Middle Era DS, 2007-2008, Ranked (Just Starting!)
The DS stands as a fascinating console in the history of games. Its unique features are nearly impossible to replicate in any type of emulation. The action of touching the screen as well as the two physical, unconnected screens are possible to approximate, but cannot replace the original experience. I'm using Twilight menu on my 3DS to explore the DS catalogue in semi-chronological order using native hardware, not emulation.
I am skipping shovelware like movie tie ins or games that are just the portable version of bigger console games. There may be a few of those added in here or there out of curiosity, but I'll be skipping most of them. If I miss any notable titles, recommendations are always appreciated!
I'm fatigued from the early era so now I'm kicking off the Middle era which is when developers really began pushing the console to new and interesting areas. I tried to get through the early era quite quickly but this one will take a long time to fill out, ideally I'll get this part done by the end of 2022 but no promises. There's a LOT of Visual Novels and JRPGs here and those will take a long time.
A list of games I wish to add that are not in yet:
https://www.backloggd.com/u/LordTentacle69/list/middle-era-ds-game-list/
I am skipping shovelware like movie tie ins or games that are just the portable version of bigger console games. There may be a few of those added in here or there out of curiosity, but I'll be skipping most of them. If I miss any notable titles, recommendations are always appreciated!
I'm fatigued from the early era so now I'm kicking off the Middle era which is when developers really began pushing the console to new and interesting areas. I tried to get through the early era quite quickly but this one will take a long time to fill out, ideally I'll get this part done by the end of 2022 but no promises. There's a LOT of Visual Novels and JRPGs here and those will take a long time.
A list of games I wish to add that are not in yet:
https://www.backloggd.com/u/LordTentacle69/list/middle-era-ds-game-list/
16 Games
One might say the peak of the original trilogy, though I am more of an AA 1 kinda guy. Chapters 1,4, & 5 do tell a compelling story about Phoenix Wright that feels additive to the series even though there was no back story before this game. Chapters 2&3 as well are incredibly good! Though it is a bit jarring that they have nothing to do with the overarching plot that comes back in chapter 4.
It's an excellent VN, the fan favorite AA game, I think it's an absolute classic
It's an excellent VN, the fan favorite AA game, I think it's an absolute classic
When I played Kirby Superstar for the first time almost 3 years ago now I found myself pushed and pulled between the light relaxing enjoyment of a kirby game and the frustration of a poor difficulty curve. This version removes that frustration. It's a nice romp, multiple smaller stories to enjoy that all mix up the gameplay enough for it to never really get stale.
Weirdly reminiscent of previously played DS game Custom Robo Arena. Both have gameplay loops centered around combat (although very different kinds), finding new pieces to aid in said combat, and a rather skeletal story. Both are good! This game has a pretty interesting and unique Turn Based Battle System I haven't seen anywhere else where you constantly focus on risk management among your whole team to keep a numbers advantage on your opponent. Deaths happen often and you have to balance that with your ability to clear your opponenents party.
Still very much so a DS game loop repetition and all. It is fun and effective altogether tho. Low budget game that really does the most with its gameplay as well as the simple yet charming character animations!
Still very much so a DS game loop repetition and all. It is fun and effective altogether tho. Low budget game that really does the most with its gameplay as well as the simple yet charming character animations!
Takes the somewhat bland proof of concept predecessor and makes it incredibly charming through dialogue and characters. In short, same as the first game but funny enough that it feels rewarding to talk to all the npcs. Still very bland to play however.
Professor Layton is probably the new IP that became the face of the DS, along with the Ace Attorney games. It has never left the DS/3DS family, and really has the overwhelming amount of charm to hold it's own as an icon.
You see, I wanna love these brain teasers. That's all this game is, brain teasers, with some mild spiceless plot thrown in the middle. They are fun most of the time, but are occasionally very frustrating. They are small puzzles that test different ideas in your brain from social/spatial reasoning to logical analysis. Since you're going through about 100 puzzles it's guaranteed that there are some duds thrown, but they can just be incredibly frustrating walls in trying to enjoy the game.
You see, I wanna love these brain teasers. That's all this game is, brain teasers, with some mild spiceless plot thrown in the middle. They are fun most of the time, but are occasionally very frustrating. They are small puzzles that test different ideas in your brain from social/spatial reasoning to logical analysis. Since you're going through about 100 puzzles it's guaranteed that there are some duds thrown, but they can just be incredibly frustrating walls in trying to enjoy the game.
