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Recommend me some great DS games

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oni-link

Member
I'm going to borrow a friends DS Lite this weekend as I want something to play while I'm on lunch at work. I've been out of the loop when it comes to handheld gaming as the last system I owned was the GBC (truthfully handheld gaming doesn't appeal to me as much as playing on a TV)

I know there are a lot of FF and DQ games and remakes, so which of those would you say were essential? I've played FFVI, VII and IX before, but have never played a DQ game

Feel free to recommend non JRPGs as well, I've only specified JRPGs because I'm aware there are a lot of them on the system (that and I enjoy them)

Also I take it the DS Lite has a suspend save or sleep mode?

I get an hour for lunch but as we all need to cover phones everyone goes at a different time, meaning it's pretty boring and at the moment I pretty much end up wasting time on my phone (there isn't anywhere else to go as we're based in the middle of nowhere)

What should I look to pick up?
 
I'd recommend:
  • Final Fantasy IV. I love the DS remake. But I still think the complete edition on PSP is the best, solely because it has After Years as well and the DS' soundtrack as an option. But you really can't go wrong with it on DS.
  • If you haven't played Chrono Trigger, I'd suggest getting the DS version of that.
  • Etrian Odyssey 1-3. You don't really have to get them all, I'd probably recommend going with 3 (as 1 and 2 recently got 3DS remakes).
  • The World Ends With You. Pretty unique little game. It's pretty great. I'm not a huge fan of the touch screen controls mind as it just feels like random scribbling.
  • Okamiden. I really didn't like the DS Zelda games, and I think this was just a better 'Zelda' game on the console.
  • Mega Man Zero Collection. I personally love the Zero series, my favourite MM series. And this is all 4 games.
  • Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey. I've probably recommended too many RPGs. But I love this one too. It plays like an Etrian Odyssey game but with a slightly different (and weird) battle system that isn't the press turn system that other MegaTen games use.
I've got Radiant Historia and 999 sitting on my shelf unopened. I've heard they're really good games, so maybe them as well? I bought them cheap recently, mainly because I've heard such great things about them and because I was getting the last few DS games I want to play that never made it to Europe.
 
If you're only borrowing a DS for a weekend to use at lunch, you should probably stick to something short and fun. So, my recommendation is to play New Super Mario Bros.
 
Final-Fantasy-4-Heroes-of-Light_NDS_US_ESRB.jpg
Click to expand...

This! Also the DS version of CT is the best version.
 
Tetris DS -- Probably the best version and all around package of Tetris ever (unfortunately the online is probably dead)
3D Picross -- Favorite puzzle game ever

The DS has a loaded software library, I list a lot of games here. Those are good for short bursts though like you have.
 
E_Darkness said:
I'd recommend:
  • Final Fantasy IV. I love the DS remake. But I still think the complete edition on PSP is the best, solely because it has After Years as well and the DS' soundtrack as an option. But you really can't go wrong with it on DS.
  • If you haven't played Chrono Trigger, I'd suggest getting the DS version of that.
  • Etrian Odyssey 1-3. You don't really have to get them all, I'd probably recommend going with 3 (as 1 and 2 recently got 3DS remakes).
  • The World Ends With You. Pretty unique little game. It's pretty great. I'm not a huge fan of the touch screen controls mind as it just feels like random scribbling.
  • Okamiden. I really didn't like the DS Zelda games, and I think this was just a better 'Zelda' game on the console.
  • Mega Man Zero Collection. I personally love the Zero series, my favourite MM series. And this is all 4 games.
  • Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey. I've probably recommended too many RPGs. But I love this one too. It plays like an Etrian Odyssey game but with a slightly different (and weird) battle system that isn't the press turn system that other MegaTen games use.
I've got Radiant Historia and 999 sitting on my shelf unopened. I've heard they're really good games, so maybe them as well? I bought them cheap recently, mainly because I've heard such great things about them and because I was getting the last few DS games I want to play that never made it to Europe.
Click to expand...

Thanks,

Which of the DQ games are worth checking out?
 
Anything by Cing
All the NDS Capcom games
The (Megaman) Zero collection
The Sonic Genesis/MD collection
Henry Hatsworth
Prof. Layton
Starfy
All the Dragon Quest games

Off the top of my head for now @_@

oni-link said:
Thanks,

Which of the DQ games are worth checking out?
Click to expand...

All of them :)
Start from DQ4 and work your way up.
 
999
Hotel Dusk Room 215
Ghost Trick
Strange Journey
Devil Survivor 1&2 (Also on 3DS)
Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume
 
If you don't mind a game being in japanese and like anime, play Jump Ultimate Stars. Easily my favorite DS game, kinda Smash like i guess. You don't really need to know japanese to enjoy the game, there's a lot to unlock and building your deck is really fun (the touch screen has manga panels that let you switch characters, call in support characters and so on) but im pretty sure that you'll only enjoy it if you like some of the series represented in the game.

