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Got my own at the weekend and, now that I've played a couple more games (and DS-specific ones, too, rather than relatively straight conversions of older games from other consoles) I've got to say: yes, absolutely. Get one.
I'm not sure how the other one ended up with a scratched screen, as there's not a mark on mine yet, despite much tapping and swirling in Wario Ware. I've been sticking with the stylus - no naked fingertips, no thumb-tack - and it's still sparkly new. I'd imagine that WW places the screen under as much torture as any other game out now (or in future, really), so I don't see any reason why it should get scratched. It's pretty sensitive, so there's no need to hammer down on it.
Of course, now I've said that I'll probably end up cracking mine in half tonight.
It's worth the cash just for the new experiences it brings to the table. WW is a constant joy, especially once you've got all the games open and are playing them for score. A few of the games in it might be a bit obvious and not too far removed from those in otehr versions of the title, but most feel like they've been designed by people who've never played a videogame in their lives and are coming at the form with a completely fresh pair of eyes. Most notably, the ones that use the microphone.
I've also picked up Nintendogs and Another Code (Trace Memory in the US). If I'm honest, I'm still finding Nintendogs to be a little uninvolving - less a game, more a toy. Something to dip into and play around with for no more than ten or fifteen minutes a day, but something that you may well end up playing with for ten or fifteen minutes a day *every* day. Animation is charming, voice recognition works extremely well. It's just not really clicked with me yet, for some reason.
Another Code has. Wonderful game. A point & click thing, like a cross between Broken Sword/Monkey Island and Myst with a lovely, subtle storyline and some serious innovation in its use of the console's design. The two screen setup is used to show scenes from different angles when there's some exposition, which reminds me of those flicks from thirty-odd years back that experimented with multiple pictures on screen at any one time. During exploration, the top screen shows a detailed 2D image of the area you're in and the bottom one shows a top-down, 3D viewpoint that you move around in.
Entire game can be played just with the stylus. It's the puzzles that make it amazing. They start off being a little bland - rotating and pulling things with the stylus - but begin to use the double screen setup and the microphone as soon as you get a little way in. One, in particular, is absolutely inspired - the sort of moment that's *so* original and memorable that it can't ever be used again. It wouldn't be possible on any other console anyway, but any attempt to borrow it for a future game will immediately be recognisable as a shameless steal from here. Just a shame that the game's so short - I finished it in five and a half hours, although I didn't get the best ending - but it's one of the few times recently where the relative brevity of the experience hasn't particularly bothered me at all. It's worth the money just for the moments it leaves you with.
Oh, and I've just bought myself Advance Wars DS, but haven't played it yet.
So yeah, I'd absolutely recommend one. I've been feeling a bit disenfranchised with current gen gaming in the last couple of months, but getting the DS is threatening to put a real strain on my bank account. There are at least seven other games out for it right now that I *have* to play:
Yoshi's Touch & Go
Kirby's Magic Paintbrush
Daigasso! Band Brothers
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan
Castlevania
Meteos
Trauma Centre: Under the Knife
Eight, if you count the add-on GBA cart for Band Brothers. And those are games that are available right now, and just the ones that I reckon are going to be essential. There are also the ones that'll probably be fun, but nothing truly special - Ridge Racer, Bomberman the two Pac-Man games.
It's worth buying one just to see how different, how immediate and how charming videogames can be, and to prove to yourself that there are still people capable of coming up with new ideas out there. |
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