The Early DS Era, 2004-2006, Ranked (Incomplete)
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!
This early era is mostly made up of tech demos and proof of concepts with the only real special games coming as developments off the backs of established GBA series/prequels. As I've begun to close this chapter of the library for the DS, I can say that I have not enjoyed most of these games. The overreliance on the touch screen as a marketing feature as well as the as well as the push to put cheap proof of concepts on the market before the DS got saturated with games designed for it's unique advantages. Mostly F-grade Nintendo titles, though I tried to fill out as many 3rd party games i could find, most of which are horrible.
Current Threshold for Games I wholeheartedly enjoyed: Elite Beat Agents (7th)
What's Left? Here's a list of games I've got left to play/add that will be taken in at different paces for various reasons.
https://www.backloggd.com/u/LordTentacle69/list/the-early-ds-era-2004-2006-game-list/
Will Play When I Experience More in the Series/More from the OG Creator: Mega Man ZX, Yoshi's Island DS, DQ Monsters Joker, Deep Labyrinth, Children of Mana, Tingle's Rosy Rupee Land
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!
This early era is mostly made up of tech demos and proof of concepts with the only real special games coming as developments off the backs of established GBA series/prequels. As I've begun to close this chapter of the library for the DS, I can say that I have not enjoyed most of these games. The overreliance on the touch screen as a marketing feature as well as the as well as the push to put cheap proof of concepts on the market before the DS got saturated with games designed for it's unique advantages. Mostly F-grade Nintendo titles, though I tried to fill out as many 3rd party games i could find, most of which are horrible.
Current Threshold for Games I wholeheartedly enjoyed: Elite Beat Agents (7th)
What's Left? Here's a list of games I've got left to play/add that will be taken in at different paces for various reasons.
https://www.backloggd.com/u/LordTentacle69/list/the-early-ds-era-2004-2006-game-list/
Will Play When I Experience More in the Series/More from the OG Creator: Mega Man ZX, Yoshi's Island DS, DQ Monsters Joker, Deep Labyrinth, Children of Mana, Tingle's Rosy Rupee Land
42 Games
One of the quintessential DS series... which admittedly is just a remake of a GBA game from 4 years prior.
The original DS VN, which was always built for the larger screen, the Dual Screen interface, and the improved sound chip. I'm not sure why the non-back lit original GBA was the model chosen to host the Ace Attorney series, but the switch to the DS really allowed the series to breath.
If there is a simple way to describe the initial idea of the Ace Attorney series, it's that the Japanese judicial system is broken. The person defending innocents has to fight against a court system designed to convict. The cohesion of the series is one part JDrama, one part shounen anime, and one big dollop of American crime thriller. It has a distinct style that is one of the founding pieces of the identity of the DS.
I love Ace Attorney, in particular the first title. Most of the later titles may have better thought out character drama and trials, but the first one has a charm that I find inescapable. This is also the only DS Ace Attorney remake that adds more to the original game, with an excellent final chapter that sets up the 4th game. Plus the soundtrack is an all timer.
The original DS VN, which was always built for the larger screen, the Dual Screen interface, and the improved sound chip. I'm not sure why the non-back lit original GBA was the model chosen to host the Ace Attorney series, but the switch to the DS really allowed the series to breath.
If there is a simple way to describe the initial idea of the Ace Attorney series, it's that the Japanese judicial system is broken. The person defending innocents has to fight against a court system designed to convict. The cohesion of the series is one part JDrama, one part shounen anime, and one big dollop of American crime thriller. It has a distinct style that is one of the founding pieces of the identity of the DS.
I love Ace Attorney, in particular the first title. Most of the later titles may have better thought out character drama and trials, but the first one has a charm that I find inescapable. This is also the only DS Ace Attorney remake that adds more to the original game, with an excellent final chapter that sets up the 4th game. Plus the soundtrack is an all timer.
