Top 10 games of the Nintendo DS (A swan song)

Now that the 3DS is out, this is the final phase of this generation of hand held gaming (NGP too). I have always had a big place in my heart for hand-helds. Many hardcore gamers ask me why I play handhelds instead of the more sophisticated mediums, with a high end computer and a next gen console (in my case a ps3), and I point to a similiar reason that people bring their notebooks to a starbucks, that being out and among people is a joy in itself (and quick access to decent beverages). Hand-helds understand this more than their more powerful brothers and it occurs to me that one of the new features that the Nintendo DS has over its predessessor (GBA) is the sleep function. The sleep function I think is a mostly underrated feature as its value is in nuance. I think especially to non gamers, communicating to someone while gaming is rather annoying or off putting as while trudging through a game like demon souls the fact that the conversation lacks eye contact definitely is a determent to creating a connection. So if someone enters my lair and wishes a conversation, to be a better conversationalist it is better to simply save and quit because trying to continue will in most cases, degrade an otherwise fruitful social situation into awkwardness as I mash buttons in the middle of inane sentences of small talk that frankly one can do while gaming but that really isn't the point is it? If one reads any of Emily Posts etiquette books, you will be amazed at the small details that one would otherwise miss (or not care about) but one thing I am confident about is that if social situations are worthy of such sophisticated thought and sensitivity towards your peers, certainly it would follow that you cant possibly do a good job of social etiquette while downing the tower knight on 2-1. Which leads me to the point of this whole rant; sleep mode. To be able to suspend your game instantly with no consequence to your game is an innovation in gaming social etiquette. Quick save is good, it is pretty quick..but instant as fast as you can close the system is really the closest your going to get with allowing your virtual world not to interfere with the social aspects of your reality. The difference when your girlfriend walks in the door, between your meeting her at the door with an enthusiastic word or gesture and your continued romp through the poison infested level of 5-2 praying for a way to stop and save (you cannot pause) could not be farther apart in the view of valuing your significant other (in her eyes). With the ability to sleep (and lack of load times), the Nintendo DS has given me a way to be a nerd while not losing much of a beat when it comes to socializing and I think it is well documented that games while not making one prone to more violence or even prone to get fat, do raise correlation with depression and loneliness and small innovations like this, that help gamers do better with real people have really helped me specifically become a better, well rounded adult. Sleep mode and the portability of the DS are an advantage that my HD TV and i7 processor do not possess and advantages that reap benefits in terms of social ability.

I feel myself not terribly qualified to catalog the top 10 games of the Nintendo DS and the first disclaimer I would put is I have not played many games that even I would deem necessary to make such a distinction, however I own over 80 games, read games blogs daily make purchase decisions on both quantitative (meta scores) and qualitative (reviews,opinions,genre) factors and would venture to speculate that I am as well versed as a hobbyist could be without bona fide professional credentials. In such I am including a list of games that I would have loved to play before making this post but did not purchase either due to lack of interest or lack of time. It can be assumed with a certain level of rigor that if I do not include the game in the list of games I have not played, than I have played it in some fashion and that includes super niche titles with limited releases or it was a terribly received by the press/licensed from another source/not released in english and thus did not play it (Shining force feather,Xenosaga DS, Soma Bringer, Jump superstars ect.)

Games that I have not played but would have liked to before making this list:

The Age of empires games
Contact
Custom Robo Arena
Drawn to life
Flower, Sun and Rain
Izuna
Every DS pokemon itteration
Knights in the nightmare
Moon
N+
Nostalgia
Ninja Gaiden: Dragon sword
Sands of Destruction
Scribblenauts
Star Fox command
Locks Quest
Lunar Knights
Contra 4
Okamiden DS
Kirbys Canvas curse
Ghost Trick Phantom detective
Rythm heaven
Monster Tale

Ahem, without further weighted disclaimers



1.The World Ends with You

The Nintendo DS has a gimmick, a touch screen. While other games may be better at certain things, this game was good on nearly all fronts and also was the best use of the touch screen in an innovating product that would work on no other platform. It is also educational, as a friend touring Japan filled me in on various places and districts he visited he was convinced I had been to Japan merely because of the landmarks that The World Ends with You educates the player about. If Wii sports defines the best of waggle and thus the best use of the gimmick of the hardware, than The world ends with you certainly defines the best use of a dual screen system with touch controls and is a great game to boot.

2.Dragon Quest IX

To many this will be a controversial pick as orthodox DQ fans roll their eyes at this choice. But even from a "hated the game" standpoint you must agree that given the sheer versatility of the product it deserves a spot on the top 10 list. DS local wireless was not used better than it was in DQIX, the DQVC was super addictive for those collectors, cavassing was an interesting albeit useless U.S. function, an achievement and quest system existed that added hundreds of hours of gameplay and end game content not typical of a handheld release existed upon this tiny cartridge. Those who did not or could not partake in the wireless multiplayer missed out on the lionshare of fun to be had with this product. I had gone to every meetup within a 100 square radius, attended the gamestop and best buy events and even met the community of DQ players that attended the tradeshow comic con, this game brought DS owners and Dragon Quest fans together. It strikes me that some people whose multiplayer could not be local, why they are so incensed about the lack of wi-fi multiplayer, but without a great way to communicate (the mic would have certainly not been it) that even if it did have wi fi support it would not nearly have been as exciting as sitting around a table exploring the world of DQIX with four friends of various gaming ability.


