DS Lite buyer's guide 3.0
by Blake Snow 
{ Jun 20th 2006 at 1:35PM }
The portable gents at Modojo have put together their version of a DS Lite buyer's guide to help transition newcomers to the system. From the article: "In the 19 months the Nintendo DS has been available, its library has quickly grown into one of the best available for ANY platform - console or mobile. Things were pretty dismal for the first six months or so, but around last fall things picked up significantly with the release of Mario Kart DS, and the steady flow of AAA titles hasn't let up since."The guide recommends several titles that we agree with like Kirby Canvas Curse (avg. score 86) and Phoenix Wright (avg. score 81). However, notice some of their "games to skip" titles: Wario Ware Touched! (avg. score 81), Nintendogs (avg. score 83), and Super Princess Peach (avg. score 75). The latter is debatable, but the first two? Furthermore, here are some of the games they recommend to merely "consider:" New Super Mario Bros. (avg. score 89), Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (avg. score 89), and Metroid Prime Hunters (avg. score 86).
I feel like I'm taking crazy pills! To each his own, I guess.
See also:
[Thanks, Justin]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Brock @ Jun 20th 2006 1:41PM
Hey Look! Another Nintendo News Post of no meaning! Yay!
Jody Anthony @ Jun 20th 2006 1:45PM
I preferred super princess peach to new super mario bros.
johnny @ Jun 20th 2006 1:45PM
Crazy pills! I played Castlevania all weekend long and I tempted to crawl under my cubicle and play right now. It's fantastic, maybe not the greatest use of DS but pretty well implemented. You now think every Castlevania game should always be showing you the map. I can't even get to Animal Crossing or Brain Age since Castlevania is taking all my waking moments.
duscrom @ Jun 20th 2006 1:46PM
Wario Ware Should be a Must buy. since. finding Phoenix Wright is so hard to find. Nintendogs is a skipper. NSMB, Castlevania and Metroid should deffinatly be above Nintendogs.
Indiana Jones @ Jun 20th 2006 1:46PM
if you ignore all sequels or ports (mario kart, animal crossing, tetris, advance wars, etc) theres really nothing special. GBA library puts it to shame.
that guy @ Jun 20th 2006 1:48PM
Skip Castlevania, Wario Ware and NSMB??
I wanna break-dance-fight those guys at Modojo!!!
Exo @ Jun 20th 2006 1:49PM
if you ignored sequals and ports, psp would have even less games.
It doesnt really matter anyways, if a game is fun, its fun, it doesnt matter if its a sequal or an origianal game.
Jody Anthony @ Jun 20th 2006 1:54PM
to #4,
GBA has also been out for 60+ months compared to the DS' 19.
Clint @ Jun 20th 2006 1:54PM
You should change the name of this blog to DStiq.com
Anand @ Jun 20th 2006 1:56PM
Nice, another post about the DS that isn't important. Instead, why isn't there a post here about the new ToS games announced today?
Clint @ Jun 20th 2006 1:59PM
There is a demo of LocoRoco available for the PSP. It's great! Did they post a story about this yet? I haven't seen it. It's going to be a big selling game when released!
Sven @ Jun 20th 2006 1:59PM
>If you ignore all sequels or ports (mario kart, animal crossing, tetris, advance wars, etc) theres really nothing special.<
Haven't played Trauma Centre, I take it.
Anand @ Jun 20th 2006 2:01PM
Sorry, not ToS. I mean the new Tales games announced by Namco today. Here is a link:
http://namco-ch.net/taleschannel/index.html
Tales of Destiny(PS2)
Tales of Destiny 2(PSP)
Tales of the World Radiant Mythology(PSP)
Tales of Phantasia Full Voice Edition(PSP)
DojoRacoon @ Jun 20th 2006 2:02PM
I agree with exo about if a game is fun it's fun. I see time and time again people bagging on sequels. What is wrong with sequels. I'm more impressed by the fact that people can make sequels with such consistent quality and for the most part still keep them fresh. And to Indiana Jones, there really are no ports of any consequence on the DS. The nature of the DS doesn't really allow for any decent ports. Or at least not decent in comparison to their other titles.
