DS game suggestions

[HealingBlight]

Mkay people, I have -never- owned a proper handheld console before, but I think, sometime soon, I'll be going for the Nintender DS, because 2 2 hour long lunches a week, PC gamer just does not last the full month.

So, being such an utter Nintendo and handheld noob (I borrowed an N64 for a few weeks month, randomly played the others for not any substantial amount), with a background now almost purely based in the PC realm, I ask you, what would you suggest?

Previous experience tells me, I'm only good with shooters if I have the freedom of a mouse , I like Multi-Playerness and maybe customisation. I also seem to have a bit of an aversion to games directed strongly to younger audiences, but that is not a deciding factor. And I know next-to nothing about animes, so you can't sell me on that.

[Sid]

Metroid Prime Hunters works quite well on the DS. The stylus acts as a free-view control (in one controller scheme at least), so it feels a lot like a normal shooter (Even though I freely admit that the control scheme takes some getting used to. The scheme I use requires double-tapping to jump and using the left shoulder button to fire. But after a while, it's quite cool.). Not quite the mouse-feeling, but about as close to it as you can get.

I heard good things about Age of Empires 2 (which apparently became a turn-based game on the DS, if I remember correctly), and Mario Kart is a fun game (and that's coming from somebody with almost no interest in racing games). Oh, and New Super Mario Brothers for Jump & Run fun.

Granted, Mario Kart and NSMB are geared towards a younger audience, but not exclusively. I'm 25 and I enjoyed both games quite a bit.

I'm not really uber-well informed about DS games, though. So I only got to try the more well-known games (the ones I mentioned above, plus Polarium, and I plan to buy AoE2 in December, so I didn't get to try that one myself).

[HealingBlight]

Only problem with AoE2 is that I was a hard player of the PC RTS original, going Civ on me just would not feel right.
I'm thinking MarioKart is a requirement, Metroid Prime too.

[Fresnor]

Mariokart is a definate one to get, Bomberman isn't too bad itsef either I think.  I didn't like the control style of Metroid though, pretty much spoiled by the need of a real thumbstick or mouse for that.  Pokemon Mystery Dungeon isn't too bad if you are into that type of thing as well.

[God-Beast]

my bro and me are GREAT major fans of mariokart is it good the DS version?
it compares to the 64 version?

anyway, my suggestion is Castlevania...man i love castlevania and the Ds ones look OH so good...

[Vidar]

anyway, my suggestion is Castlevania...man i love castlevania and the Ds ones look OH so good...

Seconded.

Also, Tetris. Classis with added multiplayer support.

[Xuzaf D]

I just bought a DS a few weeks ago. All I got was MarioKart and StarFox Command. I did look for Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, but it seems to have disappeared, so I just pre-ordered the next CV game since it comes with some extra junk.

Anyway, MarioKart is good. If you don't know much about it, then there isn't much to tell you other than how it's a racing game with power-ups. Yeah... if you get a DS, this should be in your game library.

As for StarFox, well... It's space shooter with some strategy mode added on in this version for whatever reason. Sometimes repetitive, slightly unfriendly controlls and shooting at times. Still mostly good though.

I'd like to note that I haven't been in multiplayer with either yet, so that might be a selling point if you have an online connection or people in your area with DS's.

[Slash]

You may also want to get some homebrew DS games, niftyness for free. (google for nethack for the DS or stuff)

Also, I didnt know about the turn based AoE2, would be pretty cool... I think that is the game I enjoyed the most on my gamer life

Hmm... wonders if a RTS (or TBS) castlevania game would work any ideas there?

[God-Beast]

You may also want to get some homebrew DS games, niftyness for free. (google for nethack for the DS or stuff)

Also, I didnt know about the turn based AoE2, would be pretty cool... I think that is the game I enjoyed the most on my gamer life

Hmm... wonders if a RTS (or TBS) castlevania game would work any ideas there?

say more, say more...

