snes ports -on the other hand it is the one hand held that i use the most) -- im looknig forward to a couple price drops on the PSP i think that one will end up being better but so far im not impressed with that one either except for the way it looks and feels


I don't think the DS has any games that are for the N64 comming out or out except for Mario 64 DS.

I have the PSP and the DS. I've been playing my DS more even after PSP got it's emulation going. The DS has a great number games comming out this year. Plus the online games are gonna kick some serious ass.

Comon tell me you don't want these games ;)

Advance Wars: Dual Strike (get it Dual Strike = DS)

http://images.p-nintendo.com/jeux/nds/advancewarsds/images/01.jpg


Nintendogs

http://images.p-nintendo.com/jeux/nds/nintendogs/images/03.jpg

Trace Memory

http://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/5462/2h/images.gamezone.com/screens/26/8/53/s26853_NDS_10.jpg

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (get it Dawn of Sorrow= DS)

http://www.eyeweiss.com/pics/games/CastlevaniaDS/castlevania-ds-20050127022307818.jpg

Mario Kart DS (online)

http://www.jamesbrief.com/temp/051104_mario-kart-ds_ss-01.jpg

Age of Empires: The age of Kings

http://nintenblog.free.fr/images/ds/age_of_empires_2_the_age_of_kings_ds_20050319.jpg

Animal Crossing DS (online)

http://dsmedia.ign.com/ds/image/article/562/562473/animal-crossing-ds-20041101033926055.jpg

Lunar: Dragon Song (get it Dragon Song = DS)

http://www.dscentral.net/images/system/media/522/1.jpg

Mario & Luigi 2

http://www.dreamstation.cc/news/images/mario_and_luigi_2/mario_and_luigi_2_006.jpg

New Super Mario Bros

http://nintendo-ds.allack.co.uk/Images/Buy_Super_Mario_Bros_DS_5.jpg

Sonic Rush




Trama Center: Under the Knife

[NeoZeedeater]

I love the DS. Quirky, simple touch screen games like Kirby Canvas Curse and Feel the Magic give the system a unique feel and balance out the big epic games I play on PC/console like Half-Life 2 and Jade Empire. The DS beautifully mixes retro and modern and I'm very glad I bought it.

[norkusa]

Everyone keeps saying "just wait 'till ____ comes out for DS!" but I'm only interested in games that I can buy & play NOW. And right now, there is nothing on the DS that I want to play.

[MarioAllStar2600]

I agree with NorkUSA.... I don't care about the future, I base my opinion on what's going on with it now. I have the same EXACT feelings I had since launch. Some games are really good, alot of games suck. The hardware is amazing. Nice looking, powerful, and innovative, but they still don't have the software to back it up. I realize it's coming out, but as of right now the game selection is STILL un-impressive.

[phreak97]

i got my ds from the japanese release, because my preorder was one of the unfilled ones for the us release. i am happy with it, however due to the game library it has served me as an alarm clock more than anything else.. i use it to wake up every day that i have to. im looking forward to animal crossing and the new smb. i got polarium for AU$15 from my girlfriends sister.. never did work out where it actually came from in the first place.
is meteos really worth getting? i havnt seen anything about it really.
the psp still isnt out here, but theres a japanese one in a games store i went to to apply for a job, when i started playing it, i had a sinking feeling inside me, it lloked awesome, but the gameplay wasnt as nice as i had hoped (ridge racer). it gave me the feeling of a complete repeat of the ps2 for me, endless piles of games that are complete S@%T as far as gameplay is concerned.. really didnt give me a good feeling at all. i think it'd turn into a movie/mp3 player and retro emulation machine if i bought one.
i still plan to get a psp eventually, but not untill they come out here, and not untill i have a job and wont be to much phased by the price.

the ds almost met my expectations.. the silver plastic unfortunately wasnt made to last.. it's white plastic coated in silver.. means every scratch comes out easily visible. also it's not designed too well in that when closed the space below the speakers rubs against the console and takes the surface off.. making nastly silverless bits.

also an observation. somewhere between the japanese and australian releases, they changed the touch sensative layer. mine has the slight rainbow effect, where my friends doesnt, his has (if held in the right light) a grid of dots over the screen which are barely visible. i prefer the dots to be honest, but that's the price of being a smart ass and having a console three month before it comes out. also the right side of my top screen is darkened, like the backlight doesnt work quite right.. the screen is sealed though so i cant get in there to adjust it. you forget about it after a minute of play anyway.

[Chuplayer]

IMO, the DS has always done better than the PSP, but it's only starting to really pick up steam now. The DS is an exciting piece of hardware.

[Ed Oscuro]

The only reason I can think of right now for me to get a DS (games released stateside) would be for Castlevania: DoS...

