Nintendo DS: Doomed System or Destroyer of Sony?
Written: Feb 12 '06 (Updated May 08 '06)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Touchscreen, clamshell design, backward compatibility, backlit screens, innovative games
Cons: A little awkward for some games, light on RPGs and fighting games
The Bottom Line: The DS has it all: innovative touch screen, WiFi capability, huge game library with GBA compatibility, truly unique an interesting games, and nice design.
|
|
|
| B_Campbell's Full Review: Nintendo DS Console |
The DS is Nintendo's latest handheld video game system, their most recent entry in a market they've had a stranglehold on for years. Sure, Sony has the multipurpose Playstation Portable (PSP), but Nintendo is banking on some innovative hardware and new versions of tried and true software to stay at the top. So far it's worked, and the DS is the handheld to have for gaming goodness on the go.
The Basics
What you'll notice first about the DS are its namesake dual screens. That's right, open the clamshell lid and you'll see twin three-inch (diagonal) screens staring you in the face. Those screens are bright, too; they're both backlit and are easy to see even outside on a sunny day (the backlight can be turned off, but even in good lighting it's nearly impossible to see without it). What's more interesting is the bottom screen; it's actually touch-sensitive, so in addition to the standard directional pad and buttons you can actually touch the screen to control games.
It's hard to say enough about this touch screen. Developers are coming up with different ways to use it all the time, from simple drag and drop menu systems to basic control and aiming to simulating a golf swing to actually drawing game elements into games. Words like "revolutionary" and "innovative" are thrown around in the video game industry a lot, but the DS's touch screen -- and more importantly, the varied and interesting ways different games use it -- redefine what innovation really is.
The DS has traditional controls too, with a directional pad on the left of the unit, four buttons in a diamond pattern on the right, and two shoulder buttons on the top edge. The only problem here is that when actually using the controls, the unit feels a little awkward; I have to screw my hands up uncomfortably to actually use the d-pad and the shoulder buttons. Thankfully most games concentrate on using the touch screen so this isn't a problem, but it can make some action games tough to play. As for dimensions, when closed the DS is about as thick as a deck of cards and just a little longer, weighing about the same.
If you've seen the DS on display at a store, you've probably seen the touch screen scratched into uselessness. Whoever did that must have been using their keys or something, because I can't see how it's possible to damage the screen with the built-in stylus. It has a rounded plastic tip, and the screen needs very little pressure to detect touch (it's touch sensitive, not pressure sensitive, so pushing harder doesn't have an effect). I admit to using my fingernail sometimes too, but I haven't seen any problems there either. As long as you don't use a sheetrock screw as a stylus, you should be fine. The clamshell design also helps protect the screens when the system is closed, so it travels just fine in a suitcase or bookbag without needing a special carrying case.
Juice
So now you're thinking "okay, two screens, backlight... you must have to change batteries on this thing as often as Lindsay Lohan crashes her car." The good news is that it has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with a charger that doubles as an AC adapter. You're going to get about eight hours of play out of a full charge. So far I've gotten six hours, with most of it also using WiFi (more on that later), which sucks a little extra juice. A full recharge takes about four hours, and you can charge the battery while you play using the AC adapter -- though of course that takes longer.
The great thing about li-ion batteries is that they're not susceptible to that "memory" effect and don't degrade much after repeated charges. They do degrade over time however, giving the DS's battery a predetermined shelf life. Generally, after about three years an li-ion battery will only hold 3/4 the charge it would hold new, so you'll have six hours of playtime instead of eight. Replacement batteries are $15 through Nintendo.
Come Together
Anyone who's used a Gameboy Color or Gameboy Advance probably knows that those systems let players connect their games together to compete, trade, or do whatever. The DS takes this an extra step by making the connection wireless and giving players two ways to do it -- either local DS-to-DS connections or through global WiFi.
Local connections eliminate the link cables and let players share games wirelessly. And when I say share, I mean share. You'd normally expect both players to need a DS and a copy of the game to be able to play, but many games also have modes that let DS owners without a copy "download" software for a multiplayer session. This means that if you want to play with three of your friends, only one of them needs an actual copy of the game. The download only lasts until you shut off the system, so it's not a way to get free games, but it's a lot cheaper than having to buy a game to play with a friend.
Global WiFi play is where the real action's at, though. There are three ways to connect to Nintendo's WFC network and play with other DS owners around the world: go to a WiFi hotspot (like a coffeeshop or McDonald's), use your home wireless broadband Internet connection, or purchase Nintendo's WiFi USB connector (for $35) to use with your home broadband Internet. Whichever way you do it, it allows you to go online and play certain games with anyone, anywhere. Only a handful of games use global WiFi, but it seems like more are announced almost every week. Mario Kart DS, Animal Crossing: Wild World, Lost Magic, Metroid Prime Hunters, and Tetris DS all currently have global WiFi features.
A final note about the WFC network: you generally have to swap "friend codes" with people if you want to play with them online. It's not like a typical online game where you choose a server and can interact with anyone on that server; instead, you can only connect to people if you both know each other's codes. This makes it a littler hard to find games, but is great for parents as it reduces the chance of a child finding inappropriate content (or people) online. Some games, like Tetris DS, have modes where you do not need friend codes, but there is no "chat" or other outside-of-the-game interaction in these modes.
Graphics/Sound
The DS is no graphical powerhouse, but it's no slouch either. Without getting into a boring list of specs that doesn't tell you anything anyway, I'll put it like this: The DS has graphics that, for the most part, are on par with those of the PS1. I'd say the best of the PS1 actually, and since this of course varies from game to game, some games are better and some are worse. Bluntly, compared to the PSP the graphics are a bit behind the curve, but for a handheld they're entirely serviceable.
