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DS Overload!
-By Queen Sarah Tomase-
-Presented by DMG Ice.com-
-Harmless?!-
-Presented 04/25/2006-
In December I picked up Bust-A-Move, which for $20 beats out Polarium big time. True, I only paid $13 for Polarium, but this one has gotten way more lovin’. It is just simple fun with my favorite dinos and a retro feel that reminds me of when I actually went to arcades.
I also got Mario Kart right away and beat Philip’s butt at that.* He was despaired only after having mastered the trade of power sliding and even snaking. But I still won with my novice-like hopping over corners technique. I did not play that much; but I did unlock all 36 karts per character.
Of course I was consumed by Animal Crossing: Wild World for a full seven weeks. The online feature is what kept me at it so long. I played the Game Cube version for only a month. Luckily I bought that one used.
I also got for Christmas and am still playing on and off—though currently stuck at a boss—Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. This game is a must-own for anyone who is an RPG or Mario fan… or rather this is a must-own title for anyone who owns a DS. There is no excuse for you not to be playing this game. It is the epitome of the term “fun for all ages.” Reminds me of how much I loved the original Mario RPG: Paper Mario for the Nintendo 64.
I could not resist picking up Metroid Pinball and Sonic Rush the same day I bought Black & White 2 for PC. I bought Sonic Rush used because they had it used and because I was unsure if I was going to like it. It turned out to not be my best DS game purchase but I still enjoy the nostalgia of Sega’s beloved Sonic. Brings me back to my early days, when Sonic was “rad” and to be honest when I was in the store, mulling over which game to buy, it was nostalgia that drew me towards Sonic. He just ran so fast. I wish I could run that fast. Metroid Pinball, however, I played more of, and I still will pick it up sporadically to play. It is just pure, simple, clean fun. Brief bursts of quick gameplay are important in the handheld market. And everyone should be able to appreciate a pinball game on the go. It is because of these games that I wish I lived in a city that had public transportation, like Chicago, just so that I could take the train (e.g. the Metra) into work and school and not only save on gas money and parking fees but make time for such important things as my Nintendo DS play time.
My most recent purchase was Tetris DS which is pure wifi-enabled fun. The best feature for this game is the ability to play strangers on wifi. Without wifi it gets old, I must admit. The touch gameplay feature is something new to be had and the massive amount of puzzles is a great feature.
Among all my DS games there have been a few regret purchases, I will admit! These include Polarium and Nintendogs. Some of my games do not see a lot of game time (Retro Atari, Sonic Rush, Trauma Center: Under the Knife since it is so difficult, Animal Crossing since after week 7, and Kirby Canvas Curse since I unlocked the hamster character). Many of these same titles I have promised myself I would come back to. Nintendogs I am considering selling, but I do not think the buy back price will be worth it.
The best of my DS game purchases would have to include (but not limited to) the following: Meteos, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, Mario Kart, and Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. The DS games I am anxious for their release are Bubble Bobble, Rainbow Islands, and The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass.
With my influx of massively great new handheld games (Final Fantasy IV is RPG Heaven and I have not even begun my adventure in Riviera: The Promised Land) this great weather we have suddenly been getting in the crappiest of weather-ridden region of the USA, the Midwest, is a reassuring sign that I will be able to play more of these great titles at last.
Sarah Tomase
* Yet, she refuses to race me to back up her claims!! - The Editor.
-Editorial by Sarah Tomase-
-Property of dmgice.com-