Promising DS lineup for early 2006
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Nov 4th 2005 at 1:30PM }
Nintendo has confirmed the release dates for
four anticipated DS titles, all planned for the first quarter of 2006 in North America:
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Electroplankton (Jan. 9)
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True Swing Golf (Jan. 23)
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Super Princess Peach (Feb. 27)
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Metroid Prime Hunters (March 20)
In addition, release dates for Chibi-Robo (Feb. 6) & Odama (March 6), both for the GameCube, have been announced. And if you're rockin' a GB Micro, then you can look forward to Drill Dozer (Feb. 6) & Tales of Phantasia (March 6)—which, of course, are also compatible with the GBA & DS.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
SilverDogg @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
tales of phantasia... finally.. how ive been waiting.... *drools*
pete @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
hey does anyone find it wierd that there is no mention of Zelda on this new list ?
Kevout @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
The new Zelda won't be released until after April 1st.
syco @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
Because it's not even out in Japan yet. Wind Waker took 3 months to localize. Twilight Princess is supposed to be much bigger, so even if it comes out in January in Japan, it'll probably be April or May at the earliest that Zelda will come out. It's probably going to be one of the last, if not THE last, first party game for the Cube.
Spiza @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
They were going for a world wide release before they delayed the game though syco. I believe they are localizing the game as they go along.
I've been waiting for chibi robo for a long time. The game looks great. Who cares if it's kiddy if it has great gameplay. The game got a 45/40 from famitsu, and that is with its slightly sub par graphics. Its a must own for platforms imo.
Jago @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
OH OH OH!!! I can't wait for Chibi Robo!!! I worked at Bandai's booth for E3 2003 and even though it was still very early in development, it was fun as hell. From what I saw at E3 2005 and from the trailers for it, they have made it much faster game...should still be fun tho.
Mike @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
Every Joystiq post shits on PSP games, but DS has a "promising" lineup. I'm getting sick of this site.
Jago @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
Well it is partly true ya know...and this is coming from someone who had the DS the day it came out...sold the DS for the PSP...and then re-bought the DS a week or 2 ago.
Yuliy @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
Mike, you're just sore because you jumped the gun and bought a PSP. PSP games are just plain not good. Now, that its easier to play videos on it, I guess it's not a complete waste of money, but it's not hard to see that the DS has and in the future, will have more, amazing games.
Mike @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
"Mike, you're just sore because you jumped the gun and bought a PSP. PSP games are just plain not good. Now, that its easier to play videos on it, I guess it's not a complete waste of money, but it's not hard to see that the DS has and in the future, will have more, amazing games."
No, i'm happy with the purchase. i've been happy with the purchase since its 30-title launch.
I'm "Sore" because Joystiq keeps making posts that invent problems with the PSP. Like "Fans Upset about Multiplayer in GTA", or questioning the motives of the reviewers who gave GTALCS 90's. Or denigrating a game that's not even in the US yet (Pursuit Force) and only posting the scathing comments about it when others are saying how great it is.
meanwhile, Eletroplankton which has clearly mixed reviews comprises the "promising 2006 lineup" on the DS.
WizarDru @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
Sorry you feel that way Mike. Different reporters have different biases, but this site has had plenty of article being highly critical of Nintendo as well as in praise of Sony.
The fact of the matter is that the DS has lots of really highly anticipated games out and coming out...and the PSP doesn't. That's suprising, but it's true. Especially with the rash of releases in the last month, the DS is awash in games. The PSP has....GTA:LCS. My friends have all grown tired of Wipeout:Pure, Lumines and Medieval.
In the next couple of weeks, the DS gets several high-profile wifi games such as Mario Kart DS and Tony Hawk American Sk8land. Games like Animal Crossing and Metriod Prime: Hunters aren't far behind. Games like Super Princess Peach, Mario&Luigi Partners in Time, Prince of Persia Battles, Shogun Realtime Battles, Viewtiful Joe, Black and White Creatures and Sonic Rush all hit the shelves before Christmas, among others. And the first quarter 2006 lineup is just as good, with games like Guilty Gear, Dynasty Warriors, MPH, Scurge:Hive and Resident Evil shipping.
The PSP has Infected, a Socom game, Lord of the Rings: Tactics, Kingdom of Paradise, Legend of Heroes, Popolocois and....Tokobot?
Do you see the difference? One is providing unique versions of existing franchise and creative games that wouldn't work elsewhere...and the other is releasing a handful of games with little fanfare. Collectively, none of those games have the buzz of the Mario Kart DS game, let one Metroid Prime: Hunters.
This isn't about the PSP being good or bad..it's about Sony's failure to deliver compelling games for the holiday season, a time when it should be impressing it's customers. The PSP does have promising games...but they're all T-B-D release dates, or TBA 2006. The idea of playing Mario Kart over the 'net is, to me, something to look forward to; the idea of playing Infected in Ad Hoc mode, less so.
WizarDru @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
One more thing, Mike: you can't eat your cake and have it, too. If you don't want to hear about reviews of Pursuit Rush before it hits the US, you shouldn't be using Electroplankton as an example of why upcoming games aren't promising.
That said, accoring to gamerankings, Electroplankton currently has an 82%, compared with Pursuit Force's 75%. Metacritic gives Electroplankton and 84%, and PF a 76%. Hardly poor reviews for either. Note that Joystiq's article showed several reviews, the first being an 80/100. That's hardly savaging the game.
The fact is that Electroplankton is highly anticipated in some quarters. That it's only being sold direct through Nintendo shows that it's only (for now) a niche product. Regardless, it has a lot of positive buzz. I can understand how you and many others might not like it, but I've tried the demo and love it. Many importers have given it very favorable reviews...the same isn't necessarily true of Pursuit Force, hence the perceived difference.
mike @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
Every Joystiq post shits on PSP games, but DS has a "promising" lineup. I'm getting sick of this site.
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Dude, at this point, I'd rather have my DS over a freakin _PS2_ !! The system is amazing and the developers are loving it..
Affordable game production
Fast loading
Online
N64+ Graphics with double the storage
Backwards Compatibility with GBA
Nintendo Exclusives
Did it ever occur to you that the DS is a much better system and the Joystiq guys are scratching their heads trying to find a use for their PSPs???
Prop up the kitchen table perhaps?
jason @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
I remember when Joystiq and Gamespot had to change their pants after each PSP report. They all made if look like the DS was a POS and that the PSP would kill it in a matter of seconds. To tell the truth, I believed some of that crap and imported a PSP early. After a few weeks i found myself playing the DS more and the PSP less. The DS has better games right now. That doesnt mean it will always be that way, but for the 4seeable future its the case. You know i dont mind dropping 60 bucks on 2 games but i hate to pay 50 for one. Now im really going to be pissed about the $60 im going to spend in the next few weeks for 360 games, but you do that when new shings ship. Hell i bought the SUperman POS when it was on the 64 back in the day. Damn that was dumb.
Threnody @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
Ditto Mike I play my DS AT HOME way more than my PS2. When the games are great and only $40 (Canadian) who can resist?
Richard H @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
Damn, another game delayed by nintendo till after christmas....I was really looking forward to playing Odama before then. I loved it at E3!!! this seems to be a new trend for nintendo, releasing huge games after the christmas season, like zelda this year and resident evil 4 last year. oh well, gives me something good to play in feb, march, when no other good games are coming out.
GTi-VR6 @ Dec 18th 2005 10:01PM
Dru, get your info straight....Infected will be online as well (infrastructure mode).
And no, i'd rather play Socom FTB online with 16 others while i'm on the road during a business trip. (and it looks like it just might have voice support now too.)