To DS or not to DS...

[Tessian]

With the release of the DS Lite, I started to consider whether I should invest in one or not. I haven't had a handheld since Gameboy Pocket (and that was just to play Pokemon) but all these new games are being hyped a lot. That brain game, the new Mario, etc. Plus I now have Wifi in my house. I was wondering if you guys thought it would be worth the investment. It's not that expensive, but will I get good use out of it? I normally stick with PC or PS2 games but I've been declining on those too lately.

If I do go with the DS, I was thinking of the Mario Bundle at EBGames http://www.ebgames.com/product.asp?prod ... d=B020273B and then adding games to that...what do you guys think?

[Andrew, Killer Bee]

Not even a question. The DS is a supremely awesome machine.

[Zeus]

Get a DS. There is about 15 games you could have a fun time with for a while and another 10 which you could get some good time out of. And with WiFi, you have Mario Kart, Animal Crossing, Prime Hunters, and Tetris (all must haves) that you can get that much more out of. 2005 was the year of the DS and there are more games coming this year than last.

If you want a list of suggestions, let us know and we can all give you an idea of the games we have and have played that would do you good other than the above 4 and Super Mario, which are all a great start. It's also got good enough games that you'll be playing it in the house rather often and not just as a portable on the go.

[Tessian]

Ok let me ask this then-- Accessories, which ones have you guys found most useful or needed?

The games I was thinking of getting was-- Super Mario Bros, Brain Age, Metroid Hunters, and...Animal Crossing

[Blotus]

Get Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow as well if you're a fan of the series. It's probably pretty cheap used by now.

[Tessian]

This will be the first Nintendo system I'll have bought since the Pocket...and that hardly counts.

[Zeus]

All of the following games are ones you should look into IMO:

Pac Pix - one of the best games on the system and it should be $15 or less. Play it for a while and you'll see it's more than a gimmick
Mario Kart - might be the best version, just get it if you like the series
Dawn of Sorrow - I haven't gotten around to mine, but EVERYONE loves it
Mario & Luigi Partnes in Time - if you like Superstar Saga, get it. If you haven't played Superstar Saga, get it and the sequel (Partners in Time) if you like Mario RPG
Phoenix Wright - great, great game
Tetris DS - online Tetris, 'nuff said
Wario Ware Touched - awesome game and should be cheap

And the only accessory that you'll need is the Nintendo-made small DS case. It's only $10 US and it's the best designed soft case I've ever seen. They made a larger one for about $18 US, but it's not as good IMO. I fit my DS (with a DW slime screen cleaner on the strap), the charger, headphones, 9 DS games (one in the system), and 5 GBA games (one in the system) in this thing. It's the best. You'll know it's the right one if you open it up and it's got 4 little spandex holders for the DS games where you can put one in either side (8 total). Just ask you EB or Gamespot rep to show you the cases, it's the one with the official DS logo on it and it comes in different colours (including pink for Ish :-). It's cheap, good quality, and extremely functional...and it's all you'll need.

[Lox]

Buy a DS. Seriously, it is probably my favorite system right now. I haven't bought this many games in a short period of time since I was in high school.

[Agent 57]

First off, here's another vote for "buy".

As far as accessories go, if you're paranoid about your screen like I am, import some Hori screen protectors from play-asia, NCSX, or whatever. We just got our Lites yesterday and after I put them on, I still can't tell they're even there. Fantastic.

Just be very, very careful about putting them on. While I was putting the one on the top screen of my girlfriend's Lite, I got one tiny speck of dust trapped between the screen and the protector. When I tried taking it back up and getting the dust off, I ended up getting dust all over the underside, it was impossible to get off, and eventually I just gave up. Luckily it was the top screen, so it's not really a big deal that it doesn't have a protector on it.

[Torgo]

You probably get the idea, but I'm going to say buy DS anyway.

[Julius Seeker]

Phoenix Wright is my personal favourite on the system; I never liked graphical adventures, in fact I despised them, but this game certainly is a LARGE exception. Brain Age is a game I like because it's always a game that people want to play, it's fun competition. As Zeus said though, there are a lot of titles already available, and they're all for a good price.

Accessories: Obviously lots of cases and stuff, I just keep my stuff organized on my desk.

If you're into portable movie stuff, there's a media center with a 4GB hard drive which costs , and also a media dock which uses 1GB or 2GB flash cards You add various music file types, various movie file types, photos, software, etc... Though personally, I find the whole portable movie thing to be more novelty than anything (I have a portable DVD player from a few years ago and I've maybe used it 3 or 4 times total); but that's just me. All of this is by Datel.

