Downsized GamerFebruary 5th, 2008 by Suzie
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I have a confession to make. I haven’t owned a console for six years.
Yes. I know. It defies belief.
The reason for my lack is simple to explain: I was hopping the Atlantic on a regular basis, zipping between the USA and Europe, with only a rucksack of belongings. I had a PS2 memory card, and the games I managed to play (Resident Evil 4, Kingdom Hearts, Silent Hill 3, FF6 and FFX, Devil May Cry) I managed only in short stints at friends houses. Beating a game was rare, and often spanned years of on-off gaming sessions. I very quickly fell out of the console gaming loop.
Then I graduated from University, and moved in with a friend. Perfect opportunity to buy a console, right? The Xbox 360 had been out for a while, the Wii was just making it onto the scene, the PS3 was due out in a couple of months (some three months behind North America and Japan I might add). Perhaps - except firstly I couldn’t get a job (Turns out food is more important than games. Who knew?) and then when I did get a job I ended up going back to the USA the second I clambered back out of debt. The house I went to in the US had a PS2, and I once again sustained myself on other people’s games - The Warriors, Dirge of Cerberus, Kingdom Hearts 2, and God of War. Meanwhile the seventh generation of consoles carried on without me.
A fortnight ago, I skipped my Tuesday post. This was mainly because I was being dragged over mountains by crazy dogs, and the access to computers was minimal.
What I had planned to write about was my decision to buy a console. I had returned to the UK, this time (probably) for good. I had rented my own apartment. I had ‘disposable income’, since getting a raise. I was also sick of only gaming on my computer. I like PC games - my life would have been very dull without them - but when I play PC games I tend to check my emails and sit on IM at the same time. I also tend to to be dominated by World of Warcraft.
However, these were the issues I faced:
1. No television. (More to the point, a general unwillingness to pay for a TV license just to play games).
2. An irrational hatred of Microsoft, that extended to the Xbox. Red rings of death? No. Just no.
3. A lack of local friends to have wii parties with (damnit).
4. Deep misgivings about the price of the PS3.
So then I thought: what about this Nintendo DS my fellow bloggers keep writing about? After all, it’s portable - useful for someone with a tendency to spend all her free time anywhere except at home - it’s got a neat control system, it’s got a plethora of decent looking games. I’ve never owned a Nintendo, my consoles of choice having been the Sega and the Playstation when I was growing up. There are a lot of classic franchises I’ve never played, Zelda and Mario to name but two. Finally, of course, it’s relatively cheap.
So I bought a rather sexy crimson and black Nintendo DS from amazon marketplace. It will be a while before I actually get it - it’s cheaper in the USA, so I had it sent to an address in America as I’m planning to head out there at the end of the month anyway. But as of February 26th I will once again be joining the ranks of the console gamers, albeit in a rather downsized way.
The question now is: what games should I buy first?
February 5th, 2008 at 5:28 am
Awesome! Although I own a Wii and overrode my own distaste for MS to finally get a 360, The DS is still my favorite platform.
The game I’ve liked well enough to buy include: Elite Beat Agents, Rocket Slime Adventures, Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords, Rune Factory: A Harvest Moon Adventure, Jam Sessions and My Spanish Coach.
There are a plethora of games coming out over the next few months that intrigue me as well, including Assassin’s Quest: Altair’s Chronicles, Professor Layton and the Curious Villagers, Eco Creatures, Insecticide, Ninja Gaiden, Dungeon Explorer and Mystery Dungeon.
Geez. I sound like a catalog. Regardless, you made an excellent choice and I doubt you’ll regret it!
February 5th, 2008 at 5:55 am
I would recommend Contra 4, Harvest Moon DS, Advance Wars, and Puzzle Quest. Picross is a good pickup if you are really into them.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:30 am
Of course, everyone will go for Zelda as one of your first purchases. I really enjoyed it on the DS, but I had friends who complained about its graphics, and the fact that its entirely touch-based.
However, the one that I enjoyed the most - to the point that when I bought a PSP, I bought it for the PSP - was Puzzle Quest. It filled my need for both a quick game, and a RPG.
Bw.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:50 am
What a coincidence - I received my Nintendo DS (Silver, only one available in The Netherlands at the time) last friday! Got a bunch of games for it, but aside from a few download play sessions with my sister in various games (Draglade, Tetris DS, Brain Training) I haven’t really played anything but Bleach: The Blade of Fates (yay for imports?). It’s a fighting game, and a good one at that. Two dozen characters, 20+ campaigns in story mode, wi-fi and download play, and so on… and all in the Bleach anime setting. You do need to have seen (at least the second story arc of-) Bleach if you want to know and appreciate what’s going on, but you’ll probably still be able to understand the basic ’storyline’ if you haven’t.