Brock @ Jun 20th 2006 2:04PM
Hey where can i get the US demo of loco roco? I freaking love that game! It's going to me amazing! Links?
sean @ Jun 20th 2006 2:06PM
oddly enough, proncess peach was much more fun than new smb. i like new smp, but a lot of it is just anger-inducing frustration...plus it's a lot of the same thing. i actually played through peach twice with all the new levels. was an enjoyable little game... and castlevania is a must have.
spoo @ Jun 20th 2006 2:09PM
I like how Justin Davis tells his readers to Consider Rub Rabbits but skip Warioware Touched! I liked Rub Rabbits as much as the next guy but it was not as good as Touched. Sure Touched is the weakest of the three Warioware games but Warioware is one of the best pickup and play series ever. Rub Rabbits takes a 5 second minigame and plays it out and this is the reason Touched wins.
I am not even going to start on Tetris DS over NSMB, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow and pass on Peach.
Snap @ Jun 20th 2006 2:10PM
LocoRoco:
http://www.us.playstation.com/PSP/Support/SystemUpdate
Justin @ Jun 20th 2006 2:16PM
Ok, maybe you're right about Castlevania and New Super Mario Bros. deserving some more love than I gave them, but I stand by Peach and Nintendogs being crap.
MikeyJoe @ Jun 20th 2006 2:40PM
To each his own.
It depends on the demographic of the person buying the Lite. Older, than sure: Trauma Center, Castlevania, Tetris. But if they're younger, than it should include titles of: Nintendogs, Super Princess Peach, Warioware Touched. Younger players may not want to sit through long or hard games, thus making the above good choices for them. Also, Nintendo is trying to target everyone. Just because you don't fit into the demograph made for Super Princess Peach or Nintendogs, doesn't mean that it is crap.
Nmaster @ Jun 20th 2006 2:46PM
New Super Mario Bros, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, and Metroid Prime Hunters are only "cosiders"? What are these people smoking? These aren't only three of the DS's best games, they're three of the best games to release in the past generation.
Ok, so I can understand how Castlevania and Metroid might be outside SOME types of gamer's genres, but New Mario? Are you kidding? It's fun for any type of gamer, and damn if it isn't the most fun thing I've played in years.
New Super Mario Bros. + DS Lite = Gaming Heaven
Aran @ Jun 20th 2006 2:46PM
Lmao, what the hell are these Sony fanboys whining and posting stuff about PSP in a news that is about DS Lite? Are you jealous? Or worried that no one cares about PSP anymore? Don't you have your own forums or something like that to discuss these things?
Darth Pixel @ Jun 20th 2006 3:01PM
DS' Top 10 titles according to Game Rankings:
1. Mario Kart DS, Nintendo, 92.1%
2. Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, Konami, 90.4%
3. Advance Wars: Dual Strike, Nintendo, 90.3%
4. New Super Mario Bros., Nintendo, 89.6%
5. Meteos, Nintendo, 88.4%
6. Kirby: Canvas Curse, Nintendo, 87.9%
7. Animal Crossing: Wild World, Nintendo, 86.2%
8. Super Mario 64, Nintendo, 86.1%
9. Metroid Prime: Hunters, Nintendo, 85.9%
10. Tetris DS, Nintendo, 85.9%
So, the facts are:
- 9 out of 10 of these games are from Nintendo
- More than 75% of these games have children as their primary audience
- 3 titles only above 90% (where AAA titles belong)
- Scores drop to 85% within 10 titles
I love the new Super Mario Bros., but this DS rut is getting blown out of proportion to the point of becoming a mania where everybody is taking crazy pills.
ck @ Jun 20th 2006 3:03PM
I just picked up a lite last week and I have to say here's what I have:
NSMB
Brain Age
Kirby Canvas Curse
Super Mario 64 DS
Except for Mario 64, I say all those games are must haves, I play them everyday (especially Brain Age - man it's addicting).
But I also think there's a lot of other great games out there and more coming!
Metroid Prime Hunters, Meteos, Tetris DS, Mario Kart DS, Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, Advance Wars, Castlevania.