Being able to rely on a lot of reused assets from the GBA games allowed Intelligent Systems to focus down and make fun ideas based off the theme of "Dual Screens" . My review for the game explains my love of it at its core, though I did want to say that Dual Strike doesn't focus heavily on dual screen gimmicks. Any use of it feels intentional towards making a better experience, rather than just showing it off.
Gooey brain food. A great Igarashi game that sits in the middle of all the design philosophies he implements and melds it into one taste comfort food hot pot. A consistently great game from start to finish, a much better ds title than dawn of sorrow.
This is actually a GBA game in disguise, and I mean that in the best way imaginable. 95% of the controls come down to the d pad + a/b buttons. The game gets such incredible length out of very few inputs, from tank battles to collecting slimes and doing alchemy there's so much going on in such a slimmed down package.
Plus I have an innate love for games that focus around collecting esoteric items. I come from a long line of hoarders and games like these, where I pick up everything imaginable to get some use out of it, are what keeps my home from being a rat infested mess.
The GBA vibes are on point, the soundtrack slaps, and I lose hours just collecting pointless garbage. Great game.
Plus I have an innate love for games that focus around collecting esoteric items. I come from a long line of hoarders and games like these, where I pick up everything imaginable to get some use out of it, are what keeps my home from being a rat infested mess.
The GBA vibes are on point, the soundtrack slaps, and I lose hours just collecting pointless garbage. Great game.
This stands as a placeholder for the main 4th generation pokemon games.
Its hard to criticize Pokemon games without the context of the whole series. They are titles steeped in legacy and nostalgia where most discourse revolves around the subjective ideas of the core art without looking at everything wholistically.
I dont intend for this to be a cop out or anything, I like gen 4. It's a game that rectifies some of the past mistakes of the series while creating a lived in world that's fun to explore. The addition of online has led to my long standing love/hate relationship with competitive Pokemon. Plus Hokkaido is beautiful so any game based on it will have some resemblance of beauty in it.
However this is just a long continuation of a long series that one day I'll probably look at wholistically.
TLDR: yeah, it's from the good era of pokemon.
Its hard to criticize Pokemon games without the context of the whole series. They are titles steeped in legacy and nostalgia where most discourse revolves around the subjective ideas of the core art without looking at everything wholistically.
I dont intend for this to be a cop out or anything, I like gen 4. It's a game that rectifies some of the past mistakes of the series while creating a lived in world that's fun to explore. The addition of online has led to my long standing love/hate relationship with competitive Pokemon. Plus Hokkaido is beautiful so any game based on it will have some resemblance of beauty in it.
However this is just a long continuation of a long series that one day I'll probably look at wholistically.
TLDR: yeah, it's from the good era of pokemon.
I'm surprised at how well this works. Custom Robo in general is just a fun adaptation of gunpla in their own marketable way. Though what's impressive is both how well this feels on a tiny ds control scheme but just as well how much the pick up and play nature of portable gaming really works for the game. Just good stuff all around!
iNiS really made 4 of the greatest rhythm games of all time then got banished to the "Black Eyed Peas Experience" mines of which they did not recover. It is outstandingly odd that after making some very goofy and creative games they went full corporate and made games you'd always see on the shelf at gamestop.
Regardless, EBA is good! Not a hot take or anything. The warioware vibes mixed with mid 00s pop rock and 70s/80s classics makes for a joyous time. Im not a big rhythm game guy admittedly, whether or not I come back to one depends on how much I like the music. The music selection is good, but coming out of the ds sound chip these songs would make rather just listen to the spotify playist of this game instead.
It's very fun! One of those peak rhythm games! Just not an ideal fit for me, still am enjoying playing through it though!
Regardless, EBA is good! Not a hot take or anything. The warioware vibes mixed with mid 00s pop rock and 70s/80s classics makes for a joyous time. Im not a big rhythm game guy admittedly, whether or not I come back to one depends on how much I like the music. The music selection is good, but coming out of the ds sound chip these songs would make rather just listen to the spotify playist of this game instead.