Sound comes through two speakers near the top screen or a standard headphone jack (as well as the proprotary jack from the GBA). The DS supports some kind of wierd virtual surround sound that actually works. In games that take advantage of it, you will notice a difference between the surround and plain stereo settings. Sound capabilities are far beyond the NES-style beeps and bloops of the old Gameboys, and on titles like Electroplankton the audio capabilites are pretty impressive. The only complaint is that the system's speakers are tinny and barely repoduce low sounds if at all. Headphones vastly improve the sound across the board.
The Games
Okay, so I've gone on and on about the touch screen and the WiFi but I haven't told you about the most important thing: The games! I mean, the whole point of this thing is to play games, right? Well, after a slow release with a limited selection of launch titles, the DS is finally starting to really shape up, with games that appeal to almost every cross section of gamer. What's even better is that most games retail for $35 or less brand new, so you're not going to be shelling out console game prices like on the PSP.
Action games: The DS doesn't disappoint here, with games like Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, Sonic Rush, a remake of the N64's Mario 64, Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, Rayman DS, Viewtiful Joe: Double Trouble, and plenty more. If you're familiar with the Gameboy Color and Advance, you know that Nintendo's handheld systems are usually a peat bog of crappy action/platform games from bad TV and movie licenses. The good news is that, so far, the DS has a bunch of great original and cross-platform titles that are actually fun to play, largely because of the touch screen.
Strategy/Puzzle: In the strategy department, one game reigns supreme: Advance Wars Dual Strike, an early game that's still one of the best. As is normal for a handheld system, there are also a number of puzzle games that are great for short trips or subway rides, like Tetris DS, Meteos, Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits, Bust a Move DS, and Zoo Keeper. There are also some interesting adventure games like Lost in Blue.
Racing: The DS has many traditional racing games, including a couple of Need for Speed titles, Ridge Racer DS, and Burnout Legends. But the real story here is Mario Kart DS. Take everything good about past Mario Kart games, put it all together, and add the ability to play with anyone via global WiFi, and you have one of the best games for the system.
Sports: Sports games aren't ignored, and this is where the touch screen sees some of it's best use. Madden, of course, hits the system yearly, and there are some extreme sports titles like Tony Hawk and Snowboard Kids too. Tiger Woods PGA Tour is available, and True Swing Golf keeps things interesting by actually using the touch screen to swing the club.
Weird Games: The DS has its share of straight out bizarre games, too. Raise a virtual pet with Nintendogs. Try some virtual dating with Feel the Magic XX/XY. Live out an interactive soap opera with tiny woodland creatures in Animal Crossing: Wild World. Be a star trial lawyer as Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. Try your had at delicate surgery in Trauma Center: Under the Knife (using the touch screen to actually cut and sew patients). There are even games that aren't games; Electroplankton is music making software with a unique interactive twist, and Brain Age is a set of mental exercises that keeps your mind sharp instead of your eye-hand coordination.
There are only two categories where the DS is really light so far: RPGs and fighting games. Lost Magic, which has some WiFi features, along with the excellent Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time pretty much head up the RPG selection on the DS. Lunar: Dragon Song is available but isn't the best example (because it's just not very good). The good news is that there are a few more RPG's on the horizon, including a version of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. Fighting games are almost wholly absent, even though wireless multiplayer opens up entirely new realms of possibility for fighting fans. The only true fighting game in the works is Guilty Gear: Dust Strikers.
Backward Compatibility: Okay, so there may not be that much in the way of RPG's for the DS, but there are tons of them on the Gameboy Advance. Why does that matter? Because the DS can play all GBA games! That means there's an established library of hundreds of games already, many of them at really low prices. If you never picked up a GBA, that's one more reason to get a DS.
Odds and Ends
A few extra notes:
- The DS has an internal clock with a perpetual calendar, it stores your birthday, and it has an alarm. The alarm can be very useful when traveling.
- In addition to the buttons and touch screen, the DS has a microphone for input as well. Only a few games make use of it but it's a cool built-in feature.
- Included in the system software is Pictochat, a program that uses the local DS-to-DS wireless connection as a text and picture chat room. It does not work over an Internet connection, so you don't really have to worry about Internet stalkers harassing kids with a DS.
- The standard DS is silver, but red and blue are available. The DS lite (mentioned below) will apparently be iPod-ish white.
- Up to three different WiFi profiles can be stored to make it easy to go from home to hotspot for WiFi gaming.
- The DS is pretty durable, especially when closed; mine survived a fall from three feet onto a hardwood floor without a scratch.
The Whole Package
So what does the DS offer? It has great original games, plus a huge number of GBA titles already available. It has true innovation with a touch screen and some awesome wireless play features. The clamshell design keeps the system safe, and Nintendo's WFC helps keep kids safe online. The price is reasonable too; $130 for the system or $150 with a game bundled in.
It's also worth mentioning that a redesign of the DS has been announced. The new DS ("DS lite" some are calling it) is a bit smaller, sleeker, and more stylish, and has multiple levels of backlight brightness. The differences are mainly cosmetic, so it might be worth waiting for if you're concerned with having the shiniest tech on the block.
Overall, the DS is a great portable gaming system that anyone of any age can enjoy. It's hard to say who wouldn't like it; I can only narrow it down to hardcore RPG freaks who already have a Gameboy Advance. Any other gamer will find something to like on the DS, and the touchscreen interface will change the way you look at gaming. From the looks of things, Nintendo has nothing to fear from Sony, and they won't for a very long time.
Game reviews:
Electroplankton
Animal Crossing: Wild World
True Swing Golf
Tetris DS
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
B_Campbell
|
 - Top 500 |
|
Member: Bennett Campbell
Location: In a Volkswagen somewhere in upstate NY
Reviews written: 204
Trusted by: 151 members
About Me:
Guantanamo Aloha
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.