Joystiq's DS Lite buyer's guide [update 1]

by Ross Miller { Jun 12th 2006 at 8:55PM }

So you now have your DS Lite and unpacked it ... now what? Here are some of our picks for the best games the little handheld has to offer (in no particular order):

Mario Kart DS (average score: 91%) The best Mario Kart to date, and quite possibly the best title the Nintendo DS has to offer. You can not even try to realize its full potential without taking this sucker online for a spin (we suggest you learn the art of snaking).
New Super Mario Bros (average score: 89%) Is there any doubt? While many people call the title derivative of the old Mario sidescrollers, the New SMB is 8 world of fun with some great pseudo-3D graphics. There's no Yoshi, but you do get a multitude of minigames (some of which are pretty entertaining).
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (average score: 89%) Forget about the "seal-drawing" to defeat the bosses, this is yet another classic in a long line of classic handheld Castlevania titles.

Read on for more of our picks.

Nintendogs (average score: 83%): As one of only six titles ever to receive a perfect score from Famitsu, Nintendogs is a no-brainer. Just don't blame us if you find yourself praising your digital pet in the middle of the subway ride.
Brain Age (average score: 76%) A "game" even your grandmother can enjoy, Brain Age is a series of activities -- including Sudoku -- to stimulate cerebral activity. Our advice: when taking the Stroop Test, pronounce Blue as "loo."
Meteos (average score: 88%) From the mind of crazed designer Tetsuya Mizuguchi (Rez, Lumines), this touch-screen-centric puzzle game is madly addictive once you get used to the controls. We really dig the soundtrack, too.
Phoenix Wright (average score: 81%) You play a defense attorney. It may sound lame, but trust us -- it is very fun and comical.
Metroid Prime: Hunters (average score: 86%) Once you get the controls down (a bit quirky, but by no means as complex as, say, G.R.A.W.), Hunters becomes an addicting online multiplayer.

Honorable Mentions: Kirby: Canvas Curse, Animal Crossing, Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, Advance Wars: Dual Strike.

We don't recommend: King Kong

Did we forget something? Feel free to give your suggestions via the comments below.

[update 1: fixed an "its-it's" issue ... oi. Thanks to everyone for your suggestions!]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Marc @ Jun 12th 2006 9:03PM

"So you now have your DS Lite and unpacked it ... now what?"

I don't! I don't have the money for a DS lite. And I can't get big money for my DS Phat anymore. Thanks for rubbing it in you big jerks!

(DSfanboy is the same way, were's the justice in this world?)

El_chimpo @ Jun 12th 2006 9:03PM

Hey what about Trauma Centre? I loved that game, easily one of the most entertaining games on DS.

spoo @ Jun 12th 2006 9:12PM

Don't forget WarioWare Touched is great for some stylus action. 82% at GameRankings.com.

LongshotX @ Jun 12th 2006 9:15PM

Sonic Rush?

James @ Jun 12th 2006 9:15PM

Hey thanks for this Joystiq!!! Im getting my DS Lite soon so this is very useful. I got New Super Mario Bros down and Animal Crossing :)

Pheonix Gamma @ Jun 12th 2006 9:19PM

Guilty Gear Dust Strikers is pretty decent. It's like Jump Super Stars, but without a ton of unlockables.

Heretrix @ Jun 12th 2006 9:30PM

Great list..I just picked up the DS lite today with New Super Mario Bros and I'm am enjoying it completely..I didn't like the original DS design and I'm glad I waited, the Lite is awesome....

The ZeroCorpse @ Jun 12th 2006 9:32PM

How could you forget Advance Wars: Dual Strike???

John Q. @ Jun 12th 2006 9:39PM

Trauma Center. Promote weird game ideas! Animal Crossing as well, especially for family.

Also, maybe an import list? I'd suggest Ouendan, Jump Superstars and Daigasso! Band Brothers.

Mikeawesome @ Jun 12th 2006 9:46PM

To be fair, I found Metroid Prime: Hunter's controls to be very complex in comparison to G.R.A.W.
A good majority of this feeling comes from the fact that I have huge friggin' hands. Which also makes me wary of buying the Lite. DDD:

student @ Jun 12th 2006 9:50PM

I'm sorry but I think Advanced Wars should be on the actual list, not honorable mention. The game keeps the same addictive strategy as the GBA games, only in spades. Tons of COs, more play modes, LOTS of maps. Not to mention the counter to remind you just how much time you've poured into the game and how many enemies you killed. Definitely better than the limited Nintendogs.

Looking at the list though, it's understandable why the DS is so well praised. So many good games on it.