It's very fun! One of those peak rhythm games! Just not an ideal fit for me, still am enjoying playing through it though!
Animal Crossing + Portable Console is like PB + J. Need I say much else?
Wild World is likely the Animal Crossing I put the most time into as a youngin (maybe City Folk idk), though looking back on it there's nothing super special about this entry compared to later ones. Online was a big deal here and being able to travel to other towns in my after-school care was amazing, but now that excitement has dissipated and I have zero interest in playing this entry much again. I love it as the Animal Crossing representative for the DS, but it doesn't have that special sauce imo.
Wild World is likely the Animal Crossing I put the most time into as a youngin (maybe City Folk idk), though looking back on it there's nothing super special about this entry compared to later ones. Online was a big deal here and being able to travel to other towns in my after-school care was amazing, but now that excitement has dissipated and I have zero interest in playing this entry much again. I love it as the Animal Crossing representative for the DS, but it doesn't have that special sauce imo.
The Pokemon mystery dungeon games are some if the primary examples of games that don't translate well through emulation. Portability is so crucial to their enjoyment, to sit down on a Wii U or a desktop and play the repetitive dungeons fails to give a proper appreciation of the series. When you consider that the are designed for 30 minute to 2 hour play sessions on the go it becomes a fun exercise of small progression over time. The sheer volume of repetitive content in the Pokemon Mystery Dungeons is outstanding, but if the base formula clicks for you it can be very fun pick up and play formula.
For me, whether I enjoy this barebones first entry is dependant on the season. Sometimes the kids shounen anime plot is charming, other times it's bland and gets in the way. Sometimes the gameplay is fun and engaging, other times it's trite and frustrating. Overall I like it well enough, but it's not something I'll evangelize when it comes to the DS.
For me, whether I enjoy this barebones first entry is dependant on the season. Sometimes the kids shounen anime plot is charming, other times it's bland and gets in the way. Sometimes the gameplay is fun and engaging, other times it's trite and frustrating. Overall I like it well enough, but it's not something I'll evangelize when it comes to the DS.
A decent follow up to the first game.
Francesca could whip me if she wanted to.
The cases overall are kinda eh though, with some highlights but mostly a lull in the series. Carried by its characters, it doesn't follow that much with the spirit of the first game but has it's own charm here and there.
Francesca could whip me if she wanted to.
The cases overall are kinda eh though, with some highlights but mostly a lull in the series. Carried by its characters, it doesn't follow that much with the spirit of the first game but has it's own charm here and there.
My least favorite of the core 5 Igavanias. Beyond the God awful touch screen mechanic used as a gate to beating bosses, the combat design is probably the worst of all 5 as well. There's also rng based gates that require you to grind for drops in order to get the true ending, its a big mess.
I say this more to vent though, the exploration heavy handheld Igavanias are one of my favorite series across time and space so I still found the game worthwhile enough to play til credits. Feels like theres a lot weighing it down though
I say this more to vent though, the exploration heavy handheld Igavanias are one of my favorite series across time and space so I still found the game worthwhile enough to play til credits. Feels like theres a lot weighing it down though
TREASURE STUDIOS!!!!
They made two bleach fighting games, this one is aight, the sequel seems to better. It plays well enough, but I'm not super interested in just a decent fighting game.
They made two bleach fighting games, this one is aight, the sequel seems to better. It plays well enough, but I'm not super interested in just a decent fighting game.
Really a good reminder of Nintendos attempts to expand their audience towards a more female demographic during this time period, though in a very heavy handed manner. The feminist objections to this game are beyond valid. It does feel rather out of touch to make all of Peachs powers be her extreme emotions (which also happens to a butchering of holiest word in the Backloggd lexicon, VIBES).
For me this is just a pleasant puzzle platformer from a by-gone era. It was never made for me, a 23 year old cis man in the year of our lord 2022, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I find a lot of the top reviews summarize the experience far better than I ever could, the reviews from @serrafairy and @Whom in particular give insight that I cannot into this weird obscured title from almost 20 years ago.