[Kenji]

Personally, I'd say New Super Mario Bros, Mario Kart, Children of Mana and/or Magical Starsign, Sonic Rush which feels oh so much like what Sonic should be: SPEED, and Yoshi's Island. Yoshi's Isle feels so classic in it's controls, it is oh. So. Right.

[Vidar]

I did look for Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, but it seems to have disappeared,

http://www.dvdboxoffice.com/561-2310861-11310866/games/nintendods/products/90116818?fs=true

Here it is, with free worldwide shipping.

[Slash]

You may also want to get some homebrew DS games, niftyness for free. (google for nethack for the DS or stuff)

Also, I didnt know about the turn based AoE2, would be pretty cool... I think that is the game I enjoyed the most on my gamer life

Hmm... wonders if a RTS (or TBS) castlevania game would work any ideas there?

say more, say more...

Well what can I think on... a transylvannia map with different castles and mansions, each with a ruler... armies of undead, knights, and warriors.... vampire killers acting on their own...

[God-Beast]

human hunters?

more Belmonts?

why only one Belmont per game anyway?

[Vidar]

Because there is only one magic vampire killing whip.

[ShadesFox]

I've not gotten a DS game in a while.  Though oen game I seem to keep coming back to, Advansed Wars DS. 

*shifty eyes and scribbles down the game suggestions for his own reference*

[Xuzaf D]

I did look for Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, but it seems to have disappeared,

http://www.dvdboxoffice.com/561-2310861-11310866/games/nintendods/products/90116818?fs=true

Here it is, with free worldwide shipping.

Fifty bucks? I'm better off continuing my persuit on foot.

Hmm... wonders if a RTS (or TBS) castlevania game would work any ideas there?

say more, say more...

Well what can I think on... a transylvannia map with different castles and mansions, each with a ruler... armies of undead, knights, and warriors.... vampire killers acting on their own...

It wouldn't work at all for RTS. Castlevania is a very action based game that centers itself around usually one hero fighting an endless number of undead enemies.

Sure Dracula would make for an interesting overlord for an army, but there is no logical way to place the hero element into the game without it seeming forced. I mean, if Alucard or Simon Belmont can just run in and kill everything that moves, why the hell would either sit behind an army or just as possibly sit in wait in the woods while their inexplicable legions work the land for resources? Seems pointless.

Turn-based is more likely. There isn't as much requirement for large armies, so a small team of three or four heroes is plausible for combat situations. Add some fighting styles to the mix as your job classes to mix up charactor growth and gameplay, and you at least now have the start of something that looks good on paper.

[Vidar]

I did look for Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, but it seems to have disappeared,

http://www.dvdboxoffice.com/561-2310861-11310866/games/nintendods/products/90116818?fs=true

Here it is, with free worldwide shipping.

Fifty bucks? I'm better off continuing my persuit on foot.

That's fifty CANADIAN bucks, which is like paying with monopoly-money.

[Aridas]

Monopoly money isn't worth 88 cents of a US dollar >.>

[DarkShire]

Granted it may seem to be geared towards a younger audience, Kirby's Canvas Curse was pretty fun IMO and has a decent enough ammount of challenge (thought not difficult). It's control scheme takes a little getting used to, but it's quite unique and fun to use once you get used to it. Decent ammount of unlockables too for good replay value.

[Blazehawk]

I suggest Deep Labyrinth. I like this one, then again I am a sucker for FPS/RPG hybrids.  It has 2 parts, one directed at people new to the genre and younger folk, the other half more mature and advanced.

I'll second some of the other recommendations, like Castlevania, Mario Kart, New Super Mario Bros., and Starfox Command. There's also Lost in Blue, Phoenix Wright, and Trauma Center as well.
I've also heard good things about Elite Beat Agents, and the remake of Final Fantasy III.

[Nimrods Son]

Monopoly money isn't worth 88 cents of a US dollar >.>

But 50 Can$ is about the European price, which is okay in European income. At least in Germany  not in France or Italy