Topic: Weighing My DS Backlog Options

[NWR_Neal]

What should I pick? 999, Advance Wars: Days of Ruin, Dragon Quest VI, Radiant Histora, or The World Ends With You.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/blog/33975

We're at a lull in video games this year, and my current backlog is almost caught up (I still need to finish Miracle Mask). That means, I've got a few weeks before Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D. I might be able to attack a game on my fabled DS backlog that has been nearly untouched since last summer.

The contestants?

• 999 - I bought this game last year around when Virtue's Last Reward came out. I think I opened it, but that's it.
• Advance Wars: Days of Ruin - Got it cheap earlier in the year. Enjoyed the first DS game and the GBA games. The only localized version of the series I haven't played.
• Dragon Quest VI - I loved Dragon Quest IV and V, but after getting this game on a Target clearance rack, I've never plunked down the time to play it.
• Radiant Historia - The only game from this list I've put notable time into. It was a victim of the pre-3DS launch and my NWR duties. I was halfway through it, but intended to replay it from the beginning since it has been two years.
• The World Ends With You - I borrowed this from a friend for a weekend and really disliked it back when it came out. However, some NWR staffers convinced me I should give it another try. My untouched copy has said otherwise.

Go vote in the forums and persuade me to play one of these five games in the beginning of May.

[Razorkid]

Wow, what a daunting list of games to choose from ! Out of those 5 games I own 4. I have beaten 3 (Days of Ruin, TWEWY, and 999) and am currently playing Radiant Historia. They are all really different games, despite more than half being rpgs.  If you are looking for something to play along with something else on your 3DS, I'd pick Days of Ruin as it will require I think the least amount of attention (being least reliant on story of the bunch) and as a game that can literally be played turn by turn.


If you want something short but punchy, I say go with 999.  The first play through will arguably be your longest, but even that's at most maybe 4-5 hours or so ( it's been a while since I played through it). If you like what you played by your first ending, you can go through it again to see alternate paths to the game and ultimately flesh the story out more to it's awesomely satisfying conclusion.  If you don't like it by your first ending, you can put it down satisfied that you at least *beat* the game and can can clear it from your backlog without guilt.


If you are looking to really lose yourself in a setting/story and really dig in, then I recommend either TWEWY or Radiant Historia as both cannot be really played casually because of each game's relative complexity (both combat and story wise). Of the 2, if you find using the stylus a lot for combat in a game fatiguing or uncomfortable, play Radiant Historia. Otherwise, play TWEWY as it will be a brand new experience to you unlike Radiant Historia which you have already played a huge chunk of.


I have no experience with DQ games prior to 9 (which is my current most played handheld rpg at 125hrs) so I can't recommend that.   

[leahsdad]

I second that.  999.

[Oblivion]

Definitely 999 or The World Ends With You.


999 is a very powerful experience, with decent puzzles and a great story. The game takes multiple playthroughs (at the very least two with a guide, more without) but the second playthrough and beyond is MUCH quicker than the first playthrough. Probably close to an hour or so.


TWEWY is probably my favorite DS game. I bought close t its release and I fell in love. Very impressive and deep battle system, and a great story with great characters (though be warned that they are teens, so I was able to identify better with the main characters than you probably will.)

[TheOutlierGamer]

999 and The World Ends With You are two of the best games on the system and two of my personal favorites.


999, like a good novel, will make you speed through it. I completed it in 14 hours or so, I believe. I finished it in just three or four play sessions, that's how addicted I was.

[NWR_Neal]

It's looking like, if I abide by the forums ruling, I'll be playing some 999 soon.

I keep on having reservations about it because of how much of a slog I've heard it can be (slow text, even replays are still really slow). But, if the court rules in favor of it, I'll have to pop it in.

Thanks all who voted and keep the discussion coming! I still hope to play all of these games...

Note: I have the poll set for a week, but I might just close it when I sit down to play a DS game and need to reach a decision.

[RABicle]

Advance Wars: Dark Conflict for sure. You need to meet the inspirational Mayor of Freehaven.

[Shaymin]

It's looking like, if I abide by the forums ruling, I'll be playing some 999 soon.

I keep on having reservations about it because of how much of a slog I've heard it can be (slow text, even replays are still really slow). But, if the court rules in favor of it, I'll have to pop it in.

Just remember: D-Pad Right is your friend.

[Leo13]

Are you kidding me, go with Advance Wars: Days of Ruin. The beauty of this game is that it's quite a bit different from the other advance wars games you've already played so it's different enough to make it a fun new experience and similar enough that if you liked the first 3 you'll like this one for sure.