Cosmos @ Jun 12th 2006 9:59PM

The article should definitely mention screen protectors. They are a must, especially for the bottom screen. I personally recommend Hori's screen protectors (they're hard and they don't use any sort of glue).

zakm @ Jun 12th 2006 10:27PM

Anyone get an Intec aluminum case for the DS Lite? Im curious if its any good.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4891342

Adam @ Jun 12th 2006 10:32PM

You completely forgot Tetris DS, possibly my fourth favorite after Mario Kart, New Mario Bros and Animal Crossing.

darko82 @ Jun 12th 2006 10:32PM

You forgot Age of Empires: Age of Kings, doh!

The Magic Ninja @ Jun 12th 2006 10:33PM

Can anyone recommend a good carrying case for the DS Lite?

Also, I picked up Super Mario 64 DS, and maybe because I never played it on Nintendo 64, but I'm having alot of fun with it so far. New Super Mario Bros is a must have though, besides the old school version, the multiplayer is fun as heck.

Dave @ Jun 12th 2006 10:38PM

Not to nitpick, but its and it's is a personal pet peeve. In:

Phoenix Wright (average score: 81%) You play a defense attorney. It may sound lame, but trust us -- its very fun and comical.

...its very should be it's very.

xenikos @ Jun 12th 2006 10:46PM

New. Super Mario Bros. is fun for a few hours of entertainment, but I am surprised at the high scores it is recieving.

The levels feature a large mix of recycled and new features...but their addition to game play is questionable. There are a few very neat gimmicks (the lava rocks in 8.5 or whatever), but things like the Mega Mushroom and the Koopa Shell are much neater conceptually than they are in gameplay at all. I can't really think of a way that either make the experience more fun.

Also, the difficulty is ridiclously low. Without replaying levels, and without using almost any of my star coins (I thought there was something useful one could do with them later...) I had something like 87 lives after playing through the levels naturally the first time. Its just all mostly forgettable.

I compare this to SMB3 - which had some killer tough levels, and some that instilled a much more frantic feeling...or Super Mario World, which made good use of the secret exits of worlds to get you to the star world and special world.

It just seems like NewSMB spent all of its energy trying to combine all sorts of classic features, throw in enough eye-catching ones, that it sacrified level design or depth or replayability in a big way. Oh well, back to playing Final Fantasy IV Advance...glad that my DS is good for something.....

kookie @ Jun 12th 2006 11:09PM

I just got my ds lite and I love it. I got metroid prime hunters and super mario 64, mainly cuz I loved it on the nintendo 64. hopefully I'll be able to get age of empires cuz i need some strategy game on the ds, and I didnt like advance wars very much.

Clay @ Jun 12th 2006 11:13PM

Age of Kings
Advance Wars Dual Strike

Thomas Averin @ Jun 12th 2006 11:27PM

I think Electroplankton should be added. Genius.

Amos @ Jun 12th 2006 11:50PM

If you want a good puzzler and don't buy into the Meteos hype, I strongly suggest Bubble Bobble DS. Lovely classic with a $20 price tag :).

Rare Hare @ Jun 12th 2006 11:57PM

hmmm.. i have castlevania DS, but don't play it enough to justify even owning a DS. i plan on picking up mario kart soon, though. also, i'm looking forward to final fantasy 3 and zelda: fantom hourglass.

the demo of metroid prime hunters i played was actually very "meh". the controls are simply not great.. at least if you like to jump and turn at the same time.

Bender @ Jun 12th 2006 11:57PM

17 (xenikos):

I partly agree with you about NSMB. I find the game easy and i'm yet to face much of a challenge.

But I'm not the majority, and i doubt you are too.

This game is intended to get those gamers back who left a long time ago.

Take my girlfriend, Robyn, for example. She had a NES when she was a kid, and even a SNES. Once things turned 3D and gory she stopped playing. And she loves NSMB! That frantic feeling you mentioned - she gets that every time she needs to do a few well timed jumps!

So for you, and for me, this game is too easy.

For her, and many people like her - the uber-casual gamer - it's just right.

Kai Cherry @ Jun 13th 2006 12:11AM

Trauma Center. Definately.

The game (and it is a game, lotta hand/eye happening there) will make you sweat, curse and scream "don't die! Nooooo" as much as any shooter would.

Its good stuff.

Seraph Wing @ Jun 13th 2006 12:12AM

OSSU! TATAKAE! OUENDAN
HOW could you NOT have this game there? I realize it's import-only (sorta), but it is honestly the BEST DS game I have!!!

