NintendoDS Previews

            Advance Wars was the first taste European gamers have had of Nintendo’s Wars series and, being as popular as it was, has cemented the title is history. So, contradictory to the pattern and unveiling DS Wars, Nintendo revealed a playable version of Advance Wars: Dual Strike at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). Who says the gaming public aren’t fickle? Read More…

            NAMCO and Nintendo’s new found bond of the little-yellow-muncher seems to be working overdrive. First rearing it’s blob-like head in the stunning Pac-Man Vs. for the GameCube and later having escapades such as StarFox Assault and Donkey Konga and the soon-to-launch in Japan Mario Kart Arcade GP, NAMCO have now decided that Nintendo’s shiny new handheld is the best place to resurrect the infamous Pac-Man once-and-for-all.

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Mario KartDS is one game many people were waiting for on the NintendoDS, including myself. The main thing they were pointing out on the booth was the fact it was running over the internet. Three of the players were in the room and one more somewhere… apparently New York, something I didn’t realise until long after I finished playing!

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Snowboard Kids DS is a pretty cool snowboarding game for the NintendoDS (hence the name). It’s the follow-up to the Nintendo64 series by Atlus, in which the aim is to get down the hill before your opponents pulling off tricks as you go. Read More…

            Every NintendoDS fan who managed to bag one of the early release models will have already fallen in love with Metroid Prime: Hunters. Regardless of the fact that the title received was merely a demo, most thought the game was easily the most revolutionary title not only on the NintendoDS, but that the industry had seen for several years. Retro Studios have now decided to offer us a new take on the game, which makes the original First Hunt demo look little more than a steaming pile Metroid turd. Read More…

Viewtiful JoeDS is yet another example of Capcom’s innovation. Although the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) Demo was relatively small (I played through it in just over 5 minutes) you could get a very good idea of the kind of gameplay on show in this title. The NintendoDS exclusive title has an all-new storyline; during an on-location shoot of Captain Blue’s latest film, a sinister group invade the set. Based entirely in a Theme Park, it’s up to Joe and his sister, Jasmine (who didn’t appear in the demo), to literally save the show. On one screen you have a full screen view of the action in progress and the other shows a close up of Joe’s immediate area. You can swap which view appears on the top and bottom screen and even in the short demo I played found swapping both a necessary and frequent occurrence. Read More…

            Sonic Rush for the NintendoDS is Sonic gaming at its best. It came as little surprise to me that it won the award for ‘Best NintendoDS game’ at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). Although it doesn’t use the touch screen for movement at all, having another screen present helps add that extra bit of depth to what is already a very good game.

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Electroplankton isn’t so much a game as a music maker, and a very addictive music maker at that. The title was easily one of the most innovative games for the NintendoDS showcased at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). In the preview build you had 10 different Electroplankton to choose from (although there may be more in the completed version) each combining some very aurally pleasing sounds to play with, no surprise then that at the pre-E3 press conference a DJ used two DS’s hooked up to an amplifier to make some pretty funky tunes for the attendees. Read More…

            Fully playable at Nintendo’s booth, Animal CrossingDS is at the forefront of Nintendo’s online strategy for the NintendoDS. Three units were connected via the on-site Wi-Fi to a rather luscious lady in New York. Positively demonstrating both a hassle-free internet connection and voice communication through the system’s in-built mic the title runs at a smooth pace and allows for a world of interaction as opposed to the small village we’ve become accustomed to with the first title.

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Lost in Blue for the NintendoDS is the follow-up to relatively elusive, yet innovative Survival Kids for the Game Boy. You are stranded on a desert island trying to stay alive, with a fellow survivor of the ship-wreck. You must search for (and even make) food, make weapons and fires and explore the island in an effort to try and find a way off the island.

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