NINTENDO DS LITE (June, 2006)
The Nintendo Dual Screen (or DS) Lite is the second version of their portable console originally introduced in 2004. The system is not only smaller and more sleek then the older model now but it even comes with a brighter screen with multiple settings as well fans should love. See why if you haven't got a DS yet this is definitely a good time to start.
The package comes with the DS Lite itself, 2 stylist pens (these are slightly larger and heavier then the older DS ones), a battery charger so you can power up the unit on the go, and sadly no games. There is no thumb strap thing this time around but I never used that goofy looking anyway so I don't care. The system only comes in the same colour as a glass of milk or your lover's special juices (shiny white) but you can expect more colours in the future. It's no big deal but I thought I would tell you anyway.
The good thing about working at a gamestore (shameless plug: visit me at the
KnK Buy and Sell here in Orillia, Ontario!) is that I can compare the two systems side by side. The big difference between this version over the bulky older DS is definitely the weight. I loved my old DS but it was annoying how when I put it my back pocket it made my butt look big (yeah girls we care about that stuff too ya know) plus I bet if I threw the thing at someones head I could knock them out (I don't recommend doing that by the way, it's still over hundred bucks, eh?). It was that heavy! The DS Lite however is not only a few inches shorter and twice as thin compared to the first edition, but it also feels as about a light as a standard DVD case or something. If you decide to throw this little thing at anybody I think you're just going to upset them.
The Nintendo DS Lite is still cut in half so you can also open and close like the
Game Boy SP in order to protect the different buttons (four action, two option), cross pad, and its double LCD screens. Like the SP unit it also has a built in light so you can see the 2 LCD screens even in the dark and don't worry the battery life on the unit last 8 to 18 hours depending on the setting of your 4 blightness settings which can be changed on the opening menus. The system still comes with the Pico Chat option as well and that lets you chat wirelessly with other DS owners if they are near by. You can use the touch screen to write or hit a message on the screen keyboard and type in something to anyone in the area. It certainly takes some gets some getting but it's definitely not a bad feature, eh?
That brings me to the unusual double screens here. Although it sounds like a pretty weird gimmick, the bottom screen isn't just for there for nothing. Nintendo utilized the bottom screen to have interactive options so players can either touch (oh ya!), draw, talk into, or even blow on it to play certain titles. Games like
Yoshi's Touch & Go, Brain Age and Feel the Magic are excellent examples of how you can use the bottom screen to play various odd but unique mini games. You certainly couldn't do that on the old Gameboy's, eh? The second screen can also be used to show stuff like stats or maps as well so playing could avoid surfing through menus all the time. This isn't the first time Nintendo has done this sort of thing, the original and very innovative
Punch Out arcade game had two monitors for example.
Can't find the right DS game yet? The system will also let you play all those cool
32-bit Gameboy Advance cartridges too. Although these games are not as powerful as the DS games of course, there are still several great can't miss games like
Phantasy Star Collection, Advance War 1 and 2, Activision Anthology, Castlevania Aria of Sorrow, and Super Mario Bros. 3 just to name a few. To break it down you can find at least
400 GBA games alone to go with the DS library.
Since the DS is about as powerful as a
Nintendo 64 (remember that one?), you can be sure most of the games will be 3D. This sounds like great news but updated games like
Super Mario 64 DS just don't play too well since the ultra flat Dpad doesn't work too good for 3D games like those ones. You can also use the Touch Screen to move your character but it feels even worse then the Dpad especially when you not are not getting the right resistance. It was a nice idea but it is more annoying then anything else.
If there is any downsides to the new Lite DS itself is that the smaller speakers don't seem as effective. You can still use standard issue headphones no problem but if you don't have any handy and you want to pump up the tunes (hey, some of these DS actually sound pretty good) you may be disappointed with the lack of quality. Another problem I saw was that the DS Lite also won't let you play the older 8-bit Black and White or Colour Gameboy games just like the original one. It may sound like nit-picking but that another library I can't play on this machine.
My current Top Five DS games:
ADVANCE WARS DUAL STRIKE
Now here we have the third edition of this famous strategy series exclusively for the DS. Like the last title, Advance Wars DS here is still a turned based tactical strategy game where you command your armies to push back the enemy. Although a lot of the game is the same, the big difference now is you can switch between two CO's so you can use their special ability to your advantage. Moving the game to the DS also means you don't have to switch between menus because the top screen displays a lot of the game's stats. Advance Wars Dual Strike isn't a huge quantum leap over the last game but it is still insanely addictive and another home run for the DS.
http://www.epinions.com/content_214028947076
CASTLEVANIA: Dawn of Sorrow
Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow is a direct sequel to the critically acclaimed Castlevania Aria of Sorrow and in that game Soma Cruz was suppose to be the resurrection of Count Dracula. Although he was able to break free from becoming the new dark lord, a year later (2036) Soma and his girlfriend Mina just got attacked by a evil cult member looking to kill him. Now Soma is risking everything to fight this evil cult. Like the past three Castlevania games for the Gameboy Advance this is a 2D action/role playing game meaning you fight enemies in real time while gaining experience points for each kill. The game is not only long and challenging but you can even play has different characters once the game is completed. This addictive game isn't only one of the greatest games for the DS but it is also one of the games of 2005.
NEW SUPER MARIO BROS
OK, the New Super Mario Bros. is a lot like every other action 2D platformer game you played over the years but chances those other games still weren't as good as this! The game has lots of cool and different power ups, it had tons of cool and challenging levels, and the game was the perfect mix of both action and adventure just like the original
Nintendo Entertainment System classic. If you want to relive the glory days of the NES or you just want another great DS game then look no further then the awesome New Super Mario Bros!
http://www.epinions.com/content_232349929092
METEOS
Although on the surface Meteos here looks like every other match the colours puzzle out there, you really have to play this unique game first to truly understand it. As different pieces fall from the top of the screen you must line up the colours but instead of disappearing the colours launch up in the air (hopefully). If there are extra pieces on the colours you just matched then it may be possible to score combos for even bigger points so you can beat your friends more easily (again hopefully). Meteos is a little too unpredictable at times because the pieces just fall where ever they want but it has lots of modes and the game finally offers something different for DS owners.
BRAIN AGE
The tag of this special game here is; "Train your brain in just minutes a day!" Although the catch phase doesn't sound very extreme, if you are actually worried how dumb your daily life is making you (it's hard not to feel stupid after watching a show like Entertainment Tonight for example) here's a great game that is actually custom made to exercise your old gray matter. In this card you do various timed challenges like colour matching, word memorization, math, reading and even the popular Japanese number game Suduko is all in here. Sometimes the game doesn't recognize my numbers or my spoken words all the time but Brain Age is still a lot of fun even though its 'gasp' educational.
One of the best thing I liked about being a DS owner is all the different games available. DS games like
Brain Age and Brain Academy are not only educational but they are even fun to play for both kids or adults plus who can forget about all the other popular franchises like
Super Mario Bros. and Castlevania also on the system. Some of these DS games (Like
Mario Kart and Tetris DS) even support online play if you have a WiFi hotspot around. Although I still don't like using that wimpy crosspad for 3D games like
Metroid Prime Hunters or
Burnout Legends, the system's unique touch screen really opens up a new way to interact with your video games. The DS Lite is a great improvement and a already great system on the go!
NINTENDO DS LITE overall rating: 87/100
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-StarSoldier1 2006
(Ryan Genno)