So, yeah - I haven’t really gotten around to anything else yet… but there’s bound to be plenty more to play and enjoy! You might want to get your hands on some accessories as well, and by accessoires I mean proper screen covers for the touch screen (not cheap shitty ones that get air bubbles all over no matter how well you apply them - I have those and it doesn’t look good).
But wow, that DS looks nice! That one and the new cobalt blue/black one have to be the best looking, after the Warhammer 40K Limited Edition of course
February 5th, 2008 at 7:52 am
Hope you have more luck getting ds games than I did gettin US-PS2 games, ended up caving and getting a 2nd PS2 eventually for here.
Only thing this route has issues with is certain GC games that only come in one hz format (whichever is the less common on for tvs), in that it ends up b/w, but that’s only 2 games I’ve encountered so far.
The way I got around the no tv thing was to get an adapter that let’s you use a monitor (XGA Box). Works for all my consoles so far (PS2(both regions), GC, Wii). Monitor I’m using is just a crap old LCD monitor with built in speakers. Would still work fine on a better monitor.
I’m definately feeling the need to yank myself from WOW too. >_
February 5th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Funny that you mention it now, I’m getting a DS in a few weeks as well. I’ve heard good things about the Phoenix Wright games, Puzzle Quest is also apparently something you can get addicted to. I’m not really the best person to give DS game advice since I don’t even own the console yet, but those are the ones I’m getting/considering to get.
February 5th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Thanks for all the recommendations
@corvus - I’m glad to hear the DS takes favour over the 360. I am slowly working through MS-hate, but I wasn’t quite ready to invite them into my house again ;3
@Coldguy - I get a feeling Zelda and puzzle quest is going on the shopping list
I’ll check out the other games too.
@Bookwyrm - cheers. Yes, I guessed Zelda would be a neccesity. I’m looking forward to it, actually. I’ve never played a Zelda game, not even around a friend’s house.
@Droniac - Yay for new DS! Black, white and pink are the only ones available in the UK - another reason I had to go for the US one. I’m a sucker for colour. I haven’t seen Bleach, though I’ve heard of it (the anime). I know it’s supposed to be good, though most anime manage to confuse the heck out of me.
Thanks for the tip on the screen cover. I had that problem with my iPod :/
@Kitsune - ah, another benefit of the DS over the PS - no game format issues! Aside from the ‘parental rating’ anyway. And yeah - I hated that! Memory cards don’t work either, so I ended up taking even longer to beat games. I think I have US and UK save files scattered all over the place now.
Good advice on the monitor adapter - I was thinking of going that route, but wasn’t sure how well it worked. I have a pretty decent monitor, but no speakers o.o But I’d probably get a second monitor for it anyway.
@Selphie - Must be the time of year. Nintendo must be delighted with all these sales ;3
I’ll have to check out the Phoenix Wright games too - I’ve heard good things about them as well.
February 6th, 2008 at 1:46 am
Ahh, Suz, glad you’re coming to the dark side. Several games suck for the DS and are awful wastes of time, but their top games are major quality. Check out Phantom Hourglass, Minish Cap (GBA, but amazing), Mario Kart, Animal Crossing (hard to get into, addictive once you do though), Phoenix Wright series, and maybe a Mario game.
I got the pink one, but this was before the crimson had come out~ Disappointing in the least! But I love it, and I gave my retro one to Drew, so s’all good.
February 6th, 2008 at 3:27 am
Monique - Yes :3 I am inordinately excited. More so than I probably should be! The black, white and pink ones are the only ones in the UK atm, but once I realised I could play both UK and US games on whichever I was like fugg dat and got the crimson one. I can’t wait to pick it up
February 6th, 2008 at 5:13 am
Interesting that you don’t mention the fact that buying PC games can really take up the slack!
February 6th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Phantom hourglass is an amazing game as well as Mario Kart. No DS gamer should be without either. Mario party is a pretty fun game too if you can put up with all the star BS. It gets whicked retarded sometimes. WarioWare is fun as well as either Pokemon.
As for the 360 is concerned if you do end up having to get a console it might be wise to give that one a second thought. The newer consoles have been restructured internally despite what Microsoft has said and they are appearing less and less. Plus you get a warranty from Microsoft so if you do happen to get the dreaded red ring of death at least you are covered. Im not the biggest fan of Big Bad Bill either but the 360 does have a nice line up of games and doesnt do the whole installing them to the hard drive thing that the PS3 does. Just a recomendation though. Katt and I love ours.