In my book it's not even close go with Advance Wars

[NWR_Neal]

It's a close race. I thought 999 had it in the freaking bag, but no!

Three games are very close. Every vote counts. You can decide what game I play*!

*before I get distracted by another game and/or life event and put it down.

[Mop it up]

I have four of these but have just played Dragon Quest VI. It's one of the weaker DQ games but it's still good enough if you like this sort of game. It'd be tough to recommend over the others though, as they might be better experiences. I can't really make that call right now.

[leahsdad]

Are you kidding me, go with Advance Wars: Days of Ruin. The beauty of this game is that it's quite a bit different from the other advance wars games you've already played so it's different enough to make it a fun new experience and similar enough that if you liked the first 3 you'll like this one for sure.


In my book it's not even close go with Advance Wars

Okay, here's my reason for voting for 999, despite having played, loved, and wooed all the Advance Wars games:

999 is this pristine, distilled version of what the best of visual novels should be.  It will make you think far beyond the end.   It will be one of the more, perhaps most, unique games you have every played.   Some (myself included) don't even consider it a game.   Visual novel is a horrible description as well.   The way the narrative is built on multiple playthroughs in this elegent GroundhogDay/RunLolaRun style is mesmerizing.

And, in practical terms, you will finish it in a third of the time, if not sooner, than Days of Ruin.

[syn4aptik]

TWEWY is real good man. Just be relaxed when you play it. I think a lot of people get stressed out trying to play it "optimally", when you don't really need to. You'll get the hang of the odd battle system eventually and it becomes easier to apply skill. The whole game is organized around being accessible to people of differing skill levels.


The production values are second to none. The story can be a bit...teen-angsty...but if you stick with it there is a lot more going on than there seems at first.


I dunno, I am pretty picky when it comes to RPGs and I loved it

[noname2200]

We're in a lull?! o_O

Also, 999 is great and should be played by everyone

[Rodrigue]

999.

The text doesn't scroll that slowly. I'm pretty sure it scrolled about as fast, or faster than I could read, when I first played it. Going through it again CAN be a bit annoying, but you can skip the text you already read, and you can use a guide to get all the endings (or at least all the relevant ones) to save time.

While Razorkid is right in that you can say you beat the game even if you don't go for different endings, the experience is infinitely better if you complete it fully. There's nothing more satisfying than unraveling that puzzle. You can also save your progress at any point, so it's easy to pick up and pl-- read.

[NWR_Neal]

We're in a lull?! o_O

I am, at least. Outside of some eShop titles, there's nothing that is grabbing my attention until DKCR 3D.

[TJ Spyke]

I'm sure it's not totally accurate, but GameSpot only has 1 3DS game listed between now and when DKCR3D comes out in a month (and that is Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move). Not good

[rlse9]

999 was my favorite game on the DS and would rank very high on the list of my favorite games ever if I were to make one.  I was so addicted to the game when I started playing it, I think I got all of the endings in less than a week and even when I wasn't playing the game I couldn't stop thinking about it.  I hadn't been that into a game like that in a long, long time.  You'll know quickly whether the game is going to pull you in or not so if you play it and it's not your thing it won't be a major time investment and if it does draw you in like it has most who have played it, you'll tear through it quickly because once you get into it, the game is hard to put down until you get the true ending.

If you do go with 999, use a guide after a couple play-throughs (I believe I did 3 getting 3 different endings, then used a guide that was basically a decision chart to get the others) to get to the true ending.

[NWR_Neal]

Ironically, there are three Wii U games slated to come out between now and before DKCR3D. They are all ports.

I wouldn't worry about a lull of around a month in April/May. The 3DS has been good this year, and is looking like it'll be good the rest of the year. I have no complaints with that system as of now. For once.

[Mop it up]

We're in a lull?! o_O

I had a similar reaction. The Wii U is definitely in a lull, but the 3DS is kickin' it.

[RABicle]

The Mayor of Freehaven extends his welcoming hand to those who missed out on his gracious diplomacy the first time around. Vote for Mayor Freehaven and Dark Conflict!

[S-U-P-E-R]

The Mayor of Freehaven extends his welcoming hand to those who missed out on his gracious diplomacy the first time around. Vote for Mayor Freehaven and Dark Conflict!

EL PRESIDENTE

Play Advance Wars and play it with the volume all the way up, because that music is awesome. And so are all the other elements of that game.

[NWR_Neal]

999 is the winner!

Thanks all for deciding what game I attempt to play.

[Mop it up]

Interesting result. I had no idea that 999 was so popular amongst NWR folk.

[Shaymin]

My top 2 choices finished 1 and 2, so all is right with the world.