Nintendo DS

Here we have all the games in the Nintendo DS Section.
Nintendo DS
RPG
A huge two Giga memory card goes some way to explaining the extraordinary level of detail Nintendo have attained in this tactical RPG that looks more like Panzer Dragoon Azel than a DS RPG. The fantasy setting has been painstakingly realised with outstanding effect and Nintendos pursuit of perfection.
Nintendo DS
RPG
The shuffling is in the dungeons as the very layout shifts when the timer has expired leading to a frantic, smash and grab approach and a keen eye on the timer. Dungeons are home to some bountiful treasure and bizarre creatures who stick along for the ride. Traditional RPG fare in rescuing good folk and savouring the charms of the town, yet the shuffle keeps this one ticking along nicely.
Nintendo DS
Shooter
A National Treasure gets a worthy update to hopefully woo more with its charms. Full of tongue in cheek humour as you’d expect from this developer and some very funny English translations. Huge title with plenty of levels and even a level editor for the DS version. Cunning counter attack method involves waiting until your ship is in imminent danger before launching the counter, and the results are the more spectacular depending on the level of danger. And based on the experience of past competitions, Treasure have made data transferable via sound so that another DS can upload it or even it can even be sent onto the net for the real high rollers.
Nintendo DS
Action
Treasures work remains innovative and refreshing as the developer continually reinvents itself never resting on the laurels of its underground hardcore fan base. The anime’s distinct and sometimes creepy look with lurchingly tall characters has carried over effortlessly and the whole production oozes the sort of vintage claret class you’d expect from the aptly named developer. Mass four player brawls are possible, but the one player mode makes for interesting battles with what look like extras from Spirited Away but the lightening gameplay gives little opportunity to admire the scenery.
Nintendo DS
RPG
Update of the popular GBA title which has dark forces at work in Konami’s wondrous landscapes. Undead bosses must be purified in the sunshine to destroy them. The powers of the moon and sun have to be harnessed to defeat foes. The isometric layout is very impressive and the action is fast paced especially when using a shooter.
Nintendo DS
Action
Reminiscent of the seminal Super Famicom ‘Yoshi’s Island’ both in terms of gameplay and pastal shaded graphics, play involves using the stylus to sketch clouds to protect baby Mario.
Nintendo DS
RPG
Like a Pandora’s box the magic book has unleashed uninvited guests and requires our yellow feathered Chocobo to collect the pages to restore friends back to their bird like state. Like a children’s fable 2D stories loving set the scene and it’s a plethora of enjoyable mini games that must be completed to progress: be it an item grab, drawing with the stylus or a good ol’ Chocobo race. Also known as Final Fantasy Fables Chocobo Tales.
Nintendo DS
Action
Action RPG which allows players to customise their robots parts and battle them against fellow challengers. With around fifty robots and one hundred and fifty parts there’s a lot here to keep the master mechanics medalling. But the crux of the action is in the battles with well-designed arenas allowing for the mother of all robot wars. A tactical element emerges with the right weapon required to counter your opponents strategy: be it snipering from afar or charging in on you double quick. And its worrying easy to get attached to the robot relishing the after battle reward of a stylus rub down. Known in Japan as Gekitou Custom Robo.
Nintendo DS
Shoot Em Up
Old school shooter but done in the third dimension producing quite stunning results with crisp, colourful pixels on the small screen. Utilises the dual screen and touch function well with a useful radar, but its wireless two player with only one cart that really whisks up a hail of bullets frenzy. Quite rare of late.
Nintendo DS
A Bit Special
Subtitled ‘How old is your brain?’, this whipped up a real storm in Japan. Simple tests utilising science that are fun to take part in, just not as much fun to get the results in Genki’s case.
Nintendo DS
RPG
Square Enix have done a spiffing job of converting this epic quest to the DS with delightful pastel shading adding to the charm of what was already a triple-A opus. Genki is grateful for the furigana to help read the text.
Nintendo DS
A Bit Special
A Japanese to English dictionary, great for those studying Japanese.
Nintendo DS
RPG
Return to form of the lavish Final Fantasy franchise as a multiplayer team assembles once again to try and track down the source of the mystery poison gas and in the meantime use the heavily guarded Mana trees to keep it at bay. The look is stunning with smoggy gas and bedazzling shards of crystal refraction that maze with a splendid score. In a bid to keep the action ticking over experience points are replaced by the reward for completing action tasks. Its still necessary to build a balanced team with the skills required to progress.
Nintendo DS
RPG
The fine roots of the series given a Square Enix make over and looking superb on the DS screen.
Nintendo DS
RPG
Masters of their craft Square Enix once again weave wheat into a story with golden thread right through its rich tapestry. The avatars are stylish and add much to the characterisation, but the graphical level attained shows the wonder of the DS in the right programming team. Missing your train stop is a serious hazard with this involving action RPG.
