Every now and then a game will come around that completely changes the way you think about a system or genre. Elite Beat Agents is that game for the DS.

For the most part, the DS touchscreen was used for either a unique (but often worse) control scheme (such as using it for movement in Super Mario 64 DS rather than a traditional pad or joystick), cheap gimmicks, or was regulated to being the "menu" screen (or map in some cases). Rarely did it feel like the game "wouldn't be able to exist" without the touchscreen. Elite Beat Agents is not one of those games.

The gameplay involves touching rings in time with the beat of a song, with some twists here and there to keep it from feeling like they just replaced the classic DDR mat with tapping a screen. It is a game that only exists because the DS had a touchscreen, and honestly it alone justifies the system for having it. It's not the only game that utilized the touchscreen in a new and innovative way, but it is one that always sticks out in my mind when I think of "games that defined a console". When it comes to DS, Elite Beat Agents (and its predecessors in Japan) perfectly showcase what the DS is all about.

Full of Nintendo charm, gameplay that will keep you coming back for more and designed to take full advantage of the system's unique capabilities, Elite Beat Agents is a must play for any DS owner.

If you don't mind listening to some Japanese songs, Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan and its sequel are also 100% worth trying out. You don't need to understand the lyrics to have a great time with these amazing rhythm games.

The “Earthbound / Xenogears / Jet Set Radio / Donkey Kong Country fan excited to finally play the game” meme, but it’s me and Ridge Racer Type 4. As a big DnB fan, I’ve been moving in circles to this soundtrack for well over ten years, but for some reason never had the wherewithal to actually spend 5 minutes downloading the ISO and experiencing the free video game this classic album came with. Getting the disc was one thing - configuring DuckStation to a satisfactory specification was a whole other. I’m generally not too picky about how my games emulate, but something about Type 4 just demanded I tune my machine to neon-smooth sheen, and it paid off by miles - I got my shaders and filters and scaling playing just right for the pixels to bleed together and brake-light after-images to leave a lasting impression. Few games this short can stick around for so long - you can breeze through this in an afternoon, and will come back for more afternoons in the future. It’s the one for me!

Honestly one of the most enjoyable games to just run around in and explore! Delfino Plaza and each level have a weird yet beautiful charm to them that I love returning to, as though I am embarking on a tropical vacation once again. There are a few missions that I absolutely dread having to do though and since you aren't allowed to do missions out of order for the most part, at some point you have to play through some bullshit broken missions that feel like they weren't tested as thoroughly as the rest of the game.