3. Might and Magic: Clash of heroes

This game is so hard to sell on paper, it contains the might and magic license for no apparent reason besides boosting sales through brand recognition, that is all I can think of as to their thought process. The developer Capybara have created the best mix of RPG and puzzle that I have ever seen in my many years as a gamer a product that embodies "easy to learn, difficult to master" and whose closest competitor in genre, puzzle quest is outclasses in nearly ever delineable catagory and yet puzzle quest is the more known and purchased product. tragic really.


4.Advance Wars: Dual Strike

Advance wars is a great franchise and during its duration often times takes a few steps forward and a few steps back. This Iteration with its multitude of generals, the mixing of CO powers and new unit statistics certainly took a few steps backwards in overall balance but its lighthearted presentation and various playstyles really won me over. conversely AW:DOR was much more balanced, contained wi fi support and had an actual story but without the bevy of generals to pick from and strategize over AW:DOR took a few too many steps backwards to have overtaken its predessor AW:Dual Strike.

5.Final Fantasy IV

RPGs are different things to different people, but this RPG improved upon a masterpiece of the SNES era, with voice acting new special effects and cutscenes and better game mechanics. Putting any RPG on a DS list is difficult because competition is so steep but this RPG delivers not on its originality (it is a remake) but on its polish on a product good enough not to need it. If this games story does not move the player, our experiences are so different that I doubt we would share much or any commonality in game taste at all.

6.Bower's Inside Story

Joyful,hilarious and a whole bag of fun this is the pinnacle of the Mario and luigi RPG series which, to many skeptical gamers is the brand knockoff version of their much loved paper mario series. This sequel however really comes into its own, paper mario does not contain the hilarious antagonist Fawful nor ever spotlights bowser as the lovable idiot as thoroughly as this product does, if you are skeptical and don't mind spoilers just youtube Fawful and I am sure you will be a convert.


7.Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia

Picking which castlevania to pick on the DS is really the hard part, Dawn of sorrow was magnificent save a few troublesome mechanics (drawing the magic seals?!) Portrait of ruin was very close for me, but i felt that the levels lacked the dread and horror that gives castlevania that edge of anxiety that monsters hitting is not just a substraction to your HP, but the thought that you want that ugly-monster-ghoul-thing no where near your avatar. Ecclesia is also by far the best looking out of the three and in a row of beauty pageant winners such as the castlevanias for the DS it often comes down to which one looks the best.


8.Infinite Space

Many will disagree, I am unapologetic about this one. Half visual novel, Half space JRPG Infinite Space is a very unique game that I wish more people gave a chance. Is it grindy? Sure. Are the bosses often too hard for the level, resulting in nearly an auto restart whenever you see one? I will concede that. Does the game start so slow that you can get through the first 10 hours using two commands? Yes. But this forum more than any, should appreciate a game hard to love at first glance but satisfying and lengthy when you put in the time, and thats what Infinite Space is. The multiple paths, the dialogue that actually has tangible consequence, the political space opera,ship customization and fleet tactics (when you get a fleet) make it a real joy to be a Zero-G dog in whatever system you inhabit.


9.Retro Game challenge

On occasion one might plug in a 15 year old game out of sheer nostalgia for the joy you used to experience from the product only to find it to be either something that is no longer functionally fun, or played out to the point where nothing new ever comes from it. Retro game challenge has a bunch of "new" retro games that still trigger the joys of the gametype without having to play something that you already have memorized. Best of all none of the games overstay their welcome, playing ninja gaiden for 20 minutes might be fun, playing it for 6 hours might kill the joy, but the way retro game challenge separates your progression really make sure no retro game becomes stale. Those old game compilations could really learn from this outing, that sticking in a narrative as well as including short duration playtimes on games that frankly require short durations to master will lead to a more enjoyable and modern experience.


10.Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box

Half brain teaser, half European murder mystery Professor Layton
really finds the bullseye mark in "edutainment". This sequel improves upon a great formula in most ways, and features cutscenes, animation and intrigue as well as puzzles that quite frankly, can be pretty difficult even for a grown ass man. I almost hate to put the game on the list as so many text heavy amazing games could not exist here because of it. But the Professor Layton series is charming and innovative in world of puzzle solving games that quite frankly never had the kind of polish that this series does and does a great thing for humanity and makes learning a few new things quite a good time.

This list was selected from many many gems that quite frankly SHOULD be on the list, but with only 10 slots I could not gush over all the greatness that was the Nintendo DS so here are the honorable mentions:

Radiant Historia
Mario Kart DS
Grand Theft Auto : Chinatown Wars
999: 9 Hours 9 Doors 9 Persons
Chrono Trigger
Elite Beat Agents
Final Fantasy: 4 heroes of light
Phoenix Wright: Ace attorney
Fire emblem: shadow dragon
SMT:Devil Survivor
Etrian Oddysey III: The drowned City
Suikoden Tierkreis
Cave Story
Mighty Flip Champs
Shantae:Risky's revenge
Phantasy Star 0