I never thought I would be spending this much time with a handheld, but man, I haven't had this much fun with videogames since the N64 and Sega Genesis. If people aren't convinced the DS is cool now, they need to spend 15 minutes with Mario Brothers or Canvas Curse. I can't say the same for the PSP.
Reality @ Jun 20th 2006 3:12PM
Hey Aran,
The first psp post was a jab by # 6 Exo. Did you really expect the fanboys to let that one go? Let's face it, in the war between the DS and PSP, the DS Lite is merely Nintendo blinking first. You can also thank PSP for the DS having GBA functionality. Backwards compatibility was a four-letter word to Nintendo before they had any real competition.
Bored @ Jun 20th 2006 3:16PM
Must be a slow news day because it seems rather weird to post something about someone writing a must buy list for DS games. It is like joystiq has become the cable channel DS1 (obviously a complete copy of VH1's programming) with nothing but top 10 list programming.
Maybe DS(Joy)stiq should mic up Kutaragi or Harrison for some comedy or something?
that guy @ Jun 20th 2006 3:27PM
DarthPixel - how in God's green earth is the following statement 'fact', as you put it:
'More than 75% of these games have children as their primary audience'.
It actually boggles my mind reading your post. That is honestly one of the most ridiculous comments I've read in a long, long time.
There is absolutely, positively NOTHING factual about that whatsoever. And in my opinion (far from fact), I would say a lot more adults play those games than do kids. Meteos, New Super Mario Bros., Advance Wars, Castlevania, Animal Crossing (yes, Animal Crossing), Tetris, Metroid ... man oh man, my mind is still boggling.
striderhayasa @ Jun 20th 2006 3:29PM
hey darth, can you do a break down of the PSP rankings. Fair is fair right? Or shoudl I just post it myself?
required name @ Jun 20th 2006 3:32PM
I agree with all the others. This clique of blogs have become nothing but nippletendo sucklings. The DS is way overrated and the PSP is either overlooked or condemned. I think they could find a bit of time to unhook their lips from Nintendo once in awhile, but I doubt it will happen. It's all about ca$h.
Etheo @ Jun 20th 2006 3:35PM
I gotta say NSMB isn't that impressive in terms of its own gameplay. The real strength I believe lies in the mini games and the wireless play. I got four of my friends to get a DS lite after showing them the NSMB minigames, and oh how they had hours of fun on just one DS... Afterward they all got a DS lite and a copy of NSMB.
My Point is, they all got NSMB for the minigames. They all said the main game was so-so and was turned off by it somewhat.
Nintendogs, I'd say just consider it. The need to take care of it everyday is just annoying sometimes. But then when you play with it again, you start to remember why you got the game in the first place.
deathneo @ Jun 20th 2006 3:37PM
I have a PSP and DS-Lite, so either way I win when JOYstiq posts about either handheld console. And BTW the DS has much better titles than the PSP so far... Until MGS-PO comes out, my PSP will be collecting dust. THen when MGS-PO comes out my DS-lite can go through some dust collecting.
striderhayasa @ Jun 20th 2006 3:45PM
@ reality....uh, wasn't the GBA backwards compatible with GB games long before PSP come on the scene?
What happened to a good game just being good regardless of what platform it's on or what the demograph is? Metroid isn't good because it's on DS? Castlevania isn't good because it's 2D?
When Coded Arms came out for PSP I had guys I knew swearing that the controls weren't that bad. All they did during multiplayer was stand in front of each other trying to score a hit. It was hilarious lol! but they swore it was good because it was on PSP. That's my biggest problem with the industry today, A game will get ignored and ridiculed not because it's bad but because it's on a console or portable that a group of people don't like. If PSP had the library that the DS has right now, PSP would be labeled the greatest portable ever made.
With that being said, I'm not disappointed with my purchase of a DS or DS Lite and I have a library of games both deep and short, single player multiplayer, graphically intensive and simple that proves it a worthy purchase.
I have a co-worker and a friend that both bought PSPs recently. You know what they're playing? Lumines. Nothing else. Just Lumines. Give me a break. Why hate on DS owners because of the more diverse/dedicated game selection?
cringer8 @ Jun 20th 2006 3:47PM
Wow, Darth that was a dumb post. You have managed to point out what a great game development company Nintendo is. This is supposed to be "bad" for them?
