I’ve been playing my DS Lite so often now I should probably change the name of the site from “buttonMashing” to “screenTouching” or something like that. Touching is indeed good. I’ve been speding some time on eBay recently, hunting for some DS titles to round out my library. It got me thinking about what would make up the “Ultimate DS Library.” So I present to you my idea of the “Ultimate DS Library.” (Note that I don’t, as of yet, own some of these titles. But I have enough faith in them that I am actively pursuing a copy of them.)
Must haves:
Mario Kart DS – It may be true that the majority of the online races are now snake-fests, but Mario Kart is still an excellent racing game and truly fun multiplayer game. Playing by yourself or getting together with others to throw down in Mario Kart is great time. There’s enough single player options for this game to take up entirely too much of your time. And even if the online racing is almost completely borked, there’s always the dreaded Friend Codes!
Advance Wars: Dual Strike – I almost didn’t include AW:DS on this list because the Advance Wars series of games doesn’t appeal to all gamers. That being said, even if you had a passing fancy to play a turn-based strategy game, Advance Wars deserves a look. It will provide hours of good gaming. If strategy games are your thing, AW:DS will own your soul.
Meteos – I only recently added Meteos to my collection and I’m sorry I waited so long to pick it up. It’s a great puzzle game with fun game play and hypnotic music. This is DS gaming at its best – a game you can pick up, play for ten minutes and then put down.
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan – This is the only game in the “Must Have” section that I don’t own. Don’t let that stop you from importing this game. Every forum I read, every list I’ve seen, any time someone mentions the best DS games, Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan is always mentioned. I am in the process of importing this game as well. It is being “translate” for US consumption under the name “Elite Beat Agents” but I can’t wait. Everyone says this is a must own, so therefore I must own this title.
New Super Mario Brothers – It’s old school Mario Brothers. You might think that would be all you need for an explanation. You would be right.
No-brainers:
Metroid Prime Pinball – Metroid Prime Pinball falls in the category of “no-brainers,” as in, if you like pinball games, MPP is a no brainer. The pinball is fast, the touch screen adds a little twist on the tilt and all the Metroid power-ups are at your disposal. The music is some of the best on the DS, echoing the great music from Metroid Prime 1/2 on the Gamecube.
Trauma Center: Under the Knife – I’ve had this game sitting, unopened, for months. I cracked into this past week and I am having a blast. My buddy Jeremiah asked me some games to recommend, and since I know he is an ER junkie, I think he’d love Trauma Center. With game play perfectly suited for using the stylus, you can’t go wrong. Who ever thought disinfecting a wound would be so much fun?!
Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney – The second title on the list I don’t own, but am actively pursing. A cross between an adventure game and an episode of Law & Order, Phoenix Wright has all the makings of an excellent game.
Tetris DS – I’m still on the fence with Tetris DS. Part of me says, “we don’t need another Tetris game,” and another part says, “but it’s Tetris!” So I still haven’t picked up Tetris for the DS, but again, (I’m leaning on the forums I’ve read) everyone seems to love Tetris DS, especially the multiplayer games.
Animal Crossing: Wild World – I had originally planned on this being a “Must Own,” but in all honesty, Animal Crossing isn’t for everyone. I still play it weekly, but not as much I used to. The online multiplayer is fun, if not a bit clunky with the chat interface. But there’s still something about running errands for furry animals and fishing in the ocean that keeps me coming back to Animal Crossing.
Solid fun:
Metroid Prime: Hunters – MPH didn’t engage me like I thought it would, but it’s still a great game. Again, another game marred with online multiplayer issues, this is still a lot of fun to play with, single and multi-player. The controls take a bit of getting used to, but once you’ve got a handle on them, MPH is fast and furious FPS’ing. I just wish I could switch my trigger button!
Brain Age – I would be remiss if I didn’t include Brain Age in one of these categories. I still train my brain before I go to bed each night. Brain Age has sucked the buttonWife into DS gaming, and I’m hoping it’s a gateway to other games, like Trauma Center and others. Brain Age can be fun for just about anyone.
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow – I haven’t played Castlevania in ages, but everyone sings its praise, so it must have something going for it. I don’t include it here in a higher category becuase I simply haven’t played it. But don’t let that stop you. If you love your vampire slaying, it’s probably right up your alley.
There are others that are on the “consider list” for me, including Kirby: Canvas Curse, Yoshi’s Touch and Go, and Age of Empires: The Age of Kings. They all look great, but I can’t recommend them, as I haven’t played any them.
The only type of gamer that gets the short end of the stick right now is the sports gamer. While the DS has a few sports games on the horizon, the only one that interest me right now is True Swing Golf. Tiger Woods PGA Tour is an atrocity that should never have been committed to silicon. I’d love to see some simulation-style games come over to the DS. I think it’s got the muscle power to handle it and I think the interface is perfect.
Finally, there’s still a lot of games on the horizon. Personally, I’m excited about: Final Fantasy III, Cooking Mama, Elite Beat Agents, Reel Fishing: Life & Nature (hahah, just playin’).
So that’s my list to assemble the “Ultimate DS Library.” Don’t consider it definitive, but if you’ve followed this site for a while, you’ll know how my tastes line up with yours and can gauge accordingly. Finally, I ask whether or not I’m missing anything?