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Nintendo DS?
xxNELIPOTxx
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I'll openly admit it, I'm a console kind of girl. I got on the wagon with the Playstation and Playstation 2 back in the day and am a proud owner of a 360 now. My boyfriend, on the other hand, wants a Nintendo DS and I don't know the first place to start!
What's the difference between the DS and the DS Lite? Has anyone had any real life pros or cons with either? What kind of gear should I get to go with it?
Also, for an old-school gamer who loves the ancient Final Fantasy franchise/RPGs as well as low-graphic sidescrollers and anime, are there DS titles anyone could suggest? Advice in general would be welcome!
I knew Penny Arcade would be the right place to go with this, just because of the passion for gaming I've seen here!
Thanks everyone!
What's the difference between the DS and the DS Lite? Has anyone had any real life pros or cons with either? What kind of gear should I get to go with it?
Also, for an old-school gamer who loves the ancient Final Fantasy franchise/RPGs as well as low-graphic sidescrollers and anime, are there DS titles anyone could suggest? Advice in general would be welcome!
I knew Penny Arcade would be the right place to go with this, just because of the passion for gaming I've seen here!
Thanks everyone!
xxNELIPOTxx on
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As for the difference between the DS and the DS Lite? You could say that the Lite is to the Phat as the PS2 Slim is to the original PS2. It's just a slightly better-made system. It looks better, and I've heard the Lite screen is also a little better.
It's also kind of a moot point, because if you go into any shop to purchase a DS, what you'll get is a Lite.
Someone light the Slash Signal, we need his lists.
I can list some stuff, but he'll do it so much better.
The DS Lite is a little smaller and it's screens are a bit better and it's not ugly to look at.
Also, here's the Slashsignal lists for DS and GBA.
Let me tell you about Demon's Souls....
After perusing this list i can confirm with a 99.97% ratio of certainty that it is completely made of win. I would recommand everyone of these titles as well.
BANGAI-O SPIRITS
oh, and fuckin' The World Ends With You, that game is fucking pimp
it's Square Enix and everything
From what I've seen (very little) if you're thinking if gettign a DS, I'd get one now before they're replaced by the DSi.
You'd be hard press to find a DS phat in retail these days. You're better of with a DS lite anyway as it's smaller, comes with a brigther screen and is smaller/lighter than the original.
As for Old school game, the DS is also a good Choice. There are a lot of JRPG available. What's even better, espicially since your boyfriend seems to enjoy old school graphics, is that the DS lite comes with a SLOT-A so that it can play Gameboy Advance games. This means you also get access to the GBA catalogues of games including, 16bits graphic version of Final Fantasy IV, V and VI and so many more.
PSN: Guibs25 | XboxLive: Guibs | Steam: Guibsx | Twitch: Guibsx
The Nintendo DS is bulky and kind of ugly, with a dark screen and a small stylus. The DSLite is sleeker, better aesthetically, has much much better and brighter screens, and has a much better stylus. The Lite is leagues better than the original DS. The only other difference between the old DS and DSLite is that GBA games fit flush into the old DS, whereas GBA games in the new DSLite stick out a little bit. But the pros of the Lite far, far outweigh any cons compared to the old DS.
There are a good number of Final Fantasy games as well as other types of RPGs, including the very old school "roguelike" genre (if he's into that), as well as some very interesting and unique RPGs.
There are lots of fantastic sidescrollers on the NDS though. There's a good breadth of different types in different genres.
I recommend perusing this list that was posted earlier for NDS games, as well as the GBA section if you'd like.
Steam ID: slashx000______Twitter: @bill_at_zeboyd______ Facebook: Zeboyd Games
Okay, I have one more question... is there any add on gear or kits that you DS lite users have found that enhances the experience or that makes the DS lite nicer?
Thanks all!
Screen protectors are essential, especially if you're playing EBA or Trauma Center. Hori protectors are generally regarded as the best you can get.
XBL |Steam | PSN | last.fm
That said, they are a good idea, just to be safe.
Fair enough. I should say essential if you're really anal about the screens of your electronics, like myself. I put screen protectors on everything, scratches bug the hell out of me.
XBL |Steam | PSN | last.fm
You would be bugged to hell if you saw my iPhone, its like a poster-child for Scratch and dent world
I have an iPod Touch, and a case with a screen protector was the first thing I bought after I got it. Scratches on that thing would kill me.
XBL |Steam | PSN | last.fm
Chrono Trigger
Lock's Quest
Those are three recent games you can't go wrong with.
Also, I'm calling plant on the OP, but anyway.
