Sometimes, you look forward to a game for months and months, because you just can't get enough. You watch the videos. You play the flash preview. You soak up the screenshots. But then, once you finally get it, and you tear off the plastic, stuff it into your DS, and get moving, you learn one horrifying thing:
It sucks. It's boring, or poorly-made, or just doesn't work for you. As depressing as this is, it happens to us all. But has it happened to you with a few DS games?
Yesterday was the four-year anniversary of the US launch of the DS. What was your opinion of the DS back in 2004? None of us knew back then what it would become today; we expected GBA-level popularity at best.
Were you totally lined up for a system on the first day? Did you wait until Christmas? Until Kirby? Or were you not drawn into the DS life until the Lite appeared? Whenever you got into the DS, we're glad you did, because we doubt you would be part of our community otherwise.
As for me, what finally sold me on the DS was Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow. Luckily, the system got even more awesome after that!
It strikes us as pretty remarkable that Konami can make a game that looks nothing like Elebits, takes place in completely different settings, and even uses a controller very different from the one that pretty much defined the first game, and still make a game that is identifiably Elebits.
Really, aside from the fact that you tap stuff instead of pointing at it and clicking to move it, and that you have an Omega Elebit pal instead of a vacuum gun thing, you're still walking around, scouring the environment for lil' critters, in order to unlock additional areas. Elebits: The Adventures of Kai and Zero sort of disproves that the first game was nothing but a Wiimote showcase.
Remember that awesome Game & Watch collection the Japanese Club Nintendo folks got? Well, it might be making its way to the States, as a listing for the game has popped up on the ESRB site. Of course, we're incredibly excited.
Posted Nov 21st 2008 1:20PM by JC Fletcher Filed under: News
Wow, has it really been four years since the arrival of the DS (in the US)? We suppose it's not too hard to believe, since the system has evolved from an awkward, gimmicky system anchored by a Nintendo 64 port to one of the most successful and influential consoles of all time. And it doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon, thanks to occasional product refreshes (and an unprecedented, constant rush of brilliant games)
We suggest celebrating the best system ever today by going back and playing some of those launch titles. Feel the Magic: XY/XX is still as weird now as it was then!
Posted Nov 21st 2008 11:00AM by JC Fletcher Filed under: News
When WiiWare launched in May, mobile publisher Gameloft was one of the first companies to support the service with the quiz game TV Show King. They've since followed with a fewothergames. According to a GameDaily interview with Gonzague de Vallois, senior vice president of publishing, Gameloft is planning to do the same thing with the upcoming DSiWare service for the Nintendo DSi. In discussing these plans, he shed a little light on the DSi-specific software situation, about which we have previously heard nothing.
One of Gameloft's angles of attack: retail DS cartridges that work in both the DS and the DSi, "with the DSi version taking advantage of additional options like the cameras and advanced sound capabilities." We weren't sure that was possible, or allowed by Nintendo.
The retail carts are secondary for the company, however, as de Vallois says that Gameloft plans to be "much more aggressive with the DSi Store than at retail." Aggressive about releasing Tokyo City Nights and Midnight Pool?
The good folks at Siliconera recently spoke with Leo Tan of Capcom Europe about Street Fighter IV, and while they left out the DS when asking specifically about other systems that might be possible for the game, the answer was interesting (even though we've heard it before): "I do realize that earlier in the campaign we talked about putting it on every platform imaginable, including GBA if there was a demand. Whilst a GBA version seems unlikely, the fighting system itself (not the graphics, obviously) could easily transfer to any system with six buttons and a dpad so nothing should be ruled out. Ever. If people shout loudly enough that they want something, they often get heard."
Well, the DS has a D-pad (even if it's small!) and six buttons, so that puts it into the realm of possibility. But would you want a visually-stripped version of Street Fighter IV for the DS?
Square Enix has released new screens of Dragon Quest IX for the first time in what seems likeforever. And it looks really great, of course, like a handheld continuation of what Level-5 did with Dragon Quest VIII.
The day-night cycle from previous Dragon Quests returns, as does the more accurately-scaled world map from the last game. You can see the monsters roaming around and avoid them rather than getting stuck in random battles. This is, of course, great for getting yourself back to an inn, and terrible for forcing yourself to level-grind.
But it's the town environments that really impress us. The town screenshots, both external and inside shops, have a very warm, inviting look about them. We can only hope this game actually comes out in March so we can get an English version sooner!
Square Enix has reacted to the rampant piracy of Chrono Trigger DS by declaring itself to be "vigorously against" the illegal distribution of games, and warning that it expects a sharp drop in Chrono Trigger sales as a result. As we reported yesterday, the eagerly anticipated RPG shipped with a whole series of piracy checks, only for hackers to break those within hours of the game being dumped online for download. It's difficult not to feel sorry for Square Enix, and equally hard to see practical solutions.
