David's Top Ten Nintendo DS Picks of 2005

By David Rasmussen
22nd Jan 06

Yeah, I know, I only started reviewing Nintendo DS games a few days ago… so how come I got a Top Ten list? Because I know what I want to play and review… though I might have to retract a recommedation if the game turns out to suck, but that shouldn’t happen since I picked a lot of 3, 4 and 5... Out of 5 from X-Play’s reviews of Nintendo DS games, so they shouldn’t suck.

Advance Wars : Dual Strike
If you’ve seen Advance Wars for the GBA, or it’s twisted third cousin Batalion Wars for the GameCube, you know how good the series is. Well now you can take warfare out on your Nintendo DS with Dual Strike, the first outing on a DS system. Try it, you might like it!

Animal Crossing : Wild World
The addiction that adults were not afraid to admit they are hooked on back on the GameCube is back, and it has a brand new coat of innovation and gameplay for the Nintendo DS! Not a mere remake or a “sequel”, but a brand new world, the game has a new look and the rules have changed! So many things are different that I’ll have to devote a whole review just to listing the changes, some good a few not so good (but not enough to chase people away from this game). And this game also features the ability to go online via Wi-Fi Connection and link with other players… but there’s a catch to that, of which I’ll go into in the review.
Recommended if you were seduced by the Animal side of the bells before, or looking to become a new disciple of the bells now.

Castlevania : Dawn of Sorrow
Disappionted by the recent PS2 Castlevania release? You’ll forget all about that when you play this, as the game goes back to it’s 2-D roots and draws forth a surprisingly fun game that will have you hacking and slashing for hours on end. Joy!

Kirby : Canvas Curse
Who would ever have thought a game about a pink ball that sucks and blows would be fun, but this one actually is! Taking Kirby to a whole new level you use your Nintendo DS to help the pink bundle of porno jokes gone wrong to rise to new heights of spine stiffening joys as you work his sucking and his blowing to… ok, I’ll stop with the tasteless jokes. Still the game is worth checking out.

Mario Kart DS
Despite the fact you might not have been the biggest fan of previous Mario Kart games, though I heard the recent Mario Kart : Double Dash is fun to play on the GameCube, this one will change your mind about the series with the inclusion of online play via the use of the Wi-Fi Connection! Now that you can play anyone anywhere anytime you can find all the more reason to play this game… and the game is fun offline as well as online so boo-yah! At last there’s a game from that stereotyped italian plumber I can recommend for the Nintendo DS!!

Medeos
Similar to the appeal of Luminos for the PSP, Medeos is an addictive fast paced puzzler that’ll have you blasting off pieces of Medeos quicker than you can say “Pithy”!

Phoenix Wright : Ace Attorney
Despite the fact that the lead of this game seems to suffer from Roger Smith lookalikeitis this is a good game. This text heavy attorney game has you investigating crimes and taking your beef to the courts where you can use your brain to think your way through case after case, using the DS voice system to your advantage by screaming “OBJECTION” into it during trials! Go on, yell “OBJECTION”! I dare you!

Trace Memory
Ok, admittedly this is at the low end of the recommendation scale. It only got a 3 out of 5, and it does have it’s flaws. The game is a mystery that is part whodunnit and part Myst clone with all the weird puzzles and stuff to solve. Now one problem the X-Play people noted is that your star, Ashley, needs to have things pointed out to her over and over again before she gets it… well that is bad since unless you know what she needs to do she isn’t going to be exactly volunteering info to you about what you need to do. So if you reach a point where you have no idea what to do next you can’t exactly turn to the game for inspiration… you better go over to GameFaq for help, the two in this game won’t be any help.
Two? Oh, did I mention you end up partnered with a rather unhelpful spirit of a boy who you might end up being the reincarnation of the girl he might have had a serious love for? No? I won’t mention it again then.
While it’s probably not going to be your first choice it’s a pick in a pinch (if there’s nothing else worth checking out at your local DS game dealer).

Trauma Center : Under the Knife
Because internal surgery should be portable here’s your change to perform life giving operations while riding the bus, or waiting for the subway. This addictive little surgery sim will definitely get your attention and have you working your stylus with style. Yes, the cute blonde nurse won’t do anything hentai in this game but at least she’s cute to look at while… don’t get distracted! Quick! Draw a pentagram star on your patient’s vital organs to slow time so you can finish that operation… yes, you can actually do that, but don’t worry about drawing the circle first, just draw the star.

Zoo Keeper
There’s nothing as beautiful as a simple addiction, and Zoo Keeper is that simple addiction worth talking about… but the people selling it really needs to knock the price down abit! $40 a pop?!? What the!!

I don’t know yet what the 2006 game cycle will yield for the DS, but I am sure there’ll be lots of good pickings… like maybe a solid RPG at last (since Lunar kind of sucked)! Only time… and E3 2006... Will tell what is to come for the DS.

-- David Rasmussen 22nd Jan 06