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Best Nintendo DS Game
The games released on Nintendo's handheld delivered stunning gameplay in myriad categories. From cagey puzzles in Professor Layton and the Curious Village, to elegant ninjutsu in Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword and N+, the Best DS Games of 2008 offered compelling, exciting, and sometimes difficult challenges that few could avoid. The World Ends With You and Final Fantasy IV nimbly brought epic RPG struggles to the portable platform. Finally, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia brought a breath of fresh air to the series by taking it outside and to different locations, a premise unseen in the series since Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest. With many great games released on the handheld, determining five finalists was difficult enough. What can only come next is a knock-down, drag-out fight among strong competitors that belong in every DS owner's library.
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The World Ends With You
- Jupiter Corporation
- Square Enix
- Review score: 9.0
The World Ends With You is an anime-inspired game set in modern day Tokyo, from the team that made...
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Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
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Final Fantasy IV
- Matrix Software
- Square Enix
- Review score: 9.0
Final Fantasy IV makes its way to the Nintendo DS and features full 3D graphics, voiced cutscenes,...
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Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword
- Team Ninja
- Tecmo
- Review score: 8.5
Ryu Hayabusa's new adventure on the Nintendo DS offers elements from the classic 2D Ninja Gaiden,...
Watch the review » -
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Professor Layton and the Curious Village has you using skills such as reasoning, knowledge and...
Watch the review »
Voting Results:
Best DS Game| The World Ends With You | 27% | 3,954 |
| Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia | 13% | 1,845 |
| Final Fantasy IV | 31% | 4,451 |
| Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword | 14% | 1,967 |
| Professor Layton and the Curious Village | 16% | 2,302 |
Readers' Choice Winner
Final Fantasy IV
- Publisher: Square Enix
- Developer: Matrix Software
GameSpot's Best Games of 2008 Readers' Choice Winner
Four elemental Crystals, each possessing awesome power, lie scattered throughout the realm. However, men are quick to covet things which offer strength, and easily corrupted by the might which they possess. Seduced by the promised power of the Crystals, the kingdom of Baron begins employing unprovoked force to seize them from peaceful nations. The dark knight Cecil - Lord Captain of Baron's elite force, the Red Wings - is ordered by his king to obtain the Crystals, but soon begins to question the monarch's motives. Stricken with grief at his own actions, yet burdened by his loyalty to his country and his personal sense of honor, Cecil at last decides to turn from the path of darkness and destruction. Enraged, the king accuses him of disloyalty, strips Cecil of his command, and sends him off to slay a mysterious beast that lurks in the nearby Valley of Mist. Cecil embarks on a fateful journey that will bring trials, betrayals, friendship, loss and self-discovery. Can Cecil open his eyes and become the man of honor that he must be? Dive into the first RPG to incorporate the innovative Active Time Battle system, now further enhanced and refined for the Nintendo DS. Train and customize Whytkin by playing a variety of mini-games and challenge another player to head-to-head battle via local wireless connection.
Best Nintendo DS Game
387 comments
well i like all the games and i played all the games but the best is the world ends with you ^_^
calvinosa FFIV didnt win more people just voted for it. TWEWY won the editors choice and so it should have
It's unbelievable that FFIV won. TWEWY was awesome, and, btw, FFIV is a remake of a game that was once on SNES, then again on GBA. Not saying it's bad, not at all, but TWEWY is a much fresher experience. Go Gamespot!
God, I'd wish SE would stop re-releasing games. OoE is better than FFIV and I tossed up between TWEWT and OoE, but TWEWT is the better experience.
Just as I thought. FF4 was a very good game but it didn't bring anything new. TWEWY was totally new in every aspect. No Contest. TWEWY IS the best DS game of all time.
Awesome the World Ends with you was an amazing game but me choice was a tie between FF IV and T.W.E.W.Y.
TWEWY was by far the best NDS game of this year and it should had win people. I'm a big FF fan, played every FF game but TWEWY is better, this one was just like GoW, the FF has a big fan base and even thought they haven't played it they gave it there vote so it won but TWEWY was better and had a better story even :D
I would have said Ninja Gaiden...only problem is it's too short so I 'd go for Dragonball Origins...not nominated but it's my winner.
wow. there were really good games for ds this year, but i would have to go with layton on this one. final fantasy wasnt too much fun.
shibiroiba:"Man this really is a hard choice, and only now I'm realizing DS had very good games in 2008. I would be between Professor Layton, TWEWY and Final Fantasy IV." Nice to know you were able to narrow it down to slightly more than half of all the nominees.
Man this really is a hard choice, and only now I'm realizing DS had very good games in 2008. I would be between Professor Layton, TWEWY and Final Fantasy IV.
TWEWY loses to a rehashed version of a dated RPG with little to no updated elements besides touch-screen control. An different yet fun combat system loses to a game people have already played on the GBA, SNES, and PlayStation. A game in touch with a modern day society loses to a friggin' ghost of games' past! What the hell's going on?! Granted, the game is very amazing and beautiful, but there was very little original about it. TWEWY should have won this, and that's just my 2 cents, but like Jtg0 said - maybe not enough of us played it.
I find it hard to say which I prefer. Layton or TWEWY. Both fantastic games, so Im not gonna say
"Why is FFIV in there and not Chrono Trigger? First Gears and now this, GS really messed up this awards" Chrono Trigger is just a port with a few additions. FFIV is a totaly recreated game. And in the end FFIV is still better ;)
Aw. I was cheering for Professor Layton. But, I haven't played TWEWY so I can't judge.
I am sorry to you disbelievers but this game is possibly one of the best I've played on any console just short of Halo and Super Mario Galaxy. Between the amazing use of the touchscreen and microphone, not to mention the amazing story its easy to say this is the best game on the DS. Really mad that Square Enix said they aren't continuing this game definetly a winner.
Why is FFIV in there and not Chrono Trigger? First Gears and now this, GS really messed up this awards
Hang on a minute Mr Editor. You said in the introduction of this thing that there will be -NO- remakes eligible for the awards. So what's up with FFIV being here?
The world ends with you was a breath of fresh air, loving every minute of it! Well done mr gamespot, good choice that i agree on 100%!
Had a hard time between this and castlevania and have spent an insane amount of time playing both. I just think this game actually uses the touch screen better than most.
The world ends with you vs FFIV both by Square both are RPG's You know I think I might have hopes for the future of RPG's after all... Corse just remakes lately...but I won't give up on the RPG Franchise just yet. I am a RPG fan for life! you all go ahead and have your FPS and your Fighting games, but I will have my RPG's! But back to the DS After looking at this list I realise something... All are good... and no matters how you vote.. you are right. there isnt one game that Surpassed any other and all are good. That is why I think the DS is the best Handheld system,it aint just one or two games that define it, you have a bunch. thats the problem with PSP PS3 XBOX360 heck even WII. You get one or two games that define it but the rest end either A for all systems or B no one even really bothers looking at them.
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