I didn't think I would beat this, but I needed something to do quietly when I first started this project. I like the high concept of "everyone is the size of a bug" that is really carried through in every aspect of the game from the boards to the minigames. Still it's a mixed bag, I find the latter half of the boards very fun while the first couple introduced are simply dry. Some minigames are great! Some are just blow the hardest you possibly can into the mic haha. It's definitely playable in single player, but the RnG really puts a damper on the 10 turn campaign boards sometimes making multiple attempts on the same board required. As opposed to Mario Kart DS, however, it really feels designed as a shared experience when playing with other real people. I have only played it in single player, but I imagine multiplayer would be quite fun since you can see everything going on at every moment!
Wowowowowow. While the first game seemed like just a kinda decent portable fighter this one might have some sauce. Hard for me to say because my ass got tossed like a salad against the AI. Worth a second look one day when I get into fighting games
Distinctly overhated for what is essentially an ok portable rpg with perhaps the worst sound design to ever exist. The dialogue really tries for sonic vibes, you can be a smug asshole to everyone and that's great, but it's all just generic ds rpg flair. I have played much worse games as a part of this project.
Competent as far as sequels go but not very exciting. There's very much so a "correct" party make up that is better than any other. Since synergies didn't come into full effect until III this kills the replayability. I played a bit of this and am going to go through the remake first, but it strikes me as one that can grow on me if only for it's setting.
Disturbing children's game where the world is covered in penises!!
For some reason this game has always made me feel kind of sick. I think drawing in game tapped into my childhood anxiety that I've only been treating now as an adult. Still kinda feel every time I touch it.
Really tho this game is an ok little kids platformer. It's slow paced a la yoshis island and lacks much depth, but you do get to draw everything. Would recommend for kids but not much reason for us to keep talking about it as adults.
For some reason this game has always made me feel kind of sick. I think drawing in game tapped into my childhood anxiety that I've only been treating now as an adult. Still kinda feel every time I touch it.
Really tho this game is an ok little kids platformer. It's slow paced a la yoshis island and lacks much depth, but you do get to draw everything. Would recommend for kids but not much reason for us to keep talking about it as adults.
Honestly would've been really cool to play this when it came out with local multiplayer. A simple little mafia game with anime abilities, could have done some real damage out there on the afterschool playground seshes.
Unfortunately this game didn't get a fan translation for a long time and playing the single player now in the year of our lord 2023 it's meh. The perfect combination of too easy yet too time consuming. A game of social simulation where I never felt like I had to play much defense, only just had to figure out who's who to win.
Def designed for the shounen audience me thinks. Plotlines involving whether sweets are good for you or not really don't grab the interest of someone who watched Death Note as an adult. Still I can theoretically seeing this be fun so Ima leave it up higher on this list than I probably should.
Unfortunately this game didn't get a fan translation for a long time and playing the single player now in the year of our lord 2023 it's meh. The perfect combination of too easy yet too time consuming. A game of social simulation where I never felt like I had to play much defense, only just had to figure out who's who to win.
Def designed for the shounen audience me thinks. Plotlines involving whether sweets are good for you or not really don't grab the interest of someone who watched Death Note as an adult. Still I can theoretically seeing this be fun so Ima leave it up higher on this list than I probably should.
Accidentally deleted my previous note. It's the game that's made me fall in love with the cramped resource management of drpgs. Too bad they just threw casual genocide into it
Notable for being one of the most accessible remakes of a seminal classic for a long time (you still can't play this on modern consoles). On the other hand it's chrono trigger. I don't like chrono trigger. The change from random battles to fixed repeated encounters feels like a chore to me and the combat is as mind numbing as an 80s rpg.
14
You know what they did it. They made picross boring. Feels like reading a textbook in a sterilized chamber. Well see how Picross 3D is.
Oh the sins of Will Wright that we must pay for. God awful sim/rpg, reminiscent of My Sims if My Sims had MMO based combat in it. Definitely meant more for kids cuz it abandons much of the cool use of evolution in Spore for some crazy body modding
16
Dude really just complained that his mother is white with that whole "YOU NEVER USE SEASONING" bit