As for accessories, I got the "offical" big softcase for mine; the one with the flip pocket for 9 games. Works quite well, though a little bulky. I didn't bother with a screen protector as it closes, unlike iPod, et al. Plus all scratched up from previous owner.
Steam ID: slashx000______Twitter: @bill_at_zeboyd______ Facebook: Zeboyd Games
Both are very challenging, some would say even brutal, but I find them very rewarding. Izuna belongs in the Rogue-like genre that Slash mentioned earlier and Etrian Odyssey is very much like the original Wizardry that I played way back on my Apple II+.
Both have very pleasant Anime stylings. While I find Izuna humorous neither game has a deep story, so that may detract from your enjoyment if that sort of thing is important to you.
I am also (SHOCK!) looking forward to the cameras.
People that complain about the cameras seem to miss their entire point. The cameras are NOT to try and replace your fancy digital camera; they are there to give developers more tools and options when it comes to game/application development (sorta like the microphone on the DS). Who knows what kind of optical interaction games or features we may see? They could also be used to read barcodes or similar things. It's definitely a step in the right direction.
As for the no GBA slot, I already have a GBA and a regular DS for that.
For me, I'm not looking forward to the new DSi, it's mostly gimmick and expensive.
Bigger screen is not necessary better. You're are just going to end up with bigger pixel making the graphics look, well, more pixelated, not as sharp.
I just can't believe they are dropping the GBA Slot on the DSi. for me, this is a pretty huge flaw in the design. Espicially for the OP who's boyfriend seems to enjoy the 16 bits game which are plenty available in GBA format.
Finally, the Camera is useless. Do you really believe that developpers will lineup to make games with essentiel features using the camera when 98% of all DS owners don't have the camera since the geeks will get the new DSi? Those "features" will remain minimal and entirely optionnal because the majority of the DS fan base won't have it. It's the same for any games on console that requries a specific peripheral, the difference playing on the console's favors is that people don't need to BUY en entire new console to get the peripheral, they can get it cheaper as an add-on, which is NOT the case of the DSi.
The only good thing is the the SD card and the possibility of downloading demos off the internet. Beside this, the DSi as little to offer that is worth mentionning.
PSN: Guibs25 | XboxLive: Guibs | Steam: Guibsx | Twitch: Guibsx
1. I just don't see what the big deal is about dropping the GBA slot. I have a GBA. I have a DSlite. New GBA games are pretty much done with. Don't get me wrong, I have some big favorites on my GBA that I still fire up every now and then, but its becoming less and less. I even have some Gameboy Color games I still love (like Links Awakening and Dragon Quest III) but I can't play them on my DS. It's the same with he DSi and GBA games... things move forward. I don't expect to play everything from the past on my new system.
2. Have you seen the DSi sales numbers in Japan?? It is selling like hotcakes. To say they won't make games/applications for it is like saying in 2005 that they won't make DS games because 98% of people own GBAs.
The DSi is a huge seller, and is going to be a huge seller here in the US once it launches, and games/applications will be made specifically for it. And eventually the DS lite will fade away.
This isn't to say that it WON'T be a big seller. But I wouldn't base a projection on DSi sales in the US on the sales in Japan. It is a different market for many reasons.
Well, base it on the fact that the DS sold like 3 million in the US in December and people when given the choice between "the DS" and "The new DS" from April onwards are almost always going to choose the latter, the DSi will sell pretty well. It'll be big.
XBL/PSN/Steam: APZonerunner
Yes, it may be a bit premature, but I'd bet money on it being a big seller in the US. It's just my opinion though, you're right on that.
But your comment about cell phone cameras goes back to the point in my original post: you've completely missed the point of the 2 cameras on the DSi. They are in NO WAY meant to replace your digital camera or your cell camera. They are a tool (much like the microphone, the touchscreen, the speakers even) that allow game/application developers to create games/applications on the DSi with photo/ocr/video features as part of the game/application. Your cell phone camera isn't linked to your DS.
One of the cameras on the DSi is aimed right at your face when you have the DSi open. Imagine the many possible uses for that.
It's not a DS and a camera. It's a DS integrated with a camera. Big difference.
But as I also said before, I'm mostly interested in the bigger screen and the potential of the download service. But I could also see the camera used for some neat things IF developers give it the time.
Also, in terms of accessories and such, I'll echo the screen protectors. They're cheap, and it's a 'just in case' sort of thing. If you travel much and want to bring games, depending upon whether you want to bring them all or just a couple, you might want to look into a case - if you just want a couple, then an altoids gum tin is the best game case ever.
picture
Aside from that, if you might ever find yourself playing a game where you use your thumb on the bottom screen (read: Metroid Prime: Hunters) for whatever reason, the thumb nub that came with the original Phats is a nice inclusion, if you can find one.