So I just got a DS a short while ago. Yeah, you heard right. I bet most folks on here have owned a DS at some point. I still feel regret at not buying a DS during it's prime. I than realized that I'm lucky to be experiencing a ton of new games that others have already enjoyed. So for the most part I've been playing a handheld console instead of my main home consoles. This is especially weird for me as I'm not a huge fan of mobile games unless the games themselves are great. Any who, I've been playing some DS games so let's talk about them.

New Super Mario Bros

Yeah I actually missed out on this game and I'm bummed out that I didn't play it sooner. I honestly haven't played a 2D Mario platformer in a good long while so I was giddy with excitement once I started playing it. In short it's rad. I'm a sucker for good platformers, mario games especially. The game plays like most mario platformers but also brings some cool new tricks. The improved graphics are apparent enough as it does stand out for me. The big surprise for me is seeing a universal art style that is both cool and disappointing considering how safe it looks. I expected an easy mario game with all of the worlds fully available to me. It did the opposite. It actually looks worlds until you find out secret ways to unlock worlds. This caught me for surprise as I gussed that most mario games now were casual experiences that everyone can play and beat without finding out secret exits into the locked worlds. I like what they were going for and it made me go back and look for these exits. The other new additions are new suits like giant mario which I love. Overall it's a solid mario platformer that satisfied my platforming needs.

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

I freaking love this franchise. It's just so weird considering how tame most mario games are with comedy and even in story. I didn't expect much from Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga as I got it randomly at a Gamestop. I didn't expect to be playing one of my personal favorite games ever. It really is all about the comedy and how oddly charming the whole franchise is. Just think about how weird these games are and how much they each flesh out Mario's universe. This is why I really am loving Bowser's Inside Story. I'm actually surprised that the title of this game doesn't have Bowsers at the front as this is basically more of a Bowser game. The thought of making a mario game that is all about Bowser is crazy. It's risks like this that make me love these games and it really is all about the dialogue between characters. It is just so smartly written and genuinely funny. I still chuckle when either Mario bro talks in their fake Italian language. I absolutely love the treatment that Bowser is given as a sympathetic figure at times. This is the Bowser game that we've always wanted and I love it so far. I'm still playing it so I'll report back in on my final thoughts on it. The combat is pretty much the same thing that we've been playing except we control Bowser this time. My only disappointment with the game so far is how small the world is compared to previous games. I guess it can be excused when I'm fighting giant castles.

I'll report back in with another blog on my DS adventure. Tune in for my thoughts on the first Phoenix Wright game, Elite Beat Agents, and some Layton. I'm chomping at the bit for some more games.

Bye for now.

/Matt

I tend to recommend Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia and Contra 4 to everyone. Quite enjoyed Sonic Rush, as well. It's a nifty little system.

I recommend Super Scribblenauts.

Somehow despite owning dozens of DS games, I missed those two. Glad you're having fun with it.

@csl316said:

I tend to recommend Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia and Contra 4 to everyone. Quite enjoyed Sonic Rush, as well. It's a nifty little system.

Yeah I really want to play some good old classic Castlevania games on the DS.

B-but why didn't you just get a 3DS? Price? Anyways, I would recomend 999. One of the best games EVER.

@Phatmac said:

@csl316said:

I tend to recommend Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia and Contra 4 to everyone. Quite enjoyed Sonic Rush, as well. It's a nifty little system.

Yeah I really want to play some good old classic Castlevania games on the DS.

All 3 are solid, though Dawn of Sorrow has you do stylus commands after beating a boss (which is the WORST way to die). I enjoyed Portrait of Ruin quite a bit but have heard mixed things. And Order of Ecclesia is right up there with Symphony of the Night for me, though it's a very different game.

Awesome stuff, I got a DS last week. I haven't played much, a little bit of New Super Mario Bros and Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. Good stuff, playing a Zelda game with a stylus is weird! but cool.

@Deusx said:

B-but why didn't you just get a 3DS? Price? Anyways, I would recomend 999. One of the best games EVER.