Also, Game Rankings uses an average of a handful of reviews to achieve their percentages. This does not equal "Gospel Truth" in any way. It's still based on subjective reviews.
And your comment on 75% of the titles having an audience of children proves you are just biased. I am an adult and I own almost all of those games and they're great fun. Your misconceptions don't equal truth, either.
Clint @ Jun 20th 2006 4:04PM
Are most of Joystiq's visitors 10 and under or something? I mean all you talk about is the kiddie DS!
Mike @ Jun 20th 2006 4:07PM
As a new owner of a DS Lite, I'm thrilled with my purchase. I bought NSB and Tetris worlds and am having an absolute blast. I've barely turned on my 360 to get my ass kicked in Fight Night since June 11.
Here's the problem with the PSP: (not the main thread here, but it came up)
The games look marginally better than PSone but they try to pretend they're as good as PS2. This results in games that look just OK. Their faults are extremely evident and everything just looks dated from the day of its release. The DS however (I've played more of the games then I own) doesn't pretend to be anything. Instead, it takes its strengths and utilizes them in ways that don't stretch their boundries. The graphics is NSB are fantastic. There's no care of polygon count or other BS, it just looks great. It blends the 2D with the 3D in a way that's nearly transparent.
I'm way off topic here, but who cares, right? The DS is awesome. PSP, not so much. Oh, and if pretty soon you'll be able to buy PSP "ports" for PS2, then what's the mother f'n point?
required name @ Jun 20th 2006 4:09PM
All you Nintendo evangelists are creepy, yes I have a DS and yes I have a PSP (pretty commonplace I might add). One thing I do not have is a contemporary console (seems like this is uncommon). The DS has been collecting dust since I got my PSP. It's games are better looking, better sounding, much longer, and grow (WipeOut for example). The games that have come out for the DS since I got my PSP have looked like GBA ports with touch gimmicks (I have all versions of the gameboy and they sit beside my Du-St).
Brian @ Jun 20th 2006 4:14PM
I will admit tha the DS has better games, but the PSP is also overlooked. The system has SO much potential but it hasn't had that great game yet. It has alot of good games: Syphon Filter, X-Men LEgeneds 2, Mega Man: Powered Up, Daxter, GTA. I think MGS: PO or LocoRoco could be that gae that spark interest in the PSP. I just don't want the PSP to be like the GameGear, great hardware with some very good games but ultimately overlooked.
Matt Q @ Jun 20th 2006 4:16PM
@ Darth
I'm 18 and I have 7 of the games that you mentioned. The ones that I don't have are Castlevania(I haven't played Aria yet), Kirby, and Tetris. I've found that they've all been worth the purchase(especially Animal Crossing). Stop trying to lable the DS with the 'For kids only' tag. Grow up.
Brian @ Jun 20th 2006 4:23PM
I will admit tat the DS has some good games for it. But it is also a little overrated. Well maybe not so much overrated as it has an annoying;y rabid fanbase.
I think the PSP is a great system which is hampered by merely good games. I think it could be very good if it gets that great game to make people pay attentiona and look at all the good games already put which are just as good as any of the games on the DS. Games like Syphon Filter, X-Men Legends 2, Daxter, Mega Man: Powered Up, Lumines, GTA, Wipe Out, Virtua Tennis. Maybe MGS: PO or LocoRoco will be those games.
I just don't want the PSP to become like the GameGear where a great piece of hardware with good games comes out before it's time and is ultimately overlooked.
Josh* @ Jun 20th 2006 4:23PM
Clint (#33):
Please catch on fire.
