I received a Nintendo DS for Christmas two years ago (in 2004). At that time, it had just been released, and it was the "hot item" in the handheld market. Its competition, the Sony PSP, would not ship until three or four months later. Though the DS was originally slightly devoid of games (for the first three months of the system, all it had was Super Mario 64 DS and assorted EA games), it began to pick up steam last summer and fall as several blockbuster titles were released (Advance Wars: Dual Strike, Nintendogs) and then had a slew of great games released in time for Christmas 2005.

Hardware: 9/10

The actual hardware for the system is very well designed. It does not feel "cheap" or flimsy at all and will survive a drop from a moderately high place onto most any surface, especially when it's folded up (as the system uses a "clamshell" design). It has six buttons for gameplay (A, B, X, Y, L, and R) as well as a D-Pad (sadly, no analog stick or nub) and Select and Start buttons (as well as the obvious Power button). In terms of features, it has a headphone jack (FINALLY) and a microphone, which is used in various games in... "innovative" manners. (Usually in minigames or in gimmicks, like blowing up balloons in Mario Kart DS's battle mode.) In terms of speakers, it has one on either side of its top screen, and they can produce surround sound... sort of. Actually, you're probably better off leaving it on a regular stereo or mono setting, as the surround sound has an annoying echo to it (since the machine can't do true surround) and doesn't really add to the sound of most games. The machine has an additional slot for GBA games, but it can also be used to plug in outside appliances like the Rumble Pack included in Metroid Prime Pinball. The DS's most unique feature, however, is its touchscreen. You use a stylus (a miniature pen with a smooth tip) to "write" on the touchscreen. Alternatively, you can use a thumbstrap that attaches to the system and has a smooth round nub you can attach to your thumb. This is supposed to simulate analog control, but it really doesn't work. The stylus/touchscreen mechanic is used in various games, and if executed right (Kirby: Canvas Curse, Meteos) can be a fun and inventive way to play games; however, if misused (developers adding miniature touchscreen-specific aspects to a game, like lock picking in Splinter Cell DS) it feels tacky, and if not used at all (example: all the DS games that use the touchscreen as a map, and a map only) it just feels like you're playing a regular old Gameboy. This may not necessarily be a bad thing (see: Mario Kart DS), but it sort of defeats the purpose of a "dual screen" system. Also, recently, Metroid Prime: Hunters proved that the touchscreen can be used for precision control in FPS games; it's the closest thing to a keyboard/mouse setup you'll ever get on a handheld or console, and that's definitely a good thing. (Although if you've played Goldeneye: Rogue Agent, you would have known this was possible before Metroid ever came out. However, I don't think anybody but me and a few other diehard FPS fans/gullible souls bought that game.)

Graphics: 8/10

The Nintendo DS is capable of producing graphics that look like late-released N64 titles. (Imagine Perfect Dark, with less lag.) The 3d produced by the machine ranges from quite nearly beautiful (Mario 64 DS) to downright ugly (Madden 2005). In the future, I have no doubt we'll see a game on par with the likes of Zelda: Ocarina of Time graphics-wise. Possibly even better. (Edit: Metroid Prime: Hunters, I think, lived up to this expectation. Fully 3d worlds with no load screens (actually there are load screens but they're cleverly concealed) and FMVs that are Dreamcast or Gamecube quality.) The 2D produced by the machine is amazing. (Check out the aforementioned Kirby: Canvas Curse.)

Sound: 9/10

The DS's surround sound feels tacky, but if you turn it off, most games sound beautiful. There are really no issues with sound feeling "canned" (except in some cases where the developer skimped on the sound) and games like Mario 64 DS and Mario Kart DS (and for some part Advance Wars DS) utilize the sound capabilities of the DS nicely.

Games: 10/10

As I said before, the DS started out in sort of a game drought. Then, the summer came. Kirby: Canvas Curse and Meteos kicked off a streak of amazing DS games released. Later in the fall and winter, the system received such unquestioned triple-A games as Advance Wars DS, Castlevania, Mario Kart DS, Animal Crossing: Wild World, Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time, Nintendogs, and more. (Those are just the ones I can name off the top of my head.) Plus Age of Empires and Metroid Prime: Hunters (which were released after this review was originally written), and Brain Age... I could keep going and going, but suffice it to say that there's a glut of great games on the DS.

Total Score: 9/10

Though its system specs are inferior to those of its competition, the PSP, the DS has many more good games to play, and isn't exactly a bad piece of hardware to boot. Oh, and did I mention it can go online with games like Mario Kart, Animal Crossing, and Metroid Prime: Hunters? If I hadn't gotten one for Christmas, I'd be going to get one now. Definitely a must buy if you want a handheld system.

Recommended: Yes