"Gotta have" DS games thus far?

[jdc]

I'm buying a Nintendo DS Mario Kart bundle when it arrives this week. I've had the store put a copy of Mario 64 DS away as well.

The PSP has it's stellar games like Hot Shots, Wipeout and Lumines. I'm not familiar with the DS lineup at all and was wondering, at this stage in the game, which are the gotta haves and which are the games to stay away from? I was surprised at the bad review that Ridge Racer DS got, considering that the PSP RR was brilliant. Being a Lunar fan, I was also shocked at the slamming that the Lunar DS game received. It has to be a reviewer bias....how can it be bad?

Lastly, how and WHAT exactly IS Nintendogs? Is it a modern "Tamagotchi", or is it a doggie Pokemon? Is there a story involved or is it a pain in the ass dog that you have to go out of your way to check on and feed and exercise every day? The reason I ask is that I could also go for the Nintendogs limited edition bundle and grab Mario Kart as a seperate game.

I'm planning on picking up 5 games when I get the system.

[atari_overlord]

In my opinion Zoo Keeper is a MUST have. If you are into puzzle games. I have wasted way too much time sliding animal heads around. At only $20 clams its well worth it.

[mikeetler]

Lastly, how and WHAT exactly IS Nintendogs? Is it a modern "Tamagotchi", or is it a doggie Pokemon? Is there a story involved or is it a pain in the ass dog that you have to go out of your way to check on and feed and exercise every day? The reason I ask is that I could also go for the Nintendogs limited edition bundle and grab Mario Kart as a seperate game.

You summed up Nintendogs very well as a modern Tamagotchi. You don't have to check on it daily though, but before going for a walk or entering a competition you will have to feed him and occasionally clean him. The amount of time you put in will affect your trainer points, which are what unlocks other breeds. You can also unlock breeds by connecting to another system that has a dog you currently don't have in your kennel.

As for other games to check out, Meteos is excellent. Zoo Keeper was already mentioned but I'll second it. Feel the Magic was a blast and can be had for cheap (Target's got them clearanced and I've seen it in a few of them for $10). Bomberman was really good. And while I haven't played Castlevania or Trauma Center yet, I have hear lots of good things about both.

[davidbrit2]

Pac'n Roll is excellent. It's sort of a REALLY fleshed out Marble Madness. I'd also recommend Asphalt Urban GT, as it's still by far the best auto racer for DS. Ridge Racer is basically Ridge Racer 64, but without the options to make the controls not suck horribly. Need For Speed Underground 2 is also terrible, mostly because the physics are so bad. It's like you're driving on a road composed of mattresses a dozen thick. Stick to the fantastic GBA version for that one.

[le geek]

Zoo Keeper is fun, but the music sucks... but as a cheapie it's not bad...

games that seem to get consistent high marks, but that I haven't played:
Advance Wars DS
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
Mario Kart DS
Meteos
Nintendogs

Others that I've played:
Feel the Magic XX/XY is fun while it lasts
Polarium is interesting but the challenge mode gets hard quickly
Yoshi Touch 'n Go is too short for my tastes
The Urbz: doesn't tax the system, but is a long enjoyable game.
Sprung is kind of fun while it lasts
Super Mario 64 DS is fun, but suffers from the lack of an analogue stick and gets too hard to control in the later levels. Has some fun minigames though...

Games that I want to try even though they have gotten mixed reviews:
Dig Dug: Digging Strike
Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits
Pac 'n Roll
Pac-Pix
Trace Memory
Warioware Touched!
Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble

[GrandAmChandler]

Kirby's Canvas Curse! Best use of the touch screen! A must have.

[n8littlefield]

I would second Zoo Keeper - great fun. I personally feel Castlevania, Advance Wars, Meteos are must owns. Trauma Center is likely one as well, I rented it and can't wait for the $$ to buy it.

I personally LOVE Yoshi - it's not too short, it's just not a traditional adventure game Yoshi - it's more like a puzzle game that looks like a platformer. Great stuff IMHO.

[Gamereviewgod]

http://www.digitpress.com/reviews/index_ds.htm

Never hurts to check.

