Nintendo DS - OMFGSPLOSION

[Autarkus]

(cross posted in the HGLan forum)

From the title, you can probly guess I'm somewhat
impressed with my new toy !

for the unintitiated - basic rundown...

Clamshell comfig, 2 screens, bottom ones a touch
screen, built in WiFi (with WEP if needed- no WPA though)
built in microphone.
Compatable with GBA games (not GB or GB colour).

First impressions - with Mario Cart-DS and Rayman-DS
Mario rocks - pure and simple. Everyone raves about the
old version, and now I can see why ! Not normally into race
games, this one has the *just* *one* *more* *go* factor...
This is also wireless enabled - both for LAN and over the internet.
Setting up a wLAN game is Very easy - and only one game cart
is needed for up to 8 players (Everyone else 'downloads' the client
before playing - takes about a minute) - otherwise, exactly as you'd expect.
(We've got 2 DS - one for me, and one for me other half, Claire [This
also explains the 'dogs presence ! ])

Internet play can be lengthy to get going, frequently taking 3-4mins to
get a match, and, at the mo, I've yet to play on a 'full' game (4 players).
Once in, however, it plays smooth (perhaps as everyone so far is on
there home wireless broadband conn - the nintendo hotspots hasnt
lauched yet in the UK).

Rayman is just another platformer, however- pretty good, but nothing special -
only one screen is used: I'd avoid it in a bundle etc and wait for a 2nd hand one.

Impressions so far - after a week, with Harry Potter, Nintendogs, Sonic and Warioware

Wow - theres a huge variety of gameplay out there !
HP is a fairly standard platformer, with mini-games using the touch screen effectivly
(eg, tracing pattens to cast spells) - however, this one demonstrated one
*very* good point with the DS - Close the clamshell, and it pauses- open it,
and start where you left off - ideal for gaming on the go.
Sonic's a good port of a sonic game, nothing out of the ordianry, except it
uses both screens seamlessly - run up a hill, and change screen etc.
Warioware is instantly addictive, and hard to put down - cant see it
lasting an extended amout of time though - it's basically a couple of hundred
mini-games, all using the tough screen or microphone- and typically lasting
under 10 secs a game. They came hard and fast, and it's definatly worth a look !

Nintendogs is the 'killer app' (at least so far) - and is the most inovative of the lot.
it uses the touchscreen, and mic to amazing effect- you name your dog by
speaking to it - yuo teach it tricks by poking and proding it on the screen, and
talking to the unit !
Embarasing at first -even on your own- it's soon second nature to talk to the
handheld ! ( You do feel a twat shouting 'Wolfie !! Roll Over !!' - and no, I didnt name it)
simply amazing !

Overall-
I found the unit itself a bit lightweight, and 'plasticy' feeling - but with the
addition of a 'Game' rubberized cover, its far more sturdy.
The buttons are also pretty tricky to get to - although I've never been a fan
of shoulder buttons.

Finally-
Not a PSP - no multi-media, mp3 and so on, and the screens are lower rez
However, the variety of gameplay and the additon of internet ready (mario
cart only atm, afaik), more than makes up for it.
For ?110-50 for a unit with a couple of games (depending on bundles etc),
it's definatly worth the cash !