As for JRPGs, my favorite is Inazuma Eleven, a soccer RPG by Level-5. Gotta train your team, recruit new players and so on.
 
SheepyGuy said:
If you're only borrowing a DS for a weekend to use at lunch, you should probably stick to something short and fun. So, my recommendation is to play New Super Mario Bros.
Click to expand...

I'm borrowing it this weekend to use over the coming months, and longer games are fine, as long as the system has a suspend save/sleep mode, which I'm assuming (hoping) it does

Aaronrules380 said:
The lack of radiant historia here disturbs me
Click to expand...

That was one of the first games I thought of, I've wanted to play it for ages, I was more unsure about which FF and DQ games to play, as the system has loads of them, with some being mainline games, some remakes, some ports etc
 
  • Warioware Touched
  • Super Mario 64 DS
  • Mario Kart DS
  • Ghost Trick
  • Sonic Rush
  • Sonic Rush Adventure
  • New super mario bros
  • Resident Evil Deadly Silence
 
Is it a DSi or a DS Lite? I ask because, if it's a Lite (or a fattie), it also opens you up to a whole host of amazing GBA games too.

Also, I just realized that no one, myself included, has recommended a single Castlevania title to you. All 3 are amazing, especially if you enjoy the Metroidvania genre.

Dawn of Sorrow
Portrait of Ruin
Order of Ecclesia

oni-link said:
I'm pretty sure it's a DS Lite

I actually had a GBA after my GBC but the lack of back light made it unplayable to me, I only ever spent a few hours with it
Click to expand...

In that case:

Mario and Luigi: Super Star Saga
Warioware: Twisted
Zelda: The Minish Cap
Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Golden Sun
Golden Sun 2
Metroid Fusion
Metroid Zero Mission
 
Deadpool_X said:
Is it a DSi or a DS Lite? I ask because, if it's a Lite (or a fattie), it also opens you up to a whole host of amazing GBA games too.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure it's a DS Lite

I actually had a GBA after my GBC but the lack of back light made it unplayable to me, I only ever spent a few hours with it
 
  • Kirby canvas curse.
  • Mega man Zx advent.
  • Radiant historia.
  • World ends with you.
  • Infinite space.
  • Front mission.
  • Final fantasy Tactics A2.
 
Dragon Quest V is the best to check out for someone new to the series. Play the rest if you like DQV.

Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword is also some of the best action on the DS, and the stylus gameplay is great fun.
 
Radiant Historia - feels like a long lost early 32bit RPG, great story and combat mechanics, probably my top (original) game on the system

The World Ends With You - has that hip, urban Shibuya style with tons of unique gameplay systems and a fantastic soundtrack

Dragon Quest 5 Remake - not as heavy on the puns and shitty accents as DQ4, it's nice to see one of my favorite entries in the series finally get an official US release

Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume - take the VP combat engine and mash it up with an isometric SRPG. It works really well, though the game is extremely challenging. The story is very bleak and captivating, and there are multiple routes through the game based on how many of your compatriots you 'sacrifice' (the story and gameplay merge in an excellent way in this title). Extremely underrated game.

Avalon Code - it's volleyball, the RPG. Not the best game but there's a unique 'time attack' style to the dungeons, which have a bit of puzzle-platforming. IIRC, it was made by the people who made Landstalker and Alundra, and while it's not nearly as tight as those games, it's still decent and NEVER gets talked about.

Chrono Trigger - duh.

Kirby Canvas Curse - the first DS game to actually justify its touchscreen, by being more than a tech demo/minigame gimmick. The WiiU game is even better.

Ghost Trick - fun and interesting puzzle game with some incredible animation.

999 - my first VN experience and it's quite unforgettable. Point and click puzzles crossed with a detailed, heavily sci-fi and philosophical storyline.

Castlevania: Order of Eccelsia - the only Igavania with any semblance of challenge. It's much more linear than the other Igavanias, but it makes up for that with actual level design - its optional areas are especially amazing.
 
If you want some great visual novels/adventures:
- Hotel Dusk
- Last Window
- Ghost Trick

If you want fun music games:
- Elite Beat Agents
- Jam with the Band

If you need your face to be relaxed:
- Face Training

If you want a visual novel with a Japanese anime story and cringeworthy characters:
- 999
- Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney
 
Phantom Hourglass is weak sauce, get Spirit Tracks instead.

Metroid Prime Hunters is a neat little arcade style Metroid

Pokemon Soul Silver is a must have

GTA Chinatown Wars is an amazing return to the classic GTA formula and it works really well on DS

Golden Sun DS

DBZ Supersonic Warriors

DBZ Attack of the Saiyans (it's a turn based RPG and it's amazing!)

Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time and Bowser's Inside Story

God there's so many
 
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