Nintendo DS
RPG
Just like with Mystic Quest for the Super Famicom, Square have gone back to their roots and produced an entry level RPG for those with little experience of the genre. Yet there is little here that will offend the grizzled RPG veteran – few will complain at the intuitive stylus controls and absence of excessive HP battles. The look is stunning – breath takingly refreshing and a clear triple-A release. Not a sequel to the PS2 version, but more of an off-shoot allowing interested parties to find out what happened to Vaan et al after the PS2 FFXII.
Nintendo DS
A Bit Special
A Club Nintendo title that could only be obtained in Japan by those holding sufficient points which should no doubt add to its collectability in years to come. Transforms your DS into a Game & Watch machine in which Nintendo first cut its handheld teeth. Three titles are included: the pest ridding Green House, the overrun mechanic in Oil Panic and the evergreen Donkey Kong that still whiles away those train journeys.
Nintendo DS
A Bit Special
A Club Nintendo title that could only be obtained in Japan by those holding sufficient points which should no doubt add to its collectability in years to come. Transforms your DS into a Game & Watch machine in which Nintendo first cut its handheld teeth complete with clock. Two titles are included this time: Octopus and Parachute to help while away any waiting lounge.
Nintendo DS
Action
The name of the title comes from the creator of the GameBoy and Wonderswan Gunpei Yokoi, but there is little here to compare with the Wonderswan incarnation as Bandai gives the DS version a really vibrant, super fly-fresh overhaul and deeply dippy dub club soundtrack.. As with all good puzzlers the premise is simple: link up the lines. And the DS stylus fits the bill perfectly. Known in Japan as Oto o Tsunagou Gunpey Reverse.
Nintendo DS
A Bit Special
The stunning solicitor series created by Capcom as players must go all out for the conviction. Credit to the Japanese game market which still pulls out its own genres every now and then. I mean few companies would be bold enough to test out such a title. Known in the West as Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney.
Nintendo DS
A Bit Special
Set in a hammed up seventies kung fu movie, players have to exhibit their kanji (or Chinese character) prowess rather than any praying mantis forms. The stylus is used to write the hiragana reading of characters, the kanji of hiragana words or even identify the correct radical. So its definitely a study aid, but a very well executed one with plenty of style and tight character recognition.
Nintendo DS
Action
Brings the vibrancy and speed lines of the manga alive on the DS as it socks a real punch in its platform fight action. Relentless battle action, full of well-known characters from the world-famous manga books.
Nintendo DS
RPG
Plays like an anime version of The Water Margin, no surprise seeing as the original source material is based on Chinese legend. Action RPG with quick fix combat and very stylised, watercolour characters offering advice with big beards and rotund figures. Highly competent and full of katakana text sound effects making it play like a live manga strip.
Nintendo DS
Simulation
A perfect way to crack into the 1006 essential kanji used in Japanese elementary schools and as such get a real footing in the Japanese language. Regardless of not needing to write, kanji provide the building blocks of the language as they can be pieced together for different meanings; but an understanding of the stand alone meaning can help no end. As endorsed by those dedicated RPG players at Genki.
Nintendo DS
A Bit Special
Not a game as such but an electronic dictionary with writing recognition thanks to the DS stylus. The equivalent machine would cost significantly more than price of a DS and this cart making it a serious alternative to the Casio WordTank for the budding linguist. Includes Game and Watch titles that can be unlocked as rewards for your hard studies making this the perfect balance between work and play. Also features a kanji quiz such as the different characters for country names. And the writing recognition works well assisting in progressing studies as its simple to look up a kanji character. Both Japanese to English and English to Japanese modes. Great for those import gamers looking to attain the next level.
Nintendo DS
RPG
Link dons on his drivers gloves and takes control of a steam train to travel through the exquisite lands full of colour and the Eastern European graphics that work so well on the format. Plenty of battles await, as do Densha De Go style passenger drops where the track signals must be rigorously observed. A few monsters still lurk in dank dungeons and conquering them adds new abilities to Links growing repertoire. Known as Spirit Tracks in the West.
Nintendo DS
RPG
Link continues with his revamped, Eastern European look, but thankfully gameplay remains true to the series deep roots and its a real joy to savour its sweet embrace.
Nintendo DS
A Bit Special
Great fun and very generously can be linked u between up to four DS’s with just one copy of the game. The action is light hearted and varied with Nintendo rarely lacking in imagination: be it dances offs, avoiding falling off a giant roller or avoiding the footballs Goomba kicks at you.
Nintendo DS
RPG
Set in a myopic future where man has a created a computer to solve the seemingly inevitable environmental destruction yet unfortunately the computer has decided to destroy mankind is the solution to the problem. Very stylish setting with a gritty, apocalyptic feel to proceedings as players travel from town to town battling monsters to earn welcomed cash. Luckily there are stores that can be visited advertising the various rewards on offer for the capture of the most heinous monsters – dead or alive.
Nintendo DS
Action
Power up the coloured spheres on the bottom screen to unleash their super-charged protons on the top screen which is frequently overloaded with marauding monsters. Easier to play rather than explain and compelling, frantic gameplay perfect for the hardware and its dimensions.

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