James @ Jun 13th 2006 12:20AM

My must have list:

Advance Wars Dual Strike - best strategy game
Age of Kings - another great strategy game
Animal Crossing - enough said
Bomberman DS - 8-player wifi, bots if you have less than 8, again, enough said
Big Brain Academy - Better than brain training
Brain Training - solid title
Electroplankton - amazingly fun, sure collectors item
Kirby Canvas Curse - Best early stylus game
Mario and Luigi - Fun RPG.
Meteos - Excellent puzzler, don't cheat by scribbling!
Metroid Prime Hunters - Excellent FPS
Metroid Prime Pinball - Underrated great pinball game, perfect force feedback
New Mario - Enough Said
Nintendogs - Lots of fun, great to get girlfriend invovled
Phoenix Wright - Fantastic game, tons of fun
Sonic Rush (best Sonic in Years)
Tetris DS - best ver. of Tetris since Tengen?
Trace Memory - Excellent little adventure, fun change of pace, some fun puzzles that require outside the box
Trama Center - Cut people open!
True Swing Golf - only great sports game?

Just my list though.

Wes @ Jun 13th 2006 12:25AM

Honestly, how can Advance Wars: Dual Strike only get an honorable mention? Have you played it? I think the demographic that reads this will LOVE the game, think about moving it up a notch.

James @ Jun 13th 2006 12:27AM

Here's a good carrying case for the DSLite.

http://rubberlineinc.com/ZZZ_-_RLI_-_EMCO_50-50_Dumpster_Lid_4_Open_3d_view.jpg

Eric @ Jun 13th 2006 12:29AM

Man Can Where does everyone get Phoenix Wright? I really want it but I can't find it anywhere.

ThatFuzzyBastard @ Jun 13th 2006 12:52AM

Chiming in in support of the criminally underrated LOST IN BLUE. A desert-island sim (based on the old GameBoy SURVIVAL KIDS games), where you have to learn to find & cook food, build traps and weapons, and gradually solve the secrets of a mysterious island. It starts slowly, but the sense of accomplishment is immense when you finally figure out, say, how to make jerky so you can explore more of the island so you can... but that would be telling. An unusual adventure title, maybe one of the most unique on the DS (and that's a high bar).

And ELECTROPLANKTON is awesome.

xenikos @ Jun 13th 2006 2:17AM

#25 -

Games for the uber-casual gamer should exist and be promoted and whatnot. But should they be ranked highly by game critics?

Movie, music and book critics consider the "best" works in each respective medium to be those that are engaging, aesthetically powerful, and have a depth that casual reading/listening/watching does not fully capture. Greatness is always defined by how a work of art acts as an invitation to the participant...an opening to be drawn into a greater world than what presents itself on the surface. One way of looking at it...it is nearly impossible to tell a great movie by a movie trailer, since all of the aspects that make it great escape those kinds of mini-presentations. Great games are the same way..if you didn't know much about a game, looking at a short trailer of gameplay from it will tell you about its graphics, but often little else. NSMB, however, seems like it was MADE for its trailer - an invitation to nothing.

I just don't see why it couldn't be more like SMB3 or Super Mario World in that aspect. Being appealing to casual gamers is fine, but I don't think that can make a game a masterpiece.

no @ Jun 13th 2006 2:53AM

i want the the flying power-up in NSMB

Does anybody have a sort of rainbowish effect which makes some colours look like shit on their ds lite touch screen?

The ZeroCorpse @ Jun 13th 2006 3:31AM

Regarding a carrying case:

I picked up the official Nintendo neoprene sleeve, and then removed all the junk on it- The belt loop, the plastic logo on the front, etc.- using a blade to cut the threads holding them on the sleeve.

The final result is a sleeve that protects the DS Lite, but doesn't take up any extra space. It still has the velcro on the opening to keep in in the sleeve, and the tiny loop on the side near the top, but everything else is gone and it makes the sleeve ultra-compact. It fits in a pocket perfectly, and functions a lot like an iPod sock.

I don't understand why anybody would buy a DS Lite, and then put it in a case that adds several inches and ounces to the DS Lite's slim profile. The whole POINT of the DS Lite is to be smaller and more portable, and people want to put it in a heavy metal case that makes it BIGGER than the DS Phat?

cringer8 @ Jun 13th 2006 3:53AM

Animal Crossing all the way. My eyes are burning from playing that game too much. I'm going back to it right now.

rip @ Jun 13th 2006 4:19AM

Phoenix Wright? I guess I'll have to take your word for it, since it's practically impossible to get a copy. Unless of course your willing to pay double the original retail price.

You should bump that game down the list and add a game that can actually be bought in a store.

Advance Wars: Dual Strike gets my vote. That game easily got more playing time from me than any other listed. Next would be Animal Crack. I'd consider both must haves for the DS.

Aran @ Jun 13th 2006 6:15AM

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance!!1 Best Final Fantasy game ever. Well, at least the PS1 version was so I guess this rocks too. :D It's a GBA game and you can find it propably with a very cheap price tag, or get 2nd hand if possible.

