Essential Games: NDS

NZGamer is back to tell you whats hot!

NZGamer regulars may remember our 10 essential PSP games article when we first launched the new site; well now it’s time to do the same for the little system that could – the DS! Please keep in mind this isn’t a ’10 greatest games evar!!1’ article, but more ten games the NZGamer staff have been enjoying lately. If you are looking for a new game for your double screened portable, you can’t go wrong with any of these:


Final Fantasy III

One of the essential RPG experiences for DS, ported from the SNES with the story and characters fully intact. New graphics, cool battle animations and the engrossing gameplay we have come to love in the Final Fantasy series make this one a winner. It's one of several Final Fantasy franchise efforts for the DS, and because of where it hails from, one of the simplest. But Square Enix obviously knows that if it ain't broke, it don't need fixing: apart from a visual modernisation, they've not messed with it one bit.


Hotel Dusk: Room 215

Originality is highly praised at NZGamer; it’s something most of the games on this list share in common. Hotel Dusk is a game which you’ll find hard to compare to anything else. Perhaps only the game the developers made before it (Another Code), but even then, it’s a stretch. Dusk is a highly mature and stylised detective/noir graphic novel which needs to be read and played by all. If you’re not sucked in by its originality, you probably just suck.


The World Ends With You

Like Dusk, TWEWY is highly original. It represents a hybrid of multiple genres whose fusion is unparalleled. Square have shown they love the Nintendo DS and it’s hard not to love Square when they produce games like this. TWEWY is played in a street-art style version of Shibuya, Tokyo where the protagonist is thrown into a part-spiritual, part-techno game to reclaim his own life. It’s deep, it’s cool, it’s fun and it’s definitely worth owning. How about a sequel, Square? Please?


Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates

Despite its long winded title, Ring of Fates is a fairly simplistic game by Final Fantasy standards. That by no means makes it a lesser one, though. The staples are still there – a moving story, gorgeous visuals, an epic journey… this is still the heart of Final Fantasy; just minimised for the handheld market. Because of this, it’s the perfect portable adventure for fans of the Final Fantasy or the genre in general. Just be prepared to miss your stop on the train because you will get engrossed in the fun of it all.


Mario Kart DS

Here we go again! While the GameCube and Wii versions of the game may have missed the point slightly, the DS Mario Kart keeps the winning game play intact. Although this version includes an online mode, as always it’s more fun to play against your mates, if they all have a DS of course. Like any Mario Kart title, if you are picking this up for a single player experience, it will be short lived.


New Super Mario Bros

The first proper 2D Mario game in quite some time brings back old school Mario gameplay and mixes it up with 3D visuals and some moves from Mario 64. Fans of the original Mario games will get a kick from this, and anyone who is a new fan will get to see just what we have always loved about our favourite plumber. New Super Mario Bros features bright and colourful graphics and some imaginative game worlds. Essential.


Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

Another Nintendo favourite, and an obvious choice for our list. And for good reason too, as Zelda is an epic outing that redefines just what is possible on the DS. Phantom Hourglass looks and plays like a miniature Wind Waker. You’ll sail around the map exploring oceans and islands; it’s all put together really well and totally captures the feeling of an epic and sweeping adventure.


Meteos

The original GameBoy had Tetris. The DS has Meteos. Completely addictive, Meteos is an original and frantic puzzler. As blocks fall from the sky, you try and align existing blocks with your stylus and launch them back into the sky. This soon gets hectic with blocks rising and falling all over the place. Neon colours and pulsing techno sounds add to the chaos. It’s kind of hard to describe its brilliance in a paragraph, so just go buy it already!


Sonic Rush

Most Sonic games have fallen rather flat lately. Sonic Rush actually manages to recapture the hedgehog's youth and brilliance as you scream through levels at double the pace. As well as recapturing the speed and charm of the originals, Sonic Rush adds a layer of sophistication from experience. It’s almost ironic that if you want to play a proper Sonic game, you have to grab a Nintendo!


Rocket Slime

It just doesn’t get any cuter than this! Playing as a blob of slime, you travel around rescuing all kinds of critters, battling other cute critters and collecting anything you can lay your… um, slime on? Sure it’s not hard and the puzzles simplistic, but like Kirby, it’s just damned entertaining to play. The brilliant tank battles and hilarious music just add to the appeal.

Editor's Note: For some terrible reason, Professor Layton and the Curious Village wasn't included on this list. Those responsible have been disciplined/shot, and everyone at NZGamer recommends you go find this game now.