Not everyone loves to play video games; I know for certain that my Mum and Dad both shy away from them. However, a lot of people enjoy sitting back and playing on a portable console such as a Nintendo DS in their spare time, I certainly would… if I could find mine, but that's beside the point. As a bit of a geeky Nintendo fan I know quite a bit about gaming, and I'm writing this article so that I can inform you about what I think are the 5 greatest games of all time for the DS.
Developer: Game Freak
Genre: RPG
Pokémon Diamond/Pearl
I believe that Pokémon is one of the most underrated games ever, is this really a child's game?...
Pokémon has never gotten old for me, as a kid in primary school I was playing red and blue eagerly, discussing all sorts of rumours in the playground. “If you use Strength on the truck outside the S.S. Anne you find Mew under it”, I tried that one, it didn't work. So, as a child I loved it, but it still hasn't gotten old. Pokémon is a very well-designed RPG that people often pass as childish, but there are many features that make it adaptable for players who want more of a challenge (IVs, EVs, lots of hidden features etc). In all this game can and should be played by everyone from the kids on the playground in primary school to the parents in the office when their favourite time-wasting website is blocked.
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: Racing
Mario Kart DS
It'sa me, Mario! Crazy characters and tantalising tracks form this piece of Nintendo artwork.
And here comes number two (yes, “I said number two”. Get over it) in the top DS games championship, what a fine piece of machinery this is, speeding up the track and right into the customer's wallets. Mario Kart DS is one of the first games that came out for Nintendo's latest handheld console, and it certainly proved to be a winner. In what other games can you drive at crazy speeds, turn into a giant bullet and go even faster, then fire a few turtle shells at other cars only to get struck down by lightning or slip on a banananananananananana (I know how to start spelling it… I just don't know how to stop)? The only thing that annoys me about this game is how they give the best items to the worst players to balance it out, however, that takes away part of the joy of being better than other people if other people beat you because they're worse.
Developer: Nintendo
Genre: Adventure
Super Mario 64 DS
This game is actually a port of the original N64 game onto the DS with a few new features; however, it still keeps its shine.
The first person to say “but theyve just copied a game onto ds wtfwtf”. Yes. They have. But does it make it any worse? It was a great game on the N64 and it's a great game on the DS. They've adapted it quite well to the touch screen, and the mini-games play fantastically well. The game-play is not much different, and you still have all the classic characters you would expect to see in a Mario game. The graphics are very good for such a cheap (in comparison to some of the other consoles out there *cough* PSP) console, and all the classic Mario sound-effects come with it. You can have hours of fun on this game attempting to collect all of those slippery stars, repeatedly playing the mini-games and finding all the extras in the levels.
Developer: Team 17
Genre: Multiplayer TBS
Worms: Open Warfare 2
Team 17 have done an excellent job with this game, originally created for PC but then adapted for several other consoles.
How can you not appreciate the joy of worms with weapons basically blowing other worms up. Swinging across the side-view map with the famous ninja-rope, dropping a dynamite on your own team by accident, losing control and then flying into the water with a high-pitched “Nooooooooooo”? How the hell did Team 17 come up with such a great idea? “Oh, I know, let's make a game with worms in… and let's give them wacky weapons for hilarious results.” Well, however they designed it, it definitely worked. Some features that make this game absolutely lovable are the Level Designer, Missions, Extras and the online mode. This game can be played on your own against a computer, with some friends via the wireless or even against people around the world via the Wi-Fi compatibility. With all this game has to offer, you should never tire of it.
Developer: Sega
Genre: Adventure
Sonic Rush: Adventure
Classic Sonic side-scrolling game-play that makes this game a must-have for die-hard sonic fans or anyone with a few hours to kill.
This innovative game from Sega uses both screens for its speedy side-scrolling as you whizz through the well-designed levels with a choice of more than one playable character. And don't think that this game is just 2D, a third dimension is added in the awesomely animated boss battles and the craftily created boat levels. There are many elements that make this game stand out, including the fact that you get to “build” new boats and hovercrafts etc. And you can have a dinosaur. A dinosaur. Just, wow. It doesn't do much though, just stands on your island acting all… dinosaur-y. Still, this game comes with the classic Sonic style music and even some Wi-Fi features for multiplayer.
So, that's just my opinion of the top 5 must-buys for the Nintendo DS. If you don't have one of these games, and you have enough money to spare, then I seriously suggest you go and buy one - trust me on this. Of course, some people might have other views, if you do, don't post angry comments, just give your opinion in a calm and relaxed way. No need to internet-shout.
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