Leo @ Jun 20th 2006 4:39PM
I completely agree with #27. Where's the acurate breakdown on PSP game rankings? I own a DS Lite and a PSP. I've tried so hard to find really engaging games on the PSP 'cause of how much it cost me, but my favorite so far was Lumines. Syphon Filter was alright, I haven't played Daxter. I really find myself taking my DS everywhere. Even though I don't like RTS games, I can get trapped into Advance Wars: Dual Strike for HOURS. Everyone should try that game 'cause the stylus functionality seems small but makes a world of difference. I really want to love my PSP 'cause it has TONS of potential but the DS Lite is my favorite console right now.
fawazr @ Jun 20th 2006 4:40PM
Curious thing about DS games is that there's a title for everyone. DS developers explored the limits of their creativity and made so many titles that were anything but formulaic. Unfortunatley, buyer's guides are completely formulaic and are targetted almost exclusively at 'Joe Gamer'. This asinine guide only proves how stagnant and irrelevant the old guards of gaming have become. Thank God Nintendo opted to open the industry to consumers who don't rely on these sort of opinions to determine their next purchase.
timby @ Jun 20th 2006 4:41PM
#23, "backwards compatibility was a four-letter word to Nintendo before they had any real competition"?
I think not.
Unless I'm completely mis-remembering my history, and the Game Boy Color wasn't backwards-compatible to the Game Boy, and the Game Boy Advance wasn't backwards-compatible to the GB and GBC...
Reality @ Jun 20th 2006 4:51PM
@ Mike,
Here's the "mother f'n point" of the PSP. As with the DS, it's PORTABLE!!!! If you are the type of person who never leaves the house, then the PSP is probably not for you. When I'm playing a PSP game on a flight to the UK, do you think I give a rat's ass that there might be a PS2 version of it?
Judd @ Jun 20th 2006 5:18PM
I have to agree with posts #2 and #16. After completely beating everything in both NSMB and SPP, I have to say I liked Princess Peach more. Yes, I know it's easy, but what made the New Mario Bros. tougher wasn't that it was more challenging it was more annoying. Why do I constantly have to go back to world 1-4 to get the tiny mushroom, beat the level, beat it again so I could have the mushroom on inventory, and then go back to the level where I need the mushroom hoping that when I'm tiny I don't get touched once, resulting in a one-hit-death. You didn't need to hit a random block to get your powers in Peach you have everything you need all at the start. But you do learn more moves as the game progresses, there is a lot more different types of enemies, the puzzles and minigames are new and not rehashes from Super Mario 64 DS, and theres more to bosses than just fighting baby bowser and everytime just jumping on his stomach.
I'm only making this point because SPP was called "debatable."
striderhayasa @ Jun 20th 2006 5:43PM
@ Mike
You hit the nail on the head for sure. the problem with the PSP is sony wanted to give gamers the PS2 but in a small form factor. that's the problem and that's where they screwed up. Along with the PS2 -like graphics you also get the suspect load time, the terrible DPad and a movie format you don't need. PSP has no killer app. It doesn't have that great, exclusive game that says..."buy a PSP for THIS game." DS has quite a few killer apps that Sony wish they had.
this is so off topic but...
PSP does have some good games but those games aren't good enough to justify the price. Not when you can see a much better library across the Isle for the DS. That's why I don't have a PSP. It's not worth that price. People are making comments about NSMB like it's the only game out for the DS. "DS games are too simple." That's a crock. How can anyone say Castlevania is simple or short. Mario and Luigi: Partners in time is an awesome RPG and it's not short What are you people talking about it? Then there's the talk about, "DS games are all 2D, I need manly 3D to enjoy my game..." Metroid, Tony Hawk, Ultimate Spiderman, Mario Kart, Mario 64 Nanostray...these games prove that DS can handle a good 3D engine with good draw distance at a smooth framerate. People kill me when they distort facts to support they're agrument.
If you don't like the DS then fine, no one says you have to. but don't get upset because the PSP didn't do what Sony said it was going to do. Don't get upset that PSP didn't kill the DS like so many people predicted. Nintendo represented and made a quality product and supported it. Let the Nintendo fans enjoy that glory. Sony fans act like they didn't have time to run in the sun for the past 10 years. Get over it.
Steve @ Jun 20th 2006 5:49PM
@ #23 - Darth
Let's have a look at that same breakdown for the PSP shall we? And no, that's not a dig at the PSP, but it's the closest competitor to the DS having been out for roughly the same length of time and being another handheld console:
1) Lumines - 89.9%
2) Wipeout Pure - 88.4$
3) Ridge Racer - 88.2%
4) Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror - 87.9%
5) GTA: LCS - 87.8%
6) Daxter - 86.6%
7) Burnout Legends - 86.3%
8) Virtua Tennis World Tour - 86.1%
9) Mega Man Powered Up - 83.9%
10) MLB '06: The Show - 83.8%
By your logic the fact there are NO 90%+ average games surely means the PSP is fit only for showing movies to fish while it's being used as a boat anchor. (To all those reaching for the flame button, no, that's not my own opinion, just following on from the logic of the original post).