I'm so jealous to you guys 'cause I live in Europe and we don't have DSL here yet, and I don't want to buy an import version. Well, it's less than two weeks for the release day. :)

Ianc02 @ Jun 13th 2006 6:28AM

Kudos to the two people who have mentioned OUENDEN. Simple and brilliant and not as easy as you think. Also sell a kidney to afford all the fantastic software that is currently available for the DS it will be worth it.

waiting for Yoshis island 2..(patiently lol)

Dan @ Jun 13th 2006 6:36AM

OMG HOW ARE YOU GUYS FORGETTING YOSHI'S TOUCH AND GO!!!!

Amir @ Jun 13th 2006 7:14AM

Is there any reason to own the DS Phat over the Lite? I mean, looking at the vids and pix, it looks small (duh), which is obviously good for most things, but seeing as I'll be holding the thing a lot with my beefy mitts which have grown from the days when the Dreamcast controller fit perfectly to when they stretched to wrap around the Duke for the Xbox, which I still use over the Controller S (too small, awkward black and white). I don't have a 360, but playing in stores I found it to be a nice compromise for freaks like me and general normal-hand-sized people.

striderhayasa @ Jun 13th 2006 8:01AM

@ James. great list! I was thinking about Trace Memory but I saw Hotel Dusk 215 in an E3 update and it looked great.

I'll add to the list,

JumpSuper Stars - anime fanboy dream come true - just be sure to download the translation sheets.

Bleach - Awesome. It's like Samurai Showdown and Guardian Heroes with Bleach Characters. It's online too!

Tony Hawk: American Skateland - I'm really liking Vicarious Visions. TH:AS is a great game that offers depth in tricks, combos, stagings and has full online options like a console game. The ranking board is sweet and you can download other players' replays to see how they pulled off some of their high scores. Awesome game!

In regards to NSMB. I have to agree with many of you here. I like the game but the more I play through it, the more I find myself wishing for more power-ups like the Tonooki Mario or Raccoon Mario. At first I didn't like that the levels were so short but then realized that the length is great for quick pick-up and play gaming sessions. I find myself with the Fire Flower too often and have no real use for the Big Mushroom and the blue turtle shell is kinda "meh". Not really all that usefull.

What keeps me playing it is the core gameplay is still great platforming. Getting some of the coins took a bit of brain power and some of the obstacles are great fun. After playing through the classic marios and Mario 64....how can you not find NSMB too easy?

AJ @ Jun 13th 2006 8:07AM

Why is Wario Ware Touched so unloved? It's the only title from the launch window that can still hold a light to the others. If you haven't played this game... PLAY IT! It makes perfect use of the touch screen. I had it once until I sold my DS Phat a long time ago. Now that I have a lite, I'm looking to get it again.

plagiarize @ Jun 13th 2006 8:11AM

OSU!

Listen to everyone who told you to get Ouendan. Yes, a US demi sequel is on the way, but it's not out yet so get Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! now, and then get Elite Beat Agents when it comes out. you'll not be sorry.

striderhayasa @ Jun 13th 2006 8:15AM

@ Rare Hare...the demo for Metroid is "meh" now that the retail version is out but play the actually MPH release and it's a totally different story. Trust me, the controls are the real deal. Metroid Prime Hunters has controls that are better than any first person shoot on any console or portable. The only control scheme that is better is mouse and keyboard. You can do things in MPH that you simply cannot do on a dual analog setup. for example:

You can fight against someone that is shooting at you from a cliff (Alinos Perch). Not only can you strafe and still look up and hit them, (which is hard to do consistantly on Dual analog) you can hit a jump pad, fly high above them and still have accuracy to hit them whiling you're flying through the air. This is even if your opponent is almost directly below you.
I did this more than a few times with the Imperialist which takes a full two seconds to reload but does hella damage. Give the retail version a shot...it makes me want Perfect Dark, Turok and Goldeneye on DS soooooooo bad.

Andir @ Jun 13th 2006 8:46AM

The only thing I don't like about Mario Kart DS is the poor implementation of the WFC aspect. You just connect to the service and wait for it to match you with people. You can't play with friends unless you have four people?? (I got tired of waiting if that's what you have to do)

And am I the only one that has a problem with a different friend code for every game?

Slacker @ Jun 13th 2006 9:34AM

@ AJ (#40) - I'd like to try Wario Ware Touched, but I'm not paying $35 for a gimicky launch title. When are they going to drop the price on that sucker? >_

Jay @ Jun 13th 2006 9:43AM

All these games suck :P:P:P
PSP FTW!

;)

striderhayasa @ Jun 13th 2006 10:33AM

no, @ Andir. I'm not really a big fan of that either. Metroid Prime Hunters tries to fix the problem with the rivals functions that will automatically add the person's friend code to your DS. but this turns out to be lame too since you can't IM rivals and voice chat won't work with rivals either.

IMO this is where Nintendo dropped the ball with Nintendo wifi. I need a universal friend code so that I can find all of my friends and they can find me no matter which game I buy. If I don't want to play with a particular person or talk to them, just block their name.