In slightly happier news (well, for the fans, anyway), the (Japan-based) Chrono Trigger fan club is giving away copies of the game's soundtrack (as seen above) to 3,000 customers who actually buy the game -- two of which will be autographed by composer Yasunori Mitsuda. See: it pays not to yarr.
There are some simply lovely new screens featuring next year's biggest hero, Miles Edgeworth, but they're a bit spoilery, so realize that you're entering the gallery at your own risk. And you know you want to. You want to see. And why? Because otherwise, everyone who doesn't importGyakuten Kenji will probably still be mooning over screenshots this time next year.
Update: The staff is no longer in the Game Night chat. Thanks to everyone that showed up and if we missed you, see you next week!
With the release of Animal Crossing: City Folk this week, we're anxious to visit your towns and hang out! Of course, we're not just playing that, as there's a large catalog of online-compatible games on the DS and Wii to choose from. Won't you join us? It's very simple and you can find all of the info you need past the break.
The latest issue of Famitsu features images of the new games found in Game Center CX: Arino no Chousenjou 2, the sequel to Retro Game Challenge. Like the first game, Game Center CX 2 is a collection of individual challenges regarding specific goals in made-up retrogames.
The new games include Triotos, a falling-block puzzle game made to look Game Boy-esque; Mutekiken Kung Fu, a scrolling martial arts action game in the style of Karateka; Wiz-Man, a Pac-Man style maze game starring a ghost wizard thing; Kacho wa Meitantei (The Chief is a Great Detective), a graphical text adventure; and Demon Returns, a cute platformer starring the little demon seen above.
Weirdest of all is Kugure! Girijan MAX, a fictional handheld "game training tool" that seems to teach platforming skills. Hit the link for 1up's description of each game!
Atlus delighted us yesterday by confirming it will release TrackMania DS in North America next March. Some of us around these parts like a good racing game, and that's something the DS has sorely lacked since its launch (Mario Kart DS being the exception).
Like every platform, the little handheld excels at certain genres -- we're practically suffocating in brilliant RPGs (of both the "A" and "S" variety), text adventures owe their entire comeback to the DS, and great puzzle games are ten-a-penny on the system -- but what genres does the DS struggle with? Are there any types of game it will never master?
It's been a big week for Nintendo fans, as Animal Crossing: City Folk has finally released on the Wii. To accompany its release, we've got a review for the game, as well as plenty of other great features for you to go through. So, without further delay, dive right in to the links below!
Lucky old Europe got TrackMania DS last week, but North America will have to wait for its version, which has just been announced for March 17th. As if North America waiting four months longer than Europe for a game wasn't already bizarre enough, you should hear who's publishing it: Atlus. Yeah, the same Atlus that is far more closely associated with dungeon crawlers and RPGs.
Whoever wants to localize it, we'll be welcoming the twisty brilliance of TrackMania DS with a great big hug. Not only does it contain over 100 tracks and an insanely great track editor (check after the break for a video of this at work), but almost all of the early reviews are glowing. Could it be? A racing game on Nintendo's portable that actually works and isn't Mario Kart DS?
Sometimes, you look forward to a game for months and months, because you just can't get enough. You watch the videos. You play the flash preview. You soak up the screenshots. But then, once you finally get it, and you tear off the plastic, stuff it into your DS, and get moving, you learn one horrifying thing:
Yesterday was the four-year anniversary of the US launch of the DS. What was your opinion of the DS back in 2004? None of us knew back then what it would become today; we expected GBA-level popularity at best.
When WiiWare launched in May, mobile publisher Gameloft was one of the first companies to support the service with the quiz game TV Show King. They've since followed with a few other games. According to a GameDaily interview with Gonzague de Vallois, senior vice president of publishing, Gameloft is planning to do the same thing with the upcoming DSiWare service for the Nintendo DSi. In discussing these plans, he shed a little light on the DSi-specific software situation, about which we have previously heard nothing.
Square Enix has released new screens of Dragon Quest IX for the first time in what seems like forever. And it looks really great, of course, like a handheld continuation of what Level-5 did with Dragon Quest VIII. 
There are some simply lovely new screens featuring next year's biggest hero, Miles Edgeworth, but they're a bit spoilery, so realize that you're entering the gallery at your own risk. And you know you want to. You want to see. And why? Because otherwise, everyone who doesn't import Gyakuten Kenji will probably still be mooning over screenshots this time next year.
Atlus delighted us yesterday by confirming it will release TrackMania DS in North America next March. Some of us around these parts like a good racing game, and that's something the DS has sorely lacked since its launch (Mario Kart DS being the exception).
Lucky old Europe got TrackMania DS last week, but North America will have to wait for its version, which has just been announced for March 17th. As if North America waiting four months longer than Europe for a game wasn't already bizarre enough, you should hear who's publishing it: Atlus. Yeah, the same Atlus that is far more closely associated with dungeon crawlers and RPGs.
_cg_oct22_kjgfdhd_thumbnail.jpg "Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars")