I'll be getting a 3DS once it has a few more games. I'll be getting it by december for sure.

@vorpalparasite said:

Awesome stuff, I got a DS last week. I haven't played much, a little bit of New Super Mario Bros and Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. Good stuff, playing a Zelda game with a stylus is weird! but cool.

Glad I'm not alone in my quest to explore the DS library of games!

The Mario And Luigi games are amazing. I haven't finished Bowser's Inside Story but I adored the original. I swear all the Mario RPGs are amazing. I'm actually playing through Super Mario RPG right now myself (with an actual cartridge on an actual SNES, no emulations mumbo jumbo) and it stands up. I can definitely see the influence of it in the Paper Marios and in Mario & Luigi. 
 
Yeah the DS is awesome. I got a launch DS for Christmas in 2004 and used it religiously for 6 years until I got a DSi. I just recently discovered the awesomeness of the Ace Attorney series so I bought all those and have been playing through them, bringing new life to my DS. I use my DSi more than my Xbox now. You'll love Phoenix Wright. Those games are probably among my favourite now and didn't think I would like them. You will lose whole days to working on a case though. It's really addicting.

Castlevania: Portait of Ruin is my favorite of the 3 games. Ecclesia was way too hard for me so I didn't get very far.

@yoshimitz707 said:

Castlevania: Portait of Ruin is my favorite of the 3 games. Ecclesia was way too had for me so I didn't get very far.

Ecclesia was hard, but also my favorite of the DS entries. Portrait of Ruin is a close second, though.

If you do not play an Advance Wars game, then you do not deserve to own a DS!

Bloody games soaked up 1400 hours of my life and I loved every damn minute of it.

I am in the process of whittling down my DS library and selling the handheld. I have a lot of fond memories with the system, but I am ready to move forward. I have offered some suggestions below:

If you enjoy adventure games, the Phoenix Wright games, Ghost Trick, and 999 are all spectacular. Henry Hatsworth is a platform/puzzle hybrid game that is sure to give you a challenge.

If you like RPGs, the Dragon Quest games are worth a look. If you are willing to import it from Europe, the Inazuma Eleven games are neat too. They are essentially RPGs where the battles consist of soccer/football matches.

Speaking of imports, the DS is region free. If you like Smash Bros.-style games, the Jump Superstars games should be of interest to you. Elite Beat Agents/Ouendan are quirky rhythm games. You can also grab the GBA import Rhythm Heaven and/or the DS Rhythm Heaven game. Both should work on your DS just fine. Lastly, Chousouju Mecha MG is a game where you pilot a mech using controls on your DS. It's pretty crazy, but it plays well.

I hope to hear more about your adventures with the DS. It really is a great system.

If you do not play an Advance Wars game, then you do not deserve to own a DS!

Bloody games soaked up 1400 hours of my life and I loved every damn minute of it.

@AsperGamer said:

If you do not play an Advance Wars game, then you do not deserve to own a DS!

Bloody games soaked up 1400 hours of my life and I loved every damn minute of it.

I've heard good things! I really want it. :(

@jewunit said:

I am in the process of whittling down my DS library and selling the handheld. I have a lot of fond memories with the system, but I am ready to move forward. I have offered some suggestions below:

If you enjoy adventure games, the Phoenix Wright games, Ghost Trick, and 999 are all spectacular. Henry Hatsworth is a platform/puzzle hybrid game that is sure to give you a challenge.

If you like RPGs, the Dragon Quest games are worth a look. If you are willing to import it from Europe, the Inazuma Eleven games are neat too. They are essentially RPGs where the battles consist of soccer/football matches.

Speaking of imports, the DS is region free. If you like Smash Bros.-style games, the Jump Superstars games should be of interest to you. Elite Beat Agents/Ouendan are quirky rhythm games. You can also grab the GBA import Rhythm Heaven and/or the DS Rhythm Heaven game. Both should work on your DS just fine. Lastly, Chousouju Mecha MG is a game where you pilot a mech using controls on your DS. It's pretty crazy, but it plays well.

I hope to hear more about your adventures with the DS. It really is a great system.

