DS - Should I Get One?
Saturday, December 31st, 2005 - 5:29pm
Hey guys, how are ya? I'm writing because I just got a big bonus, and I'm now debating on getting something I've wanted for a while, a Nintendo DS. I already have a GBA, the problem is I don't use it as much as one should, but I've seen the current and upcoming game list for the DS and am impressed.
Given the fact that I already own a GBA, yet play it a few times a week, and still play original GB and GBC games, would it be worth it to get a DS, in your opinion? I thank you in advance. 
If it has a spaceship in it, I'll play it. - http://www.spacegamejunkie.com/
I had a GBA and then got a GBA SP and after awhile it felt like I was forcing myself to play it just to make myself feel better about purchasing it, but, after convincing myself to get a DS I am constantly looking for little bits and peices of free moments that I can be playing it. It's a handheld system I actually keep in my pocket half the time despite its slightly more than pocket sized frame. The library is starting to pick up and I just enjoy it more everyday. Out of the store you could leave with Mario Kart and Meteos and be playing it compulsively. I've got American Sk8land, Advance Wars (DS), Metroid Pinball, Mario 64, and Kirby Kanvas curse and there are still more games I want to buy for it and even more coming out for it.
So, yes, buy a DS. Immediately!!
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Yes.
And buy me one, too, I'm poor.
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I haven't put mine down in a week. Seriously. Go get one.
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Hey, it's been recommended to me to get the Mario Kart bundle, would y'all agree with this?
If it has a spaceship in it, I'll play it. - http://www.spacegamejunkie.com/
The "Obsession Package"? Yes, go for it if you can afford it.
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The only reason not to get one would be if you don't want a red DS. I didn't.
Then again, I bought Mario Kart anyway. So maybe I'm not just good with deals. =)
"$10 - Exclusive Sean-cam where he just shakes his head, over and over." From Pyro's Kickstarter, "Endless Pit of Human Misery Livestream"
i wonder what the redesign will be. could be worth it, but, the PS3 comes out next (this) year
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dont wait until next year, the redesign more than likely wont come out until at least Q4 2006, they dont want to take away from Rev launch, If you can swing it, get it now.. the PS3 launch wont see stateside until at least summer or fall of 2006 anyway. You can get a DS bundled with a great game for 150 RIGHT NOW. Why wait?
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no.
I played my DS from fully charged to out of battery today. Take that as you will
Get a DS.
That is all.
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I too have been obsessing over the possible purchase of a DS. I really want to play Mario kart, Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon. The wife even expressed interests in the last two. I went to Best Buy to try it out and found the hardware to be a bit chintzy. The whole enclosure and the controller/buttons felt like cheap plastic. I was afraid to break the directional pad if i pressed too hard. I'm thinking this might be due to the fact it's a demo unit and it has been used and abused. Maybe?
I tried the mario kart demo and it was indeed a fun game. I imagine the wifi capability and playing people online would be a good time. I wasn't overwhelmed by the dual screen like i was with the PSP but they do a fine job for their purpose. I'd totally purchase the DS for the games and the gameplay and not necessarily the graphics/eye candy.
Alas i haven't made the purchase yet, the hardware was part of the reason, mostly it's because i just can't imagine i'd have enough time to play it since we are busy with a toddler and a newborn. I think i'd probably take the plunge in a few months. hopefully they'll still the mario kart bundle then.
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Novocain, it surprises me that you'd say that, because the DS is pretty damn durable. It's been kicked, licked, and stepped on by my dog, and I've dropped it accidentally a few times myself. No problems whatsoever, not even a scratch. If it is cheap plastic, it's pretty sturdy cheap plastic. I'd be willing to bet the model you saw had probably been used as a model for months now, and taken a beating.
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yeah, that's what i figured too. and yes, the demo unit did function perfectly despite its physical imperfections.
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i know the DS is durable, i just dont really like the design of the corners jamming into my palms. at the store I used to work at, we took a DS and flung it out into the parking lot. still worked (it was a dirty machine, we wouldn't re-sell it.) the PSP joystick we broke by throwing it out the door into the lot about 3 or 4 times (this PSP is broken, I need a warranty exchange,) the other employee finally broke it by smashing the screen on the edge of a cabinet, cracking the screen-but it still powered up and you could hear it was playing a game.
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Trading in my DS toward the purchase of a PSP has proved to be one of my poorer gaming decisions. I still play my PSP on occasion, and it came in useful over my holiday travels. However, I would have much preferred a DS and its far more interesting collection of games. If you're going to have time to play a handheld, I highly recommend a DS.
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I bought a DS a few days ago, bundled with Mario Kart and Mario 64 DS, for £109.
Exceptional value, from the off you can tell it's a quality device with great potential. Only one recharge so far and Mario Kart DS Wifi is spectacularly fun, while Mario 64's use of the touch screen gives the N64's analogue stick an excellent run for its money.
Advance Wars is already on it's way in the post and I can hardly wait!
Remember that GBA games can be played on the DS, in fact the DS can hold a GBA and DS cartridge simultaneously. No contest.
