Something developers interested in making a shooting game for Nintendo DS should definitely play.
Tight, easy-to-learn controls are everywhere in BiA DS, something that developers should put more effort into when dealing with a DS shooter. Intense World War II action is something people would never think of when talking about the DS, until now.
With the Call of Duty franchise heading toward DS as well, no body can never say never anymore. What makes Brothers in Arms DS so special, is that it's entirely stylus and D-Pad conglomeration, with only need for one other button (the Left Shoulder Pad). The entire screen will be used much like other DS PC-style controls, but there's the added ability to swap weapons using a cool pull-down menu that rarely gets in the way. The ability to throw weapons is also pulled off really well: tapping and holding the grenade in the corner of the screen will shift the top-screen's perspective so you can see your grenade's reticule. Slide the stylus up or down will adjust how far you'll throw the grenade.
Now I come to the graphics...let see...BiA has some of the best graphics I've ever seen on ANY handheld...period. It's very polished and the character models and enviroments are very well done. While their may be a drop in framerate and a few glitches every now and then, BiA really puts the DS's power to the full potential.
What is the only REAL BIG problem with BiA DS is...that it's too short. There are only about 13 missions, which can be completed rather quickly. While a few of them are easy, most of them are complicated, but still...only 13 missions? Plus, the multiplayer is only for people who have the game too, which is kind of a bummer. No online also hurts it.
But, what people have to realize is...BiA really sets a standard for the DS and the handheld shooter genre as a whole. More developers really need to look at Brothers in Arms DS as the definitive shooter game on the system, period.
Kudos to Gameloft, and I hope a sequel comes soon with single and multi-cart multiplayer, online modes, more missions, and the glitches fixed. One of my favorite DS games. Period.