Hands-on with Nintendo DS games

by Ben Zackheim { Oct 12th 2004 at 12:28PM }

Just in case you missed it over the weekend, Gamespy got its grubby hands on some Nintendo DS launch titles. The preview includes closer looks at titles like Madden NFL 2005, Metroid Prime Hunters, Super Mario 64 and The Urbz: Sims in the City. The screenies look okay, though not as high-rez as we would like. Our impression of the images we've seen overall, so far, is mixed. Remember when the Playstation 2 first came out and people talked about how awful and pixelated the game screen shots looked? Turned out the system just doesn't look that good when it spits out a single frame. But in motion, of course, we know how great the PS2 ended up looking. Hopefully that's the explanation for these lower-rez DS images. We'll find out soon enough.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

karthik @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

If the above story of the DS is true then i guess only puzzle and side scrolling games will look good on the DS.Thats why they said that the Sony PSP will be in a totally different level .Game developers have to use the touch screen ability ,the dual screen and the voice recognition to the fullest in order to create a unique gaming experience,thereby concealing the graphical side of things .Nothings perfect in this world but the DS comes pretty close.It does offer a wholesome package .If the DS gets some fantastic games,it will not suffer like the Nintendo gamecube.Handheld gaming will overtake the console market in the near future and the DS or the PSP are the first steps in that direction.The PSP is truly the major step in getting console gaming quality in our hands.
The DS is the encouraging step while the PSP is the revolutionary one.

Alex @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

The 3D stuff does look better when it's in motion. In my experiance smooth animation and high frame rates are better than polygon count. The DS runs stuff at 60 FPS, quite a bit more than N64 ever did. Keep in mind that the shots are of moving images and they're also made for the smaller DS screen size and resolution. It's not the graphics that make the game anyway. I find it assuming that we're comparing PS2 graphics viewed on a TV to a handheld.

Arielle @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

Whoever wrote the first commment, I disagree with you. First of all, why bring up the GameCube? Sure, it had a rough start, but just look at the new gaming lineup for this year and next year! Let's see...we've got Resident Evil 4, Geist, Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, Odama, The Legend of Zelda GCN (tentative title), Starfox and more! All of those are coming this year or sometime next year! What do the Xbox users get to look forward to? Oh right, Halo 2. Anything else? No? Didn't think so. PS2 users? They get to look forward to, uh...I have no idea, actually. But to be completely honest, I think the GameCube will be doing better selling software this year and next year. Sure, Halo 2 may be a big hit, but that's ONE game. Now back to the DS...

You appear to know as if you know what will happen in the future. How do you know handhelds will be more popular than consoles? Anything is subject to change. Sure, handhelds are somewhat more popular now, but that's because of price and portability. I love my GBA SP, but I still play my GameCube a lot more.

But I fail to see how PSP is "the major step". Oh right, it has pretty graphics and analog control. Oh wait...I thought consoles already did that for us. Really, I play handhelds to get an experience you CAN'T get on a console. I don't want handhelds to suddenly be like a shrunken-down console. And if the PSP hasn't been released yet, how do you know it's "quality"? The thing is speculated to have 2.5 (less than 3 hours) of battery life. Do you want to recharge that thing every few hours? Good for you if you don't mind, but I don't think a handheld has much "quality" if it has to be recharged constantly. I see another "GameBoy v.s. Sega GameGear" fight happening here.

Just one more question: how is the DS an "encouraging step", while the PSP, as you put it, is...er..."revolutionary"? The DS uses features we have never seen in a handheld gaming device. However, the PSP is a multi-media (all-in-one) device that just happens to play games. Hardly revolutionary when we have MP3 players and DVD players, instead of using Sony's own format. If you think watching a movie on a UMD on a 4.5 inch screen is "fun", fine. But I'd rather stick to using a DVD player for movies, listening to the radio for music and using a REAL revolutionary handheld for games (DS! DS! DS!)

