Author Topic: Surprisingly Good for the DS (Read 9498 times)

jasonditz · « **on:** March 06, 2006, 11:29:16 AM »

Everyone knew games like Mario Kart or Animal Crossing or Sonic Rush were going to be good... great even. Games like Meteos and Phoenix Wright have their cult followings, and everyone knows they're good games. But I was wondering: what are some of the lesser titles, that maybe most people here wouldn't think of buying, that are really worthwhile. I got thinking about this because in the past few months we're starting to see DS games getting price drops as stores try to make space for the myriad of upper tier games that everyone wants.

Here's the one that got me thinking about this: the Sims 2.

I got a coupon from the EA store in their newsletter that got me $15 off, and seeing as the game was already cut to $19.99, I was able to get it for $11 shipped. I knew Urbz was kind of iffy (more a GBA port than anything), but I'd heard Sims 2 was going to be more than a port so I thought I'd give it a try (especially at that price).

I must say, I'm impressed, instead of a sloppy effort to paste the computer version onto a dual screen handheld or a GBA port that doesn't take advantage of any of the DS's capabilities, what we got is a very nice original game. They should've really called it something else, because while the characters and some of the design sensibilities are very Sims-inspired, the game is more of a cross between animal crossing and one of those "tycoon" games for the PC.

The touch screen is put to great use in this one, and the characters are really fun to interact with. Right now I just got done evicting the William Shatner character (I forget what his name is in game) from his hotel room because he keeps calling me on my cell phone every five minutes to bitch. Like I've got time to listen to him go on about tumbleweeds when the mob boss staying in my penthouse just set city hall on fire with his incendiary device. Plus, he lost 3 beds in like 45 minutes... I mean, granted, I won enough money playing cards in the casino to get him new beds, but that's ridiculous. The only issue now is that even though he's evicted, he keeps going back up to his room (which is occupied by someone else) and having a fit.

RiskyChris · « **Reply #1 on:** March 06, 2006, 11:40:00 AM »

This thread is inspiring, I must say.

I'll get back to the thread after I find some obscure DS title to play.

Smash_Brother · « **Reply #2 on:** March 06, 2006, 11:42:15 AM »

Bomberman DS's multiplayer was VERY good and I heard very little in response to it. Puyo Pop Fever is also an excellent multiplayer title.

Both have great 8 player gameplay on one cart.

UncleBob · « **Reply #3 on:** March 06, 2006, 11:46:19 AM »

I almost picked up Bomberman DS until I realized that they'd be releasing Bomberman DS 2 with Online play in a few months...

The "closest" think I've got to an "Obscure" game would be Trace Memory. That was a damn good game.

Smash_Brother · « **Reply #4 on:** March 06, 2006, 12:13:28 PM »

Online? Damn, everything's going wifi these days.

IceCold · « **Reply #5 on:** March 06, 2006, 12:14:31 PM »

Oh no, please don't get Kairon started on Ping Pals..

Hmm, Elf Bowling?

EDIT: And Bob's right. Even though to me Trace was hardly obscure (wanted it ever since it was Another Code in Japan), it's a great game - RECOMMENDED

jasonditz · « **Reply #6 on:** March 06, 2006, 12:28:52 PM »

I'd heard Trace was kind of short though... is that true or is it overstated?

Arbok · « **Reply #7 on:** March 06, 2006, 04:22:26 PM »

Does Advance Wars: DS count? The game was generally praised by all reviewers, but doesn't seem to get much attention outside of them.

I generally found it to be an improvment in everyway from Advance Wars 2, while it didn't feel like an "expansion pack" as the previous GBA version had.

UncleBob · « **Reply #8 on:** March 06, 2006, 05:11:11 PM »

Trace Memory is short, but it's better than 75% of the games out there..

Ages · « **Reply #9 on:** March 06, 2006, 07:57:37 PM »

One word...Nanostray

If you like old school shooters, it's a definete must have. It's even got challenge to it (how many games today can say that?)

IceCold · « **Reply #10 on:** March 06, 2006, 08:01:29 PM »

Oh wow, I completely forgot about Nanostray! I simply loved it; hmm, this makes me feel like playing it again..

KDR_11k · « **Reply #11 on:** March 07, 2006, 12:30:13 AM »

One word...Nanostray

The reviews weren't too hot and considering how much praise that POS Iridion 2 got I'll rather stay away. Far away. Shmups are a dime a dozen, no need to throw 35 Euros at a mediocre one. (I don't think I need to link to Kenta Cho again)

31 Flavas · « **Reply #12 on:** March 07, 2006, 12:41:56 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: IceCold
Oh wow, I completely forgot about Nanostray! I simply loved it; hmm, this makes me feel like playing it again..

Has anyone actually actually completed any of the challenges? I've tryed over and over and over to unlock the Sunahara Desert soundtrack, but the closet i've got to the 500,000 point goal is like 325,000. That's without dying once, spaming my gun very minimally, and next to no use of the R-button.

Toruresu · « **Reply #13 on:** March 07, 2006, 04:31:50 AM »

Hmm...after looking at my pile of DS games, I guess I should recommend a few;

Yoshi Touch and Go - I loved this game, beating my friends score was great, multiplayer is fun, only 2 player tho.

Puyo Pop Fever - I really liked this game, but I'm not too good at it. I play with my friends every once in a while.