[Emily]

I love the DS itself, but like everyone else,I want more new realeases.
I want a couple solid RPGs with good touch screen elements.
Im probably 1 of like 10 people who would buy it...but I want a good art program for the DS. Kind of like Paint but mabey with the ability to animate your drawings?like Pac-Pix. :-P

A Game maker type game might be pretty slick too...

I can dream at least :roll:

[Bluteg]

I bought it on release and loved it. I started to doubt it for a while but I'm very glad I stuck with it because... personally I am enjoying the DS titles more than the PSP lineup (what I've played of it). To me it seems that DS games are the more enjoyable games that are designed to be portable while most of the PSP games seem like shrunk down versions of PS2 games that would be better suited on a bigger screen. If I want to play Twisted Metal, Ape Escape or Ridge Racer... I'll buy the PS2 versions for ~$5 and get the same experience.

Also to that guy that said he doesn't fully enjoy the GBA because of all the SNES ports. I would much rather play SNES ports than all of that liscensed garbage on the GBA.

[Sylentwulf]

As usual, the DS thread turns into a "Yeah, but look what's COMING to the system!" thread.

He did not ask ONCE what do you think the system will be like in ANOTHER 7 months time. He said what it like RIGHT NOW, after it's been out for 7 months. Everyone is all Meteos happy, well, 6 months ago everyone was feel the magic happy. Games only last for so long. 1 good game per month isn't enough to keep a system alive.

Personally, I think it works as a GBA system, with the occasional decent game (Mr. Driller, feel the magic) and I'll be getting meteos. Other than those 3 games, I haven't seen much of anything I want for it. Oh, and Wario Ware, which was average. Definitely not as good as the first in the series. All the minigames didn't NEED to use the stylus....

[Mitch_Naz]

I love the DS, its something different and fresh. There hasn't been a great deal of games since launch but atlast its starting to pick up with two must own titles (Kirby & Meteos). Its a shame that some of 3D games dont seem to pull it off quite well like 007 and splinter cell but games like nanostray and Metroid Prime hunters look to end this trend.

There has been many GBA look alikes or upgrades, which kinda makes me anrgy. The DS has a good 3D engine and I want to see it used but on that note - 2D games can be also forgiving on the DS when the touch screen, mic and wireless are added to the fray to make them different and unqiue (again like Kirby).

The DS is really starting to change gears and I got my seat belt on.

[Aussie2B]

Well, there's nothing on it I gotta have RIGHT NOW, and I don't know if there will be for some time. Usually, it's a low price that makes me feel like it's time to buy a new system. However, I can say that there are already several titles out that I definitely want to add to my collection at some point, when everything is cheap enough for collecting. The DS's library easily interests me FAR more than the PSP library. I can think of maybe 2, 3 PSP games tops that I would be mildly interested.

I will say one thing, I'm impressed with the DS, to the point of being pleasantly surprised. A lot of people were shouting "Gimmick!", but having played a few games, the touch screen truly does allow for brand new gaming experiences that couldn't be had with a standard controller, or at least be half as entertaining. I look forward to the day when I can own one myself, and I look forward to future additions to its library.

[Jasoco]

Mario 64 sold it from the beginning for me. But Meteos refreshed my love today and Zoo Keeper will continue that tomorrow.

There are a lot of games coming out for it that will continue to continue it this fall anyway. I wouldn't DREAM of selling my DS.

Must I really mention Animal Crossing, NEW SMB and Mario Kart? Yes. Fall will be a good time for DS players. And hopefully PSP players too. As of tomorrow I will have more DS games than PSP games.

[goatdan]

I put down that I feel that it "broke even."

It has finally started to get a decent library, although they are still struggling with it. On the other hand, it seems like it has some incredible games coming.

Usually, I look at the librarys this close after a launch and say that there are a bunch of games coming out, but none look incredible. The DS flip-flopped that on me.

So it broke even. And I still don't plan on getting one for a long, long time...

[PDorr3]

To tell you the truth, I was extremely dissapointed with the DS until recently. All I had for months and months was super mario (I didnt mind controls, I was able to get 130 or so stars) and asphalt, driller, and spiderman.

At the release of wario, it didnt change my mind much, but it was the release of yoshi that made me look twice. Sure its a simplt tech demo with polish, but it is a fun and addicting preview of what is to come.

That was proven with the recent release of kirby, which is what yoshi was meant to be.

[Jasoco]

Kirby is on my list. As is Mr. Driller. And Meteos is really really starting to grow on me. I foresee Zoo Keeper doing the same and if I end up getting Kirby tomorrow as well, then wow. I got a lot of DS to play. And the good stuff still hasn't even come out yet!

[abdul]

its ok.

I have only kept Mario 64, every other game I have trade for another. Next is Yoshi touch and go ( gonna trade it with some cash for Meteos)

Psp is better, but its a good system