And Alex, you are so right. Why are we comparing a PS2 game to a handheld game? That's rediculous...

Kim Laughton @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

"Really, I play handhelds to get an experience you CAN'T get on a console."

Not a big fan of the GBA then...?

Kaeruyaki @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

not another one of these battles. I thought that this was already solved...

well firstly, anyone who says that the PSP is revolutionary is lying to themselves.

"rev�o�lu�tion�ar�y
adj.
Marked by or resulting in radical change: a revolutionary discovery."

there you go, according to Webster's Dictionary, "Revolutionary" means to bring about radical change.

Let's list the PSP features:

Play games - revolutionary? no, we can do that on any game system we want.

Play movies on the go - hmm.. well those portable DVD players can play movies I already own.

Play MP3s - well... my MP3 player has a hard drive in it, and is about 1/4 the size of a PSP. The PSP only plays music on UMDs or Sony memory sticks.

2 hour batter life - actually... that is revolutionary.. I don't know of any other handheld game machine that has a battery life that short. Now that is a radical change!

Get the picture? the PSP in no way brings about radical change. It consists of very good hardware, and if you want to spend $300+ on it, then you can go and buy it, just don't publicly call it revolutionary unless you want to look like a fool.

Kevin @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

And yet you completely ignored the rest of her argument...

karthik @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

I agree that the DS is a much better option and a 1st preference for many gamers .Even i would opt for the DS instead of a psp.
I was just saying that handhelds sell because of their portability feature and nothing else!
So if one has to say what is closest thing to a console gaming experience,then the answer wont be a DS but will be the PSP.Features aside ,pros and cons aside,and the psp bashing aside ,we have to look at what we want in the first place.
Many of the gamers want a totally different experience ,so theres the DS for you guys.But many want to play fullfledged games like GTA3,Resident evil 4,etc on the move .SO the psp comes closest.THe DS will never be able to play huge games like the gamecube or ps2 games,but only simple ones.
I am just saying that Psp is revolutionary because its the first handheld console which will be able to play games like the big boys (ps2 ,gamecube,xbox)do.Still a lot of improvements are required but its the first step.When the psp 2 comes out with all new technology,lower pricing,etc people will prefer it to the DS 2.Long way to go ,so i may well forget about it for the time being.
In the long term i see psp type of handhelds coming up and not the DS type as console gaming standards have to be surpassed sometime. THe DS is too simplistic ,games wise even with all its unique features ,but at this stage its a good buy. It is just a step ahead of gba games and nowhere near console standards.
i am talking with the gaming future in mind and nothing else.Maybe i need to come back to reality ,but all this is just for argument sake .
I like this argument so keep going guys .I know i am not going to get much suppport ,but still its a good argument.

Regrding the gamecube ,i am so hardpressed to find long lasting single player games.The pc and ps2 game library is a million times better.
Many will agree with me as the gamecube game library sucks as it has very few good games.

clear headed @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

HAHAHAHAH, you cant predict on a PSP2 OR DS2. there is no proof or info that there will ever be any, as of right now. you really need to live in the present time,

When i play a game on a console, i get into the game. i dont see myself doing that on a portable. on a portable i want something i can turn on while im waiting for someone, am on the sh*tter, to kill time at work, and so fourth. psp will have its pros and cons, but will the cons prevent it from being able to make a profit? thus no reason or motive to make a psp2, but hey, ngage did it. still though, you're arguements are based on your crazy out of touch predictions for the future of gameing.

Also about the GC library of games, you're out of your mind. Play eternal darkness, metroid prime, viewtiful joe, tales of symphonia, and countless others. sure other systems have more of a library, but the quality is no where near as good. the general public doesnt seem to care about that sort of thing.

karthik @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

ok, lets change the topic and come back to the games on the DS.Which games will you really want to purchase?Which game do you think will sell the DS?
I am impressed by Warioware.Its real fun on a handheld.
If you had to change a few things to make the DS "perfect",what would they be?

clear headed @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

Games I personally plan on getting are, Mario, Feel the magic, and urban asphalt gt. That is only at launch, but future games i look forward to are Castlevania DS, Animal crossing DS and Metroid prime: hunters.