For me this is just a pleasant puzzle platformer from a by-gone era. It was never made for me, a 23 year old cis man in the year of our lord 2022, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I find a lot of the top reviews summarize the experience far better than I ever could, the reviews from @serrafairy and @Whom in particular give insight that I cannot into this weird obscured title from almost 20 years ago.
More conceptually interesting than in practice. Too much early DS jank with finicky touch screen controls. I appreciate the SMT vets behind this just deciding to make such a unique game absurdly difficult, but there's a lack of proper control incorporated into the game which makes it more frustrating than challenging.
It still certainly has a lot of charm to it. I look forward to playing Under the Knife 2 as well as Second opinion, it feels like this series was always going to better on the wii but that's for future me to decide.
Also, this soundtrack is some hidden gold. Shoji Meguro did some work on it and it shows
https://youtu.be/ltCcLxwDcPs
It still certainly has a lot of charm to it. I look forward to playing Under the Knife 2 as well as Second opinion, it feels like this series was always going to better on the wii but that's for future me to decide.
Also, this soundtrack is some hidden gold. Shoji Meguro did some work on it and it shows
https://youtu.be/ltCcLxwDcPs
I want to like this as much as EBA but I really don't. I'm not great at rhythm games, and the normal mode feels too difficult while the easy mode is too unengaging. Beyond that the skits all being in Japanese take away a lot of the charm of EBA, especially with them not being particularly funny to me, a westerner. Loop and Loop being the starting song is great, but the soundtrack is very hit or miss for me as well. Not awful, but it feels like the series gets better from a shaky starting point.
I've never played a Digimon game before, it feels like a very grindy mmo. I don't think thats that'd bad thing, I was engaged going through random encounters hoping to see one specific Digimon 7-10 times so I could use it. The farm system gives me a sense of progress even when I'm not grinding up those specific mons.
It feels like I only relatively enjoyed it because I knew nothing about Digimon coming in and was enjoying learning everything. I would've played more to see if that changed but it froze a few hours in without me saving and I have zero interest in redoing all that work. I could see my opinion of this changing after playing more Digimon games, but for now this placement represents my relative enjoyment of the game.
It feels like I only relatively enjoyed it because I knew nothing about Digimon coming in and was enjoying learning everything. I would've played more to see if that changed but it froze a few hours in without me saving and I have zero interest in redoing all that work. I could see my opinion of this changing after playing more Digimon games, but for now this placement represents my relative enjoyment of the game.
17
The Cing rabbit hole. This is what this list is all about, exploring developers who were lost to time but created some really interesting art on a forgotten console.
Trace Memory is... fine really. The narrative had me engaged the whole way through, and some of the puzzles were really interesting. The problem is it really suffers from bad Point & Click etiquette: there are items you can't pick up until you've solved enough of a puzzle to know you need it, some puzzles are beyond obtuse, and characters constantly fail to connect previous learned information to the current situation. It can be grating, but overall I enjoyed my time with Trace Memory. The writers understanding on how memories work is super wrong though; if you remember details from a foggy memory then that's your imagination at work not your memory. Have you even read Loftus and Palmer (1974)? An Uchikoshi work this is not.
Trace Memory is... fine really. The narrative had me engaged the whole way through, and some of the puzzles were really interesting. The problem is it really suffers from bad Point & Click etiquette: there are items you can't pick up until you've solved enough of a puzzle to know you need it, some puzzles are beyond obtuse, and characters constantly fail to connect previous learned information to the current situation. It can be grating, but overall I enjoyed my time with Trace Memory. The writers understanding on how memories work is super wrong though; if you remember details from a foggy memory then that's your imagination at work not your memory. Have you even read Loftus and Palmer (1974)? An Uchikoshi work this is not.
