Topic: noob to DS w/ a couple questions

[zilla31]

take it easy on my i'm new here...  i finally got my hands on a new DS and have a couple quick questions:  first - are there any good games besides mario 64?  second - mario and the metriod demo seem to require the thumbstrap (play just sucks with the d-pad for some reason).  are all DS games going to be like this or are they just trying to push the new functionality for a while?  i'd sure love to choose - since i think i'll way prefer the classic d-pad in most cases...  what upcoming games are we really looking forward to?  any word on a new mario and luigi (great GBA game) or advance wars, fire emblem?  

THANKS!!!

[KDR_11k]

Well, I only played Wario Ware (JPN) which was incredibly fun for the first few days but got boring soon after. You play it entirely with the stylus and the mic (though mic usage is rare). Since I felt the same way about the GBA Wario Ware I guess most people will be able to have fun with it much longer.

[vudu]

Quote
(play just sucks with the d-pad for some reason). are all DS games going to be like this or are they just trying to push the new functionality for a while?

For Mario 64 DS I use the D-pad almost exclusively.  I just haven't been able to get the hang of using the touch screen.  Perhaps I need to try harder.

[zilla31]

yeah i haven't either - and to be honest i'm not sure i want to.  i hope they make games so you can use it or not depending on how you like to play.  i'm an older gamer and kind of think the thumb thing is pretty corny (it's almost innovation for innovation's sake).  i DO like the touch screen for some things - just not d-pad control.  i'm also dissappointed that there doesn't seem to be ANY good games out except mario - i pretty much just use my bulky new DS to play my old GBA games at the moment...

[DemonFox]

Well u really should buy Feel the Magic. Normally I wouldn't buy minigame games cuz they get boring after a while but since the DS doesn't have much games I just gave it a shot and it's fun while it lasts. It also uses everything the DS has to offer (touch, mic and 3D) which makes it a must-have.

It's true that there are not much nice DS games right now but be patient. In March all these games should be in stores (some already in February):

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
Sonic
Dynasty Warriors
Rayman
Egg Monster Heroes

Well I won't be suprised if u never heard of Egg Monster Heroes but saying it's a Square-Enix RPG with lots of humor is enough right? It's kind of a parody on Hanjuku Hero (a game only released in JAP). Now I'm not sure if Sonic is gonna be a big hit cuz I saw some screens on the official Nintendo site (they aren't there anymore BTW) and it looked like ya have to move the stylus really fast to make Sonic run but that could've been a tech demo (I sure hope so).

Now about the thumbstrap... Well I think that's always gonna be a choice in 3D DS games and I really don't have much problems using it. What else besides the D-pad can u use? I personally hate the D-pad.    

[norebonomis]

i don't use the janky thumb pad at all, for sm64 i find the d-pad works fine. and for metroid i use S (stylus) mode, using the stylus... i think the thumb pad is there as an alternative, and for people who were worried about using the touch control

[MaleficentOgre]

just wait for pokemon dash. that game will rock your socks off.

[KDR_11k]

Bah, that thumb strap thing sucks. Perhaps I should try it on XRanger, which uses relative controls but Quake is really unplayable with it. I mean, hell, I've almost died at the first enemy at NORMAL! Somehow it's much easier to play with the stylus (note that I've tried it with my PDA, Wario Ware can't be played with the thumbstrap)

[thepoga]

As Demonfox said, get feel the magic. Its pretty fun. Also, WarioWare is coming out in about a month so ya.

[KnowsNothing]

Both Mario and Metroid both include a few different ways to control, so it loks promising that future games will let you choose.  I find that the thumbs-strap in "touch mode" is by far the best way to control Mario since it closley mimicks an analog stick.  The D-Pad worked fine for a while, but eventually it became too cluncky and I had to switch.  Using dual-touch mode with the stylus is impossible to play, in my opinion.

For metroid, the first control scheme is perfect with the stylus.  DON'T CHANGE IT.

I'm not too keen on using my DS for playing GBA games though.  I mean, the screen is bitchin (what) and all, but it's too hard to control fast action games (for slow paced stuff like RPG's or Strategies it's fine).  I have a hard time playing Metroid Fusion because I always want to use X as my B-button, since it's positioned in relation to A like it was on my SP.  Also, the D-Pad is VERY sensitive and frustrating at times.  Try playing the Fly-swatter game in Wario Ware.

I'd like to see an Ikaruga-type game in the DS becasue the screens are set up perfectly for one (can't think of a use for the touch screen...but wireless co-op mode would work), but I'm afraid that if the game requires incredible amounts of precision on the fly, like Ikaruga, it'd be way too hard to control.

Oh, is anyone else's A button just a wee bit lower than the other face buttons?

[KDR_11k]

BTW, I take the thumbstrap comment back, when you have relative controls it's quite good. In other words: DS needs Kururin!