Also, DS will soon have access to updated remade versions of Final Fantasy 1-6: already GBA versions of 1, 2, and 4 released; 5 and 6 will follow on GBA; The former NES FF3j has been completely remade in 3D with some additions to dialogue (story will be relatively the same. Dialogue, for character development purposes, has been re-written) and cutscenes, as well as advancements in gameplay. Those aren't the only RPGs, in the next year, between DS and GBA there are about 30 RPGs coming out (mostly on DS which looks to be RPG developers system of choice now over the GBA format). Most RPGs set for release from here on out are DS, but as a whole, DS RPGs really just started coming out recently. Skip the Lunar game, that came out about 7 or 8 months ago, though. =)

The DS RPGs I am most looking forward to are: ASH (an awesome looking Sakaguchi game) Xenosaga Episode 1 and 2 (the story told as it was meant to be told), Tales of the Tempest, Final Fantasy III, Contact, Rune Factory, and Baten Katos DS. The GBA RPG I am most looking forward to is Final Fantasy 6 Advance. There are two RPGs coming out tommorow on GBA from Capcom, both Mega Man related. If you are into games like Secret of Mana, then it might be in your interests to check out Legend of Mana and Crystal Chronicles, for DS, as well.

Of course, there are awesome, big name, non-RPGs coming out which include: Spore, Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass, Phoenix Wright: And Justice for All, Starfox: Command, Catlevania: Portrait of Ruin (which looks WAY better than any Castlevania game released since Rondo of Blood back in 1993), Black and White, etc.

For the past 7 or 8 months, the only system I have bought games for is DS (well, GBA as well, but I play them all on DS. I have also bought several really cheap PC games, none with a price over $2.). Though I do plan to start up with Consoles again later this year with Xenosaga Episode 3, Final Fantasy 12, Red Steel, and Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess. As I see it though, the DS will probably remain my main system for at least the next year and a half. If you couldn't already tell, I am in love with the system =)

As for DS Lite, I will get one when it comes out in a darker colour: I have had my eye on the enamel blue since the system was first unveiled.

[Lox]

For the past 7 or 8 months, the only system I have bought games for is DS (well, GBA as well, but I play them all on DS. I have also bought several really cheap PC games, none with a price over $2.).

Same here other than Kingdom Hearts II.

[Tessian]

Alright I get the point!

I went to every store in our mall and they were out...EBGames, FYE, even Sears. As a last resort I went to the Target across the street and what do I find? they have a stack of about 25!

So I got this for now: Super Mario Bros, Brain Age, and Metroid Hunters.

Hunters so far is my favorite but using the thumb to aim is really hurting my hand with the fire finger

Anyone know of a good place online to buy used games? EB sucks obviously

[Agent 57]

Anyone know of a good place online to buy used games?

Aside from eBay, I think the best place to find used games online is Amazon. They usually have a good selection of prices and conditions from several sellers for used/out-of-print/hard-to-find games - I was able to find new copies of both Phoenix Wright and Trauma Center (which I finally beat yesterday, god damn that game is fucking hard) very quickly using Amazon.

On the DS game front, soon I'll be able to tell you guys all about Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan - I couldn't resist the positive word of mouth and fifth place score overall on Metacritic any longer. Shipping from the site I bought it at will take about three weeks, but I don't mind because I used a $5 coupon and shipping was free, so it only cost me $40 total (list price at NCSX is $49 without shipping).

Oh, and just in case anyone was wondering, the "Mario vs. Luigi" local wifi minigame in NSMB is damned fun. If you know anyone else with a DS, hang out with them and give it a shot.

[Julius Seeker]

Alright Tessian, you HAVE to get involved in one of our WiFi Metroid multiplayer sessions. We haven't put together a game in a while, but they are LOADS of fun.

Also, if you're a strategy fan, check out Age of Empires: Age of Kings. I bought it simply because I'm a strategy fan and I like strategy games. I was expecting something generic, but it actually gets quite deep. It is the game I am currently playing. I will say that it is difficult, I find that a good portion of the levels won't be finished on a first attempt. The multiplayer game in that is also A LOT of fun.

Note, the game is not an RTS, it is a turn based strategy that takes elements of Fire Emblem and Civilization.

[Tessian]

haha awesome, hopefully my wifi will hold out.

Can anyone track down a case I should actually use? One that can still fit in my pocket but hold a few games?

And are you guys sure I don't need a protector for the touch screen? The stylus seems to mark it up at least when you reflect it in the light. I'd at least like a cloth to wipe it down.

[Zeus]

haha awesome, hopefully my wifi will hold out.

Can anyone track down a case I should actually use? One that can still fit in my pocket but hold a few games?

And are you guys sure I don't need a protector for the touch screen? The stylus seems to mark it up at least when you reflect it in the light. I'd at least like a cloth to wipe it down.

Couldn't find that case we talked about, huh? It's really the only decent one I saw when I was looking for one myself.

My DS has gone through a ton of gaming and not a single scratch anywhere. The stylus shouldn't be putting scratches on it unless you're jamming it into the system. A standard cellphone screen cleaner should be sufficient for the screens.

If Nintendo's systems (aside from the original NES model) are known for anything, it's durability. Remember, they have to survive children throwing them around.