Mr. Driller Drill Spirits - Easy to understand, difficult as hell to unlock characters/master. But a game that involves me and my non-gamer GF (well, ex GF) is good. It's embarrasing, I unlocked the first character, she unlocked the rest, all in one weekend, that I HAD to lend her my DS, or else...yeah, or else.

darknight06 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 07, 2006, 06:13:04 AM »

"Has anyone actually actually completed any of the challenges? I've tryed over and over and over to unlock the Sunahara Desert soundtrack, but the closet i've got to the 500,000 point goal is like 325,000. That's without dying once, spaming my gun very minimally, and next to no use of the R-button."

I've managed to do them all except for the final two for the very last stage, those two are just really hard given that you have to fight that boss at the end of it and trying to figure out how to take out the bigger ships without the subweapon has been the bane of my existence. All I can tell you for that whenever possible use the lightning gun to get extra coins off of enemies and don't be afraid to use the side shots a little ways before the boss. Also, IIRC waves and to a lesser extent gold coins are the MAIN things that counts in point challenges, everything else is moot so if you need to spam the gun and R button, do it. Once you've gotten all the waves you can get in a stage don't be afraid to use a subweapon on the boss, just don't do it anytime before.

Now for the challenge after that, DON'T SHOOT ANYTHING IN THE STAGE. If things get too hectic use a smart bomb as they won't count against your valor.

IceCold · « **Reply #15 on:** March 07, 2006, 12:49:48 PM »

I was making progress through them, but then a tide of DS games I wanted came in, so I stopped for a while. But darknight's right; waves and coins are very, very important. I was afraid of spamming too, but you just have to sometimes.

31 Flavas · « **Reply #16 on:** March 07, 2006, 01:26:13 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: IceColdI was making progress through them, but then a tide of DS games I wanted came in, so I stopped for a while. But darknight's right; waves and coins are very, very important. I was afraid of spamming too, but you just have to sometimes.

Nifty. Thanks, both of you, i'll try it again.

darknight06 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 07, 2006, 03:11:00 PM »

Only if you're doing a valor challenge does spamming actually count against you, otherwise blast away with the primary and hold the R button the whole way through for the point challenges. Valor or anything else except wave multipliers and coins aren't tallied in point challenges at all.

Urkel · « **Reply #18 on:** March 07, 2006, 07:33:04 PM »

Trauma Center.

It's honestly one of my all-time favorite games, and hands down the best use of the touchscreen. It really makes you feel like you're actually interacting with the stuff on screen. Just keep in mind that it's kind of the F-Zero GX of DS games: Lot's of fun... if you're up to the challenge. The game starts off easy enough, but spikes at certain parts. I almost gave up on the final operation.

BTW, the game is intense. I've had to pause the game on occasion because my hands were shaking so badly. Sometimes to the point where I could barely hold the stylus.

animecyberrat · « **Reply #19 on:** March 07, 2006, 08:06:58 PM »

I dont have vbery many Ds games but so far I dont have ANY of these so called non games. All I have right now is Castlevania DS (do not like) Super Mario 64 DS (got bored with) Mario Kart DS (rarely play) Sonic Rush (all time favorite so far) and thast all I have so far. I use it mostly for Sonic Rusha dn to play the few GBA games I have. BUT Ihave been wanting to get Nanostray for sometiem and Elcetroplankton and will get Tetris day one its released.

31 Flavas · « **Reply #20 on:** March 07, 2006, 10:28:34 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: animecyberratI use it mostly for Sonic Rusha dn to play the few GBA games I have. BUT Ihave been wanting to get Nanostray for sometiem and Elcetroplankton and will get Tetris day one its released.

I hate to say this, but good luck finding Nanostray anywhere these days. It was hard to comeby even in its initial weeks of release... I had to travel 20 miles for my copy of it, a GameStop that had only 1 copy. ... Perhaps I spoke too soon, looks like EB has it for sale on their website, better snatch it up before someone else does.

Anyway... on to my main point... I've gone back and done the Sunahara Desert 500,000 point challage again. I spammed my gun off and held the R-button down the whole time. Never died once and tosted all the bad guys and got all the waves possible, as far as I know. Smoked the boss, no problem, but i'm still 250,000 points short of the goal... Is there something i'm missing? Could one of the two (or both) of you go back though it? I keep doing it better and better each time, but end up with the roughly the same score 200,000 to 265,000 points...

darknight06 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 08, 2006, 04:22:52 AM »

One thing I should say is beware of the offscreen wave glitch where killing a group offscreen doesn't net a blue coin. This becomes a real pain in the 6th stage score challenge where pretty much EVERYTHING has to go down in order to have a chance. What was your wave count at the end of the stage anyway?

animecyberrat · « **Reply #22 on:** March 08, 2006, 04:47:29 AM »

they have plenty of copies at Game Stop I just never got around to buying it.

31 Flavas · « **Reply #23 on:** March 08, 2006, 05:02:33 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: darknight06
One thing I should say is beware of the offscreen wave glitch where killing a group offscreen doesn't net a blue coin. This becomes a real pain in the 6th stage score challenge where pretty much EVERYTHING has to go down in order to have a chance. What was your wave count at the end of the stage anyway?

Well, the "Wave x #" varies over the level, i've seen it as high as x6, but then without dying or missing a bad guy it will drop down to x3 or x4. At the end of the level where i'm just spazzing off the lightning lazer field sub weapon it doesn't move above x3, again not missing any ships.

So I dunno, maybe i'm killing them too fast (off screen)? or not with the right weapon or something?

31 Flavas · « **Reply #24 on:** March 08, 2006, 05:06:27 AM »

Quote
Originally posted by: animecyberrat
they have plenty of copies at Game Stop I just never got around to buying it.

Do they have any copies of Phoenix Wright?

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Author Topic: Surprisingly Good for the DS (Read 9498 times)