I do have a question though. You need a licence to own a TV in the UK? What is the reasoning?
February 6th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
The DS is a great piece of kit, I should really make an effort to use mine more. Apart from the great suggestions above I’ve enjoyed playing Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, a great side scrolling platformer and most recently Metroid Prime Pinball. To throw a couple other suggestions into the mix for future investigation; Hotel Dusk: Room 215 and Trauma Center: under the knife. Have fun!
February 7th, 2008 at 5:37 am
Mo - without PC games, where would I have been? :3 But Wow tends to dominate
Mr. Greyward - I’m definitely getting Phantom Hourglass, thankee.
My brother and one of my friends swears by the Xbox, so I’m gradually coming round. Eventually, I will probably end up with one, if only for Halo.
You do need a licence - it’s to pay for the BBC, who aren’t funded by adverts, and are therefore supposed to be an independent body serving the public as opposed to advertisers. Since it’s the general public who pays for those shows, they tend to be less populist than shows on advert driven channels. More educational, less biased, etc. A lot of people argue it doesn’t work, and a lot of people complain about it. But overall, I would say BBC is news is superior to other channels, and the programming is usually more worthy/beneficial… it’s an important service to have,
But I don’t watch any TV - so I don’t tend to want to fund TV programs
It’s about £100 a year or something.
February 7th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Ahh that makes a bit of sense. Suppose you gotta pay for something if you want it to be good.
February 8th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
My boyfriend has one of the red and black ones. It’s sexy. Phoenix Wright, Phoenix Wright, Phoenix Wright! That’s my major recommendation.
I love those games with a passion. Other good ones I’ve played include Puzzle Quest, Mario Kart DS, Elite Beat Agents, Phantom Hourglass, Animal Crossing (warning: addictive!) — stuff other people have already mentioned. I’ve also heard good things about Hotel Dusk: Room 215 and Heroes of Mana, both of which I plan to buy soon, and I’m looking forward to Insecticide as well.
February 8th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
@Alyssa - I take it you like Phoenix Wright? ;D
February 8th, 2008 at 8:03 pm
How’d you guess? ;P
February 10th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Yay for the DS! I haven’t played mine a lot recently, but when I did I was definitely into Animal Crossing! It is SO addictive though. I dunno how I got out of it, but I played it ALL the time at one point. It’s not so bad, though, as the GC version, since you can just whip it out whenever you want versus having to set aside time at home…I think that makes it not so bad?
I also liked the New Super Mario and a number of things that people have already mentioned 
February 11th, 2008 at 3:51 am
1. Hooray for gamer girls!!
I found you via Entrecard, you’re going on my link list for sure 
2. I
February 13th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
2. I don’t know what happened to the rest of my comment! I was going to recommend Pokemon Trozei for the DS, as well as add that I also love Elite Beat Agents and Animal Crossing. I
March 4th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Welcome to the dS, greatest hand held ever known to gamers. I had the Onyx Black dS, but left that on a bus by mistake a while ago, stupid me. I recently had it replaced with a Cobalt Onyx (blue and black, take that red and black dS!) DS, but I was held up at gunpoint last week and had ittaken. Don’t worry, I’m safe for the most part, just had to get a tooth pulled from being chipped. the idiots left their prints all over the wallet, I don’t know them, but I know where one of them lives, and I think I may get my DS back and my cell phone, but not my money.
The game below are what I suggest. I’ve played many of the top and worse DS games, while all those below are not representative exclusively of what’s the best,the games below are all very fun, should be cheap as many of them are old or released at a low price, and most of them have some really great to near infinite replay value ad really won’t lose you if you only play them once a month, except for Phoenix, but even then it’s easy to get caught up. If you love the game, you have 3 more games in the series that get progressively better. I do have to say that 2nd game is probably the low point of the series if you had to pick one. You shouldn’t go more than a few days without playing animal Crossing. I once had to go two weeks waiting on an old DS to be repaired, animals were angry with me, weeds were everywhere and I missed a fishing contest.
Meteos, Tetris DS, Picross DS, Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney, Mario Kart DS, Animal Crossing: Wild World, Bleach DS, Professor Layton and the Curious Village, Kirby Canvas Curse, Daigasso Band Brothers (an import yea, but it’s a very good music game), Elektroplankton (only buyable online only, it’s good for wasting time, and everyone who plays with it usually likes at least 2 of the plankton), Ninja Gaiden DS (this is the only game on this list that i do not own, it looks amazing, and will more than likely be the best 3D action game for the dS), Warioware Touched, Warioware twisted (a gBA game, but the best in the series), Advance Wars (Dual Strike or Days of Ruin, but are very excellent).