"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject." - Churchill
I bought it a few days ago, along with Mario Kart, and I've been loving it. I don't think I even played my GBA this much. With games like Animal Crossing and Advanced Wars in my future, I'm quite excited.
That said, the package of the DS and Mario Kart is a good deal... but your DS goes from looking like a sweet little device to something that is definitely a little more... "kiddie" looking. The red with the flames and all was just a turn off... I think either Amazon or EB or someone has pictures of the system on their site, so while it's an amazing deal, I'd definitely take a quick look at it and see what you think. After seeing it, I had no problem dropping the extra fifteen bucks (not that I could find a bundle till yesterday anyway) for the silver instead.
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My DS gets more play right now than my 2.5K gaming puter and Xbox combined. The only contender right now would be Guitar Hero, and that's only because I'm a Rocker. I Rock Out.
My vote: If you can comfortably swing it pick up the DS with Mario Kart. I was firmly against portable gaming, outside of my PDA. The DS has converted me, I love it.
Yes, the edges can get a little uncomfortable if you let your hands cradle the case, but simply loosening your grip and relaxing your arms takes the pressure off immediately. The fact that the games are so engaging that you start gripping the poor thing tightly should tell you someting!
Also, the two games at once are a GREAT point illum. I love being able to switch between FFTA and Metroid Pinball just by power cycling.
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A friend of mine has a DS, and that was the first thing I thought of when he handed it to me. It feels like really cheap construction, but I've heard from a number of people that it's surprisingly durable.
I'm thinking about it myself, actually, but mostly because FFIV is my favorite game ever.
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You could try importing one of those nifty all white DSes if you're concerned about the color.
I think what makes it look like a cheap plastic toy is that it doesn't align anywhere. The part where the bottom black plastic meets with the top colored part, it just looks cheap. The shape of the thing is just kinda ugly overall.
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I don't know. Do you have money?
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I do, if you bothered to READ the rest of my post, you'd see that I got a big bonus.
If it has a spaceship in it, I'll play it. - http://www.spacegamejunkie.com/
Okay, to the other dude, definitely get one as well. The DS (as the creator of Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow) put it, is the "Last stand for 2D gaming" or something to that effect. Point being that if you love a little good quality 3D gaming (Animal Crossing, Mario Kart) and love 2D gaming (Advance Wars, Meteos, Castlevania) then the DS is your system. It's innovative and it's fun and it's already got a small library of terrific games...
Electroplankton
Nintendogs
Ouendan
Advance Wars: DS
Castlevania: DoS
Meteos
Kirby: CC
Animal Crossing: WW
Mario Kart DS
Mario and Luigi
and many many more...
It's personally my favorite system ever (largely on the strength of Ouendan and Animal Crossing).
As far as it "feeling" cheap goes...
Yeah, it's made of plastic. Really hard durable plastic. I bike to work most days. Skateboard on other days. I take mass transit every day. I drop this puppy, it gets roughed up in my backpack and it's in terrific shape. Compare that to the PSP which, while it may "feel" more substantial, is much more prone to buttons/screen breaking.
It's funny, I think of the DS as a bit of a brick and I'm hoping any redesign makes it lighter. So I don't see how anyone could think it wasn't durable.
PSN - DSGamerGWJ
Also, for the record I have the Mario Kart DS and I like it. I like the feel of the plastic (much softer compared to the Platinum) and overall prefer the unit to other units. The stickers aren't mandatory either. Mine is just red with a silver bottom.
PSN - DSGamerGWJ
I also have played my DS from full charge down to dead (I mean the screen just shuts off because there is only enough juice left to hold the date in the DS) multiple times now. That is the best endorsment I can think of.
Also, about the uncomfortable design; if you've ever play Metroid Prime, remember the weird control scheme it had for it being a FPS, but the game was so good you forced yourself to learn and become comfortable with it. I (and others I'm sure) love the DS enough to evolve a "monkey paw" like grip that forms your hand around the system to the point where, for me, it isn't even uncomfortable to hold it anymore.
Can I get a show of hands for the "monkey's paw"?
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I actually find the DS as comfortable to hold as a GBA, but that may be because I have womanly hands, which are smaller and cushier than man hands. My only complaint with the DS design is that I feel the X, Y, A, and B buttons are too small. But the DS itself has never really hurt my hands, especially since all the relevant buttons are right by the edge of the device. However, I have nearly asphixiated myself blowing into the microphone.
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Absolutely no question. After the carnage of Christmas I found that I had actually asked for and received more DS games than anything else. My current collection of DS includes:
Nintendogs
Advance Wars: DS
Meteos
Mario Kart DS
Trauma Center
Metroid Prime Pinball
They have all outstripped playtime from Dragon Quest VIII, EVE Online, Guild Wars etc (other games I got for Christmas). To top it all off, I think the quirky gameplay options have got my wife hooked bad. She was gungho to get a wireless router so that we could go out today to pick up Animal Crossing WW. Now that I think about it the DS was originally something she wanted for Nintendogs but it seriously crossed over... Get it, you won't regret it.
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