A tech demo, though notably one that uses the DS somewhat well. I find the most interesting parts are how the cutscenes/skits are developed with slower paced action on the top screen while the main action is on the bottom. It really emhances each scene with good tension build up set to the absolutely goofy narratives. The microgames really vary in quality here sadly. A lot if the early ones are fantastic while ending with guys like Mike that just require you to blow air for every microgame is weak. It's got a lot of highs and lows, and as someone who doesn't really play the endless modes I find this entry in the warioware series simply okay.
While I considered it heavily I'm not replaying this for the ongoing project. I last tried replaying this in 2019 and I still can't get into it all the way. The opening hours are very good but the middle feels aimless and drags on too long. The Mario & Luigi series has always had surprisingly good pacing for JRPGs though this game feels like their biggest mistep. Plus combat commands with 4 buttons at once is honestly too much, Bowsers Inside Story handles it much better.
Basic, hand holdy, and outstays it's welcome quickly. Not an odious experience by any real measure, though not much really going on here either. One of the many quickly made, low quality, gimmicky games from this era. There's definitely something here, the high concept of an alternate way of catching Pokemon has its appeal. From what I understand the sequels are far better, so we will see where this rabbit hole goes.
Look bois, I get the hype really I do. The Koma system is awesome, the roster us so deep with franchises I've never even heard of and get to learn about, the fighting mechanics are definitely sound.
It's just so repetitive as a single player experience. There's a level of motivation in trying to play as my favorite characters but tbh their personalities don't really come through in the game all that well. There's such a limited option of attacks that it never really clicks well. Cool idea but not for me.
It's just so repetitive as a single player experience. There's a level of motivation in trying to play as my favorite characters but tbh their personalities don't really come through in the game all that well. There's such a limited option of attacks that it never really clicks well. Cool idea but not for me.
I ALWAYS WANTED TO PLAY BATTLE MODE BUT EVERYONE ALWAYS SAID NO
Ancient blood feuds aside this is one of the best designed Mario Karts just based off track design. That doesn't mean much to me though tbh, Mario Kart works best with groups around a TV all commenting on the action rather than everyone being on their own console. It's still fine, but I've never been one of those single player Mario kart guys either.
Ancient blood feuds aside this is one of the best designed Mario Karts just based off track design. That doesn't mean much to me though tbh, Mario Kart works best with groups around a TV all commenting on the action rather than everyone being on their own console. It's still fine, but I've never been one of those single player Mario kart guys either.
Basically a pack in demo with multi-player. Tbh hard to argue for it here in the year of our lord 2022, though I remember this multiplayer fondly from the original launch of the DS when I was a mere 6 years old.
24
A cute little simulation game for kids. When I hacked my ds my gf wanted me to get cooking mama so she could relive the memories of playing it when she was younger. I think that's really cool! The game allows for the breaching of gender ideas to give something that even girls can be invited to play! Definitely one of the most appealing trends of the DS era, it really deserves to be remembered here.
Still the game itself is basic, children can pretty easy connect to the tactile nature of doing real world actions but as an adult it's just a series of easy minigames.
Still the game itself is basic, children can pretty easy connect to the tactile nature of doing real world actions but as an adult it's just a series of easy minigames.
25
Tetris! For those who like having their nostalgia baited! I find the overuse of NES music here is so grating, all I want is some koroblenki geez. The extra modes are an ok offering, though it's hard to deny they feel like padding.
Overall, an average tetris experience, there are far better versions available in the year of our lord 2022.
Overall, an average tetris experience, there are far better versions available in the year of our lord 2022.
Does it serve as a good pet owning simulation? Yes!
Do I have any interest in playing this instead of spending time with my girlfriends dog? No!
Virtual pets fail to endear me. No real problem if people love this one, but it's very uninteresting to me.
Do I have any interest in playing this instead of spending time with my girlfriends dog? No!
Virtual pets fail to endear me. No real problem if people love this one, but it's very uninteresting to me.
