Nintendo DS Launch Midnight Thursday 10/03/05

[Bunjiweb]

Well, the Nintendo DS launches at Midnight on Thursday, In Cheltenham the interest in it seems to be quite high and we've had loads of pre-orders. We had them in yesterday and some of the launch Titles are ace, whilst others are fairly poo.

On the "To Buy" list are:

Project Rub - Mini Games bonanza with story and other random modes - better than WarioWare!
SuperMario 64DS - The classic Nintendo64 Game, ported to the new platform with LOADS of extras, including a pile of mini games and extra characters and challenges in the main game.
Asphalt Urban GT - Very smooth graphics and very well presented Asphalt Urban GT is the most adult game of the launch titles and is delivered ALOT better than the N-Gage version.
Tiger Woods PGA Tour - Looks good, full 3D and uses the touch pad to control the swing - unique system that works well after a few goes to get used to it.
Rayman - Seems like it could be a great little platformer for the DS, smooth graphics, seems remarkably similar to Rayman 2 on the N64, which is arguably the best of the lot.

And not so good..:

Warioware - Bit of a dissapointment to be honest. Still got the feel of Warioware, and works quite well on a Touchscreen, but i just didnt get instantly addicted to it like the GBA/G3 versions, and the graphics leave a lot to be desired, although 180 mini games will keep you going for a while.
Polarium - Don't really understand it myself, perhaps why i didnt like it, but it doesnt seem like a title worth paying £20 for, perhaps £10.
The Urbz - Uchh... more sims, meant to be a well thought out game, but to me Sims is a no go, and from the 2 minutes i played I wasnt instantly grabbed by it.
Pokemon Dash - Terrible excuse for a Pokemon Game. Uses the touch screen well, but Pokemon racing? Who needs it!
Spiderman 2 - Well presented but could have been better in my opinion. Not really a fan of side scrolling games like this. Uses some 3D nicely though.
SPRUNG - Dating Game - Looks like a lot of tat to me, although im sure some of the girls who buy a DS will find it intriguing!

These are just my opinions on the launch games. Obviously some of you may enjoy the games I didnt, but thats the great thing about the DS, it seems to appeal to different people in different ways, but its a great console thats for sure!

Even if you want a PSP, that wont be out for a good 2 months yet, possibly even July, so Get a DS as a gap filler if nothing else!

Ben

[Stewart]

You'd have to be a bit flush to get one as a 'gap filler'. I'm just not excited by those games, to be honest... Mario 64 is a decentg game, yes, but then it is a remake of a game I completed on the N64.

Nothing else seems to have any quailty behind it - I checked out a few review scores on GameSpot for some of the plus games you listed, and there were 7.5 and 7.3 scores. Average games at best really.

The DS *needs* a killer AAA title very soon. Suggest a new 2D Mario Bros game, with an unlockable version of the SNES Super Mario Kart on it.

[Xaneden]

I would be interested to play Super Mario 64 DS, as I loved the original; but I think the other launch titles are a bit pants.

I remember how cool it was when I completed Mario 64, its such an awsome game.
Btw, who'd like to see Conker's Bad Fur Day and Diddy Kong Racing ported to the DS?

[Dooms]

vote for conkers but thats coming out on xbox soon

[Xaneden]

Damn Microsoft!


Maybe I should switch to FireFox for a week in protest....



Nah, just kidding. I wouldn't lower myself that much

[Bunjiweb]

There is a new 2D / 3D mario game coming out (think platformer with papermario style graphics).

There was also rumour that they might release a classics range of N64 games.... not sure what they'd go for.... Goldeneye or Zelda hopefully!...And Diddy Kong Racing for that matter.

Ben

[Dooms]

Virgin Megastore are doing a midnight release tonight on oxford street...

First 50 get exclusive numbered DS T-shirt / Goody Bag
First 200 get copy of Super Mario 64DS
Everyone gets chance to with a trip for 2 to Japan to meet Miyamoto


HMV are doing a 8am open 2moz on oxford street...

First 100 get copy of Wario Ware.

[shiato storm]

The DS *needs* a killer AAA title very soon.

that would be Goldeneye or Perfect Dark then, as we discussed in that thread a while ago. I still play them and would again if they came out on this. curious that they've not made the keypad an analogue joystick...i felt that worked very well for the N64. perhaps they'll release another DS version as they did with the GB Advance?
Mario Kart...can't beat it.
Other titles defintely include the Zelda series, I wonder how its going to work with such a small screen though, perhaps may of the excelent games we all hope will come out can't because the small screen simply wouldn't allow decent gaming experience. I mean that although these nintendo etc. hand-held gaming systems although excelent could be built with slightly bigger screens. Some phones have bigger screens (the ericsson P900 for example) and also touch sensitive.
thats another thing, how long does this touch screen last? what if we 'touch too much'...I'd be the last person to critisize nintendo on failing to release a highly polished product but in my mind its asking for trouble having a 'delicate' touch screen - I've seen broken ones already!

so, after the somewhat shabby co-released games get out of the way I think we could be onto some decent ones. I guess it takes a leap of faith for a games designer to pitch in towards something thats not even on the market yet, hence why I feel we'll see more decent games once its out and 'wowing the crowds'...

[goldeneye!! please please please ]

[Xaneden]

I think GoldenEye is too old these days. Lets face it, FPS has advanced so much since then, we'd all think its a bit pants.

Plus, you have to remember that you don't have a joystick, so it would be hard.

[Dooms]

but u have a touchpad that with the thumb stylus can be used to look about.

[Xaneden]

True, but don't you think that'll be fiddly? Your hand would block the screen as you touch it, and having to do that every time you want to look up would be a pain of gigantic proportions.

[Dooms]

the touchpad isnt the main display it a strange idea but it works

[Xaneden]

Yeah I know it isn't the main display, there are two. But, if you want to touch one of them, the other one will be blocked by your hand. Plus, you'll have to hold the gamepad with one hand whilst pushing with the other, so that'll unbalance it.

[Dooms]

i know what your saying but it doesnt quite work like that... you think with the one hand (left) you use your thumb to move the up, down, left, right buttons and then you use your right thumb on the edge of the touch pad looking around and your trigger fingers to shoot... both hands still hold the console as you would normaly but your right thumb is streched slightly more into the centre (no more than if using an analog stick on a PS2) - Its one of those things you need to try and see for yourself

[Xaneden]

Ah I see, thanks for clearing that up.

[Dooms]

just a note aswell jsut incase you didnt know is that the 'stylus' is actualy straped to your thumb