Thanks for the recommendations! I've never played a Dragon Quest game so I'll probably play one soon. :)

Everyone should be given a DS when they're born. Such a great system from what looked like a game-less gimmick (which I just happened to buy close to day one for some god awful reason).

Weird. I enjoyed Superstar Saga immensely, but didn't really like Partners in Time (mostly because I HATE baby Mario). It turned me off to buying Bowser's Inside Story.

Get a Pokemon game! Now would be the time to get Black or White deux. Also, Phantom Hourglass, 999, and Henry Hatsworth. For a Castlevania game I'd go with Aria of Sorrow. Best music/mechanics, minus the aforementioned (in this thread) problem with the bosses where you have to have that stylus ready to do a stupid gesture and if you miss the timing window, have to fight it over again without regaining any of your health or items back.

Bowsers Inside Story is so so good. Loved it. If you wanna get a good DSiWare game (there are actually good games there!) id recommend Shantae: Risky's Revenge. Awesome Wayforward platformer.

@Deusx said:

Anyways, I would recomend 999. One of the best games EVER.

I came to say exactly this. Glad to see 999 is well represented in Giant Bomb.

I was late to the DS also, I only really started messing with it about two and a bit years ago. I always thought I was uninterested in the kind of games it offered, but I find myself messing with my DS/3DS more than I do my consoles. I find myself carrying both when I leave the house, and always have one near to me in the house. I'm really, really glad I have played a bunch of games I very easily could have missed.

@TheSouthernDandy said:

Bowsers Inside Story is so so good. Loved it. If you wanna get a good DSiWare game (there are actually good games there!) id recommend Shantae: Risky's Revenge. Awesome Wayforward platformer.

It's cool that you get 1000 DSi points for free so I've been meaning to check out a game on the DSi ware. Thanks for the reminder!

@JoeyRavn said:

@Deusx said:

Anyways, I would recomend 999. One of the best games EVER.

I came to say exactly this. Glad to see 999 is well represented in Giant Bomb.

Reading on it on the wiki here and it's apparently a visual novel? Can someone explain what the appeal for that game is?

@TheSouthernDandy said:

Bowsers Inside Story is so so good. Loved it. If you wanna get a good DSiWare game (there are actually good games there!) id recommend Shantae: Risky's Revenge. Awesome Wayforward platformer.

It's cool that you get 1000 DSi points for free so I've been meaning to check out a game on the DSi ware. Thanks for the reminder!

Also I meant "no prob dude" stupid no edit mobile site.

HOLY SHIT KURIBO'S SHOE IS IN BOWSER'S INSIDE STORY. I LOVE THIS GAME!

@Phatmac said:

@JoeyRavn said:

@Deusx said:

Anyways, I would recomend 999. One of the best games EVER.

I came to say exactly this. Glad to see 999 is well represented in Giant Bomb.

Reading on it on the wiki here and it's apparently a visual novel? Can someone explain what the appeal for that game is?

It's a story that has different paths depending on your actions. The puzles and the story are fucking gold, it's really unpredictable and most of the characters are really likable. Seriously, it's one of the best games I've played on the DS and in my top ten ever.

@csl316 said:

I tend to recommend Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia and Contra 4 to everyone. Quite enjoyed Sonic Rush, as well. It's a nifty little system.

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow is the best DS Castlevania. Portrait of Ruin is great as well!

@Phatmac said:

@JoeyRavn said:

@Deusx said:

Anyways, I would recomend 999. One of the best games EVER.

I came to say exactly this. Glad to see 999 is well represented in Giant Bomb.

Reading on it on the wiki here and it's apparently a visual novel? Can someone explain what the appeal for that game is?

if you like adventure games and games with awesome stries then play it. it is one of the best DS games.

Gotta get Advance Wars: Days of Ruin

@Phatmac: You just convinced me to buy Bowser's Inside Story. It would've happened sooner or later, but I'm excited.

@Phatmac: You just convinced me to buy Bowser's Inside Story. It would've happened sooner or later, but I'm excited.