A musical toy, aka not for me. It definitely feels like it can be fun to mess around with for an hourish but in twilight menu it sometimes creates a screeching electrical noise I despise. Tbh the vibes aren't really there either, feels too basic. These guys later did an actual rhythm game in Thearhythm Final Fantasy so good for them
Look ill be straight up, playing through the tutorial got me hyped. The control scheme is simple with depth, the developers created simple challenges to show off the unique features of this touch control game, everything was right in the world. Unfortunately the level design is antithetical to what would make a good game with this control scheme. Each level is a child-proof room with a massive margin of error. The maps are so large yet have few objectives.
The control scheme works mostly great! It's unfortunate that the game you play does not go along well with said scheme.
The control scheme works mostly great! It's unfortunate that the game you play does not go along well with said scheme.
While it is a unique use of the touch screen and handles well, its an abomination of the sport of Basketball that fails to comprehend what makes it great.
It feels odd to rank metroid prime hunters below The First Hunt but since this is my first experience playing the full game I can't really comment on the since shut down multiplayer and only the campaign. That campaign of course is just a linear corridor/arena shooter with very lackluster AI and repetitive environments. It's got a good game feel at least, the shooting feels nice until the hand cramps kick in. Its a novelty/proof of concept for sure, if only proved to other developers that fps are unnecessary on the ds haha.
31
One of the funniest parts about doing this list is learning about the series "Survivor Kids". Late 90s Konami was on something so they thought a series about children surviving on a stranded island was gonna be a hit lmao. There's not even a Lord of the Flies mode in this series, sheesh.
Anyhow it's a survival game at it's most basic. It's a full time job getting your characters to survive while maintaining their meters. There's crafting and all the other goods you expect. It's an early ds title that feels like it only exists to be an early ds title, with no ambition beyond that.
Anyhow it's a survival game at it's most basic. It's a full time job getting your characters to survive while maintaining their meters. There's crafting and all the other goods you expect. It's an early ds title that feels like it only exists to be an early ds title, with no ambition beyond that.
I mean it's almost consensus that this the worst mainline Final Fantasy. The first time it released in the West, but it doesn't really change enough to move the needle. The jobs are uninteresting, the game is particularly grindy and the progression is somewhat obtuse. It is an improvement on the original with actual characters this time rather than blank slates, though they are still quite bland.
As much as I'm always down for game preservation, you can only polish a turd so much.
As much as I'm always down for game preservation, you can only polish a turd so much.
A continuation of some solid GBA games that ends up being a tasteless experience. The new elements are really interesting but feel like they would've been better in a Nightmare in Dreamland or an Amazing Mirror. Just overall uninspired bit of asset reuse.
Oh Genius Sonority, you guys did so well yet so bad. The art here is gorgeous even though it feels weirdly French. The puzzle game itself is none more than a proof of concept for the touch screen. The game is basically fast paced puyo-puyo, but it goes far too fast and scales far too quickly to make it in anyway enjoyable to learn. As a puzzle game, its blasé.
35
I don't believe it! Sonic! There's something wrong with the Space-Time Continuum!
I really want to like Sonic Rush, I do. The thing is it is just so incredibly frustrating constantly. You spend more time fighting RnG heavy boss fights than you do in levels. Level design isn't bad, but it can lead to many sudden deaths that you weren't expecting while boosting. The third level with sonic even has forced locked in combat sections, who does that for a Sonic game!
There's a lot of good explanations as to why people like it under the review section, I just can't meet them where they are at unfortunately.
I really want to like Sonic Rush, I do. The thing is it is just so incredibly frustrating constantly. You spend more time fighting RnG heavy boss fights than you do in levels. Level design isn't bad, but it can lead to many sudden deaths that you weren't expecting while boosting. The third level with sonic even has forced locked in combat sections, who does that for a Sonic game!
There's a lot of good explanations as to why people like it under the review section, I just can't meet them where they are at unfortunately.
My distaste for Mario 64 DS begins with me explaining that I dislike the original Mario 64.
That requires a larger conversation than I'm going to give here, but in short Mario 64 DS fixes lots of level design issues I have with original, but often feels bloated with switching between the other characters as well as playing poorly without true 360 degree movement.