Games that will sell the system?
Madden, Spiderman, Animal Crossing, Pokemon, Final Fantasy, Made in Wario DS and hopefully if nintendo is smart, a new SSBM or remake of 007. As far as i know the system is "perfect". I havent personally had the experience of playing it, so i wouldnt be able to say what i would change. Ask me in 40days. Although i will say this, there better be a damn good service for these wifi capabilities.

Edward @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

All of you people are some fuc*in' Nerds. The DS is the best(it is somewhat resembled to a PDA)and does not come close to the P2P. You Know that Nintendo will come out with very good titles like the ones that the Nerd with the title,"Nintendo DS=Revolutionary" said. Anyways, Nintendo builds pretty tough systems (like the gameboy color etc.)while the fuc*in' P2P will probably crack open the first time you drop it. Sure the P2P has More Polygons Than the DS but you cant beat the 2 screens, more battery life, Touchscreen, Wireless, and a lot more shit that puts the P2P to shame. If you Nerds want to spend twice as much money on the P2P than you would spend on a DS, then go ahead and buy the Damn peice of shit. Nintendo is expierienced at making handheld systems and Sony is making their first "experiment" at making the P2P. It will probably be as Successful as the Sony MD portable music player with the small Mini Disc Shit that Sony came out with. If you Fuc*in' Nerds are Smart, then you would go with the DS. I call you Nerds because of the way your writing style is. I am not putting Sony down, but I am just saying that Sony is NOT expierienced at Making Handheld Systems. THINK AND DONT DO DRUGS MUTHER FUC*ERS!

karthik @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

So how many of you guys are going to buy the DS at the launch itself? and how many are going to wait and watch and then buy the DS?

jordan wilson @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

Absolutely all my friends are pre ordering it and it looks soooo cool! But the main reason i am is because y should u wait i mean i waited for a new hand held to come out since the last gba, and there is no way im waiting more than 50 days to get it.

rick-AKA-unknown55 @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM

You know what! Im ****ing Tired of all this bs floating around. You little f***ing kids need to STFU and stay shut up. What is NEXT GEN IN PORTABLE!?

PSP NOT DS

ds specs---100% true!
mostly old far crappier looking nes/Snes ports
The worlds grainiest and crappiest looking games.
The most rushed games in history.
I REALLY want to know where the ds dev's get thier get thier image converter to make those textures look SO DAMN BAD. in most cases the textures are simlpy multi colored LARGE blocks of flat colors, AKA HUGE pixels.
Does NOTHING after gaming.

You know that screen is going to be ****ed in a few months because you keep poking a plastic stick at at.

The Next-gen in portable entertainment. PSP

Games that are great in multiplayer, online and single player. Hi-res textures and real time hi-res reflections greater then ps2 quality

The music feature can easily replace an ipod nano or mini simply by buying a 4 gig stick for about the price of an ipod mini/nano.

The movie feature is quite easy and conviniant to use. and it is very easy to convert a DVD to a PSP movie with a file size of about 200MB-400MB.

As in terms of battery life? Its perfectly fine.
2 hours is a fanboyish LIE. It really has from 5-10 hours depending on how it's used. As well as a new suppose'd double battery life lithium battery coming out soon for the psp.

What is innovative? is it a stick poking at a screen or a digital media station?

innovative means "is it useful" you have the wrong aspect of it. The psp can replace many expensive devices and costs less than even just ONE of them. The ds is a wanna-be pocket pc.

Want something with a stylus? get an HP/compaq
pocket pc, it does more, surfs the net, and is more practical and useful. But you dont get to play nintendogs on it right? Well too damn bad, your probebly 30+ years old get a ****ing job and stop playing with what should be your daughters play toy.