[calthaer]

I will second and / or add the following:

Lost in Blue
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
Advance Wars DS
Kirby: Canvas Curse
Trauma Center: Under the Knife

Nanostray is a good shmup, but it is certainly not Ikaruga. It's decent, though, and if you're a fan of the genre you'll most likely enjoy it.

Lost in Blue is just a very different sort of game...don't know how to describe it apart from a "survival" game - gotta stay well-fed, watered, and rested while still trying to "get ahead" and explore the island can be a challenge.

[MuppetMaster]

The DS is a fantastic system! As for games the more inovative the better but good puzzler or platform games are allways welcome. If I had to pick 5 games they'd be:

Zoo Keeper-AKA Puzzle crack
Castlevania DOS-Platform crack
Trauma Center-Unique and challengeing
Phoniex Wright-Classic Adventure with good humor
Advance Wars DS-Brilliant Strat very replayable.

other to look for:

Feel The Magic-Magic indeed
Pack N Roll-excellent MM clone
Mario Kart-Heard great things
Metroid pinball-great game

and a few others but that should give you an idea.

[AlexKidd]

Of the games i've got Castlevania is my favorite. That's the game i bought the system for. Other ones I enjoy are Advance Wars, Metroid prime pinball and Kirby:canvas curse.

[JJNova]

Three titles that made the DS a worthwhile purchase.

Kirby Canvas Curse is the most fun I have had in a game for years. Pure, sidescroller, get from here to there kind of fun.

Advance Wars has a nice learning curve that will get you through the first 4 or 5 missions, and then only teach you the new stuff in the gameplay. If you havent played an Advance Wars previously, be aware that some of these missions will take you about an hour or so to beat.

Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow. No explanation. It's just great. ANd listening to the director speak, maybe the last 2d Castlevania.

[XxMe2NiKxX]

My suggesiton? Buy Mario Kart DS 5 times.

[Julio III]

out of what i have, the must haves are:

Meteos
WarioWare/Project Rub

Ouendan is brilliant also
There are too many games for this system which i need to get though

[sharp]

My top 3 is:
Advance Wars
Zoo Keeper
Castlevania

also liked Pac-Pix, although it's a bit short, just like Project Rub/ Feel the Magic XX-XY. Mario 64 never got me, but that's personal as I never liked the game and only bought it again as I would like to give it another try as some many people say it's a great game. Also I liked Bomberman, which is great n multipalyer as usual.

[njiska]

MUST HAVE IMO:

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
Mario Kart DS
Meteos
Phoneix Wright (It's far too liniaer but the humour and writing in the game, make it worth ever signle penny)
Trauma Centre: Under the Knife (Unique and Challenging)
Feel the Magic: XY/XX

Good but not must own:

Kirby Canvase Curse
Nintendogs
Metroid Pinball
Bomberman

Interesting for Niches

Trace Memory (Simple straight forawrd, but if you love point and clicks, you'll like this)
Lost in Blue
Nanostray (for the SHUMP lover)

[ubersaurus]

some of my favs:

Super Mario 64
Nanostray
Mario Kart DS
Advance Wars Dual Strike
Pac-Pix
Wario Ware Touched
Space Invaders Revolution
Mr Driller: Drill Spirits

Feel the Magic, Trauma Center, Meteos, Sonic Rush, Castlevania, Pheonix Wright, Kirby, and Pac-n-roll are all games I've heard good things about, but I can't personally vouch for.

[squidblatt]

Here's what I've got:

Zoo Keeper - simple puzzle fun, but if you have Meteos, you don't need it.

Meteos - awesome.

Castlevania DOS - If you have a DS, you need this game.

Lost in Blue - It's niche, but I love it. If you're the type who enjoys Harvest Moon, you'll probably like it, too.

Nintendogs - It's cute. And by that I mean "great." By now you know if it's for you or not.

Trauma Center - It's a must own for me, but I'm sure there are plenty of people who won't get into it since there are no explosions.

[Matt-El]

Phoenix Wright. Bar none.

[snes_collector]

Polarium. My personal favorite, but it's got a love-it or hate-it appeal. My other two DS games(and the MP demo) Wario Ware, Meteos are brillant too.