However the real key to the gaming appeal of the DS isn't in the numbers, it's in the variety. Looking just at the top 10 the DS offers a wide range of titles, even games in the same genre offer wildly different experiences (compare NSMB to Mario 64 to Castlevania to Kirby for instance, all technically platform games, all offer a VERY different set of gameplay). Go further down the list at Game Ranking and you come across stuff like Nintendogs, Phoenix Wright, Trama Centre, Mario and Luigi (which isn't in the top ten... why?), Brainage and WarioWare. And of course with titles that DO take risks you're less likely to see everyone agreeing and even when sampling the average of 50 or more reviews it only takes a couple of really low scores (a 60% from G4 on Mario and Luigi for instance) to really knock an average down.
And THAT is why the DS is finding a home with people, it really does offer one of the most varied catalogues we've seen for years on ANY system. I know that's why it's managed to become my primary console these days, I don't care if a game is seen as 'kiddy' providing it's FUN! I spend enough time in a working day dealing with the real world, when I go gaming I'm quite happy to dive into a world of primary colours and escapism.
Darth Pixel @ Jun 20th 2006 5:55PM
My comment was not about the PSP. And my comment was not to imply the PSP is better or has better games.
My comment was about the DS and DS games, which I own.
I don't own a PSP, so I won't comment on it until I get one, if I ever get one.
People who say these games do not have children as their primary audience baffle me.
Nintendo characters, all of them, are designed to appeal to children. It's not me saying it, it's Nintendo.
2 other examples...
The basic scenario of a Mario game: Bowser kidnaps Princess Peach ; Mario works to save her.
Advance Wars: Did anyone actually read these dialogues? Don't tell me they are not written with children in mind.
Anyway, I am not here to convince anyone. I just post my opinion, which happens to be very unpopular since I am not yet affected by the Nintendo mania.
striderhayasa @ Jun 20th 2006 7:12PM
@ Darth
Samus, Link, Fire Emblem characters (Marth and Roy), The new Bounty hunters for Metroid Prime Hunters and the fzero crew are the characters that I could think of that offer a more adult theme whatever the hell that means. Nintendo's portfolio is diverse. Then you have the Marios the Starfoxes and the Pikmen.
Darth, what's the point? A good game is a good game and to be more accurate, Nintendo has always stressed that they wanted games that the entire family can play. How is that aimed towards the younger set. I had a friend that said the same thing, "Nintendo is aimed towards the younger set." I ask her what was she playing now. She said GTA: SA. I said oh " So you like games that allow you to have hood fantasies and thug-laced wet dreams along with a bad camera, piss poor lock on function, terrible character models and lame animation. Tell me what's good about it." The best answer she could give was the violence. It always went back to the violence.
Games are games regardless of what console you play them on. Why do people look at gaming like it's the mature gamer versus the kid gamer? We're all playing the same #$%^. Why do you think there is this uproar in the courts now about the ERSB. Kids are playing the GTAs and the Devil May Crys too. I give more credit to the younger gamers. I remember being that age and gaming. We played what we liked. Screw what everyone else thought. In this era, gamers have chips on their shoulders where they have to look cool. What is that, some futile attempt to find manhood through an analog stick? Why can't a game just be good? Some guy in EB was going to buy the new X3 game. Mind you, the game is terrible but regardless of what he was being told about it. he was still going to buy it...until he found out there was no blood in it. The game was terrible to him then because it has no blood. WTF is that?
Brian @ Jun 20th 2006 7:30PM
My problem with Nintendo isn't that their games are "kiddy" it's that they have all of zero emotional involvement. Nintendo does not want to embrace gaming as a method of storytelling. Just look at all of their silent protagonists throughout the years. There is not a single Nintendo game that makes you care about finishing the game for any reason besides finishing the game. I want to care that Mario rescues the princess and Nintendo doesn't do that.