A good solid portable, that has the potental for good solid games.
User Rating: 9.8 | Nintendo DS Hardware DS
Back at last year's E3 Nintendo announced that they were bringing out a new portable called the Nintendo DS. The DS promised 2 of pretty much everything, including stereo sound and dual screens. It was shown at a Nintendo press conference, and looked like it had a lot to offer on-the-go gamers. The DS did in fact introduce the stereo sound it promised, and the dual screens. Meet the new gimmick for the DS. The dual screens is definitely a pathway to some terrifically built games, and the touch screen is a godsend! As the DS was released, it was launched with a tiny handful of games such as Mario 64 DS, Ridge Racer DS, and Asphalt: Urban GT. The launch would prove to be the downfall to the DS, because a game system is only as good as the games on it. Simply put, the DS is a very promising system. It seems as if everything on the DS comes in 2's. Two screens, two speakers, two cartridge slots, two processors, etc etc... Graphically the DS is really able to deliver some pretty nice 3D graphics. Playing Mario 64 DS, it looks just as if you were playing the N64 version on a smaller TV. Some of the recent games such as The Urbz: Sims In The City has thrown the same graphics to the DS as you would see on a GBA, and that is unfortunate, because it has so much more to offer. Thankfully it has only been out for a few months, and with time the developers get to know the hardware better and what it can do. The touch screen is a unique and fairly new idea in the world of gaming. The touch screen is absolutely perfect for any FPS you get, because you could use your thumb strap or stylus to look around your surroundings as simple as a keyboard and mouse is on a PC. For instance, Metroid Prime: Hunters utilizes both screens beautifully. The top screen shows your point of view, as the touch screen shows a map, and has buttons to use your morph ball, missiles, and utilize other options in the game. using the stylus on the map, you look around on the top screen, it may sound confusing, but it comes as second nature about 15 minutes into playing. The DS also makes your GBA experience a cleaner and sharper one. Since there is a slot on the DS perfect for GBA carts, it is of course, backwards compatible as far as the GBA. You will be able to choose which screen you would like to use for your GBA game, and since the screens are bigger on the DS than the GBA, will play your GBA game in sort of wide screen. The graphics are noticeable sharper on the DS than the GBA, and not to mention will play the game in terrific stereo sound. Another wonderful option with the DS is the ability to play games WiFi. No longer do you have to be confined to wires, if you have a friend within 150 feet of you, you and them can enjoy a game against each other. Some games require that you each have a copy where as some do not. For instance Mario 64 DS can go up to 4 players with 1 cartridge. There is a "download" option in the main menu of the DS that will put the game on for the duration of that multiplayer game, once powered off, it will lose the game data, it doesn't have a hard drive so no copying games and keeping them. The new Goldeneye: Rogue Agent will support 8 players with WiFi and only 1 cartridge. So that is terrific news for friends who can't afford the game and want to play against you. Also built into the DS to use the WiFi is a little chat program called Pictochat. This little program is activated in the main menu of the DS and will allow you to draw, or chat via an on screen keyboard for those shy about your handwriting. Every message sent in Pictochat will pop up on the upper screen and will scroll up as new messages come, like any traditional chat room. One more nice feature to the DS's WiFi function is the fact that later this year, it will be able to connect to the internet using a wireless router, although I doubt you will be able to use Pictochat over the internet, you will be able to play games such as Mario Kart DS with someone across the country, or even the world. Also with how exciting the hardware is, new titles are emerging that will put that hardware to good use. Animal crossing DS, Goldeneye, Black and White Creatures, a Boy and His Blob, The Sims 2 and Lost in Blue promise to be some spectacular games that will give the portable gamer a lot of memorable games. Also utilities such as Play Yan which will allow DS users to play MP3s and Video is emerging. All in all, the DS is shaping up and is putting up a strong fight against the Sony PSP. With all the hardware involved, and the new line of titles that are do out, Sony should worry. Also with no moving parts in the DS, the battery life can last in between 8 to 10 hours, that is if you are not playing WiFi, that cuts it down by half. Where the PSP lacks, the DS makes up with originality. If you had to make the choice that a lot of gamers are making, should I buy a DS or PSP, the DS will give you a longer lasting enjoyable experience, and should not be overlooked.
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