That requires a larger conversation than I'm going to give here, but in short Mario 64 DS fixes lots of level design issues I have with original, but often feels bloated with switching between the other characters as well as playing poorly without true 360 degree movement.
The adoption of Nintendo's bog standard, inoffensive, corporate art style. I honestly dislike this game more for how it gave reason to Nintendo to remove much of aesthetic joy during the 2010s. Gone are the days of yore where you'd have a Mario Party 2 where the characters dress in costumes, or the Paper Mario games creating characters separate from the main canon.
The game itself isn't horrible, but it doesn't really have anything special to it either. Mainline mario games often stick themselves in the creative hole of green world, desert world, water world, snow world, etc. without ever pushing any kind of creative boundary. Typically anything interesting comes from a unique mechanic/power up, of which the closest New Soup has is the mini mushroom which acts more as an optional challenge rather than an interesting new feature.
It's bland, nothing much else to say here.
The game itself isn't horrible, but it doesn't really have anything special to it either. Mainline mario games often stick themselves in the creative hole of green world, desert world, water world, snow world, etc. without ever pushing any kind of creative boundary. Typically anything interesting comes from a unique mechanic/power up, of which the closest New Soup has is the mini mushroom which acts more as an optional challenge rather than an interesting new feature.
It's bland, nothing much else to say here.
God, why did I pick to play this? For one this is my first Viewtiful Joe game, which does not make for a good impression. If you consider presentation one of the pillars of the now defunct Clover Studios then all I can say is the opening is a screenshot with text and the menu music cuts to silence after 10 seconds. That last part made me genuinely scared my 3ds broke.
I don't have much to say about the game, most of Capcoms outings on the DS ran through ace attorney and Megaman with this and okamiden being the only Clover reps (IP wise at least, Clover had shut down before okamiden was made). The game is rushed and uninteresting to talk about, touch controls are of course a gimmick and only make the game feel sloppier. Having to juggle the use of every singular button (shoulder, face, and d-pad) while still needing to use touch controls is a heart attack waiting to happen. It does not make for a good feeling game on such a small console.
I don't have much to say about the game, most of Capcoms outings on the DS ran through ace attorney and Megaman with this and okamiden being the only Clover reps (IP wise at least, Clover had shut down before okamiden was made). The game is rushed and uninteresting to talk about, touch controls are of course a gimmick and only make the game feel sloppier. Having to juggle the use of every singular button (shoulder, face, and d-pad) while still needing to use touch controls is a heart attack waiting to happen. It does not make for a good feeling game on such a small console.
You know, my brother installed this for me when he hacked my 3ds. Idk why he's interested in this, it's just another Toey games as merchandise product. Basically Naruto battle revolution except somehow stripped down even more. However it lacks couch multiplayer so it's far worse.
This game makes me irrationally upset. Like I get it's just a mini game and it's not poorly designed or anything, but the disconnect that you have between having to prepare the clouds on the bottom screen while baby Mario falls on the top makes me upset. I want direct control but this is all about indirect gesturing of a static character with a multi second delay. Maybe I'm just fatigued from all these early era ds games but I do not like this at all.
I'm not much of a star fox fan and even I can tell this is just wrong. These controls feel so bad that they could only make the missions free range. If there were any on rails missions then you would immediately tell something has gone horribly wrong in the making of this.
This is an early DS gimmick game that truly falls flat on its face.
This is an early DS gimmick game that truly falls flat on its face.
With puzzle games it takes about 5 seconds to know if it's a style of puzzle that's good for you. I'm sure someone out there likes this style of puzzle but the abstract nature of it all feels very unappealing. Having to use the "help" section simply to figure out how to beat the third puzzle is not a good look. The opening cutscene is the worst I've ever seen using two screens, both scenes distracting from each other so you pay attention to neither. This is a straight up whack product, probably my least favorite puzzle game I've ever experienced.
SimonDedalus
2 years ago