DS Nuts

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 5:34 pm

As though I could afford to be a hardware whore, I grabbed a DS on the sole principle that it was new and I wanted it, despite the fact that, by all good wisdom, I should've simply not dropped two hundred chucks on this console that I did and still do consider to be nothing more than a passing novelty. However, I could never claim to be a victim of good wisdom, so here I am, minus a pair of (desperately needed) Ben Franklins and plus a shiny new DS.

Roughly 40% of the 60-page owner's manual consists of intricately detailed and fully illustrated examples of what you should not do with a DS system, such as flinging the AC adapter into an open flame. I wonder if there's a school that teaches people how to make these kinds of drawings?

The system itself is not tremendously ergonomic, but I don't there's ever been a Game Boy that was. (I actually think that, despite its bulk, the Game Gear was the most comfortable handheld I've ever used.) It's just a tad heavy, which is only really a problem when you're messing with the stylus pen... granted, I've got narrow wrists, but the hand I use to hold the system up keeps getting tired before the hand I use to draw does. Other than those complaints, it feels like a sturdy little system. The buttons and touch pad all work fine, and the lid secures shut with a satisfying click. There's even a swell little gap that the stylus pen slips right into when not in use. Unlike the SP, the DS has a headphone jack, which is great because - like the GBA - the speakers are like the punchline in a deadpan joke.

It's an all-round solid piece of hardware. The only thing that makes me uncomfortable is the giant gaping hole for GBA carts... it would be nice if there were a way to cover that.

When you start the system for the first time, you set a username, date, your birthday, etc, etc, which I guess comes into play when you use any of the multi-player features, which I will most likely never use. (It also ensures that, rather than sharing a DS, brother and sister each feel compelled to purchase their own.) Included with the hardware is a Picto-chat feature which lets you communicate via text and primitive doodles with any other nearby DS's. It's a nice bonus, but having to actually tap each letter with the stylus pen seems too clunky to be functional, except to exchange dirty jokes on the bus without getting in trouble.

The only games I got are the new Made in Wario and Kimi no Taming the Shrew or whatever. Wario's exactly what you'd expect... it's just like the old one, except that now you scribble over the touch pad instead of pressing buttons. It's still a blast, and to the end of the system's lifespan will probably remain the game that makes the best use of the DS's otherwise baffling features. There are some cool, utterly pointless "bonus" games that you unlock, such as one that lets you mess with a wobbling tower of pudding for no purpose other than the joy of messing with a wobbling tower of pudding. Regardless, though it's still a riot and utilizes the weird interfaces, it is basically the exact same experience that the old GBA Made in Wario offered.

I haven't started the nekkid silhouette lady game yet. I ordered the Japanese version, and I didn't think about it at the time, but it's probably got a bit of a language barrier, unless, like the Sonic Team GBA games, it includes 13 different language options, which I rather doubt. Supposedly it's pretty good, though I still can't imagine it as being anything more than Wario, simply mini-game after mini-game.

Overall this is exactly what I was expecting. The system is well constructed and the technology is impressive (especially for the price), but I may not buy any more games for it, like... ever. I got Wario and I think that's kind of it. So what do you cats think?

I also have a PSP on order, but I'm waiting for the price to drop down to normal, and with the dead pixel fiasco, I'm thinking of cancelling the order altogether until Sony gets its shit straight. I wonder if they've trademarked Disc Read Error yet?

Zeta · Post by **Zeta** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 5:51 pm

I also have a PSP on order, but I'm waiting for the price to drop down to normal, and with the dead pixel fiasco, I'm thinking of cancelling the order altogether until Sony gets its shit straight. I wonder if they've trademarked Disc Read Error yet?

A SONY product, DEFECTIVE?

No! That simply can't be!!

Brazillian Cara · Post by **Brazillian Cara** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 6:00 pm

(quote)So what do you cats think?(quote)

"Cats"?
That's new.

Anyway, if I ever have the opportunity to get a DS, It'll probably be for Pokemon Diamond/Pearl.

Zeta · Post by **Zeta** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 6:05 pm

Yeah, me too. The sweet embrace of Pokemon will lead me back with it's siren song to yet another handheld. As it did to the Advance.

Of the games that are out now, only Wario Ware and Mario interest me. It may be that first-party software will be the only thing owning on this system.

Although Advance Wars DS looks fucking awesome. To actually get to see the missles you're launching on a trajectory through space into enemy territory.

Mmm. That's good.

Baba O'Reily · Post by **Baba O'Reily** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 8:02 pm

I'm still mad about the name.
Advance Wars DS? I mean, I know that some of your more... feeble minded... market might be confused about the license, but come on!

Dache · Post by **Dache** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 8:09 pm

Green Gibbon! wrote: I haven't started the nekkid silhouette lady game yet. I ordered the Japanese version, and I didn't think about it at the time, but it's probably got a bit of a language barrier, unless, like the Sonic Team GBA games, it includes 13 different language options, which I rather doubt.

It has an English option.

Zeta · Post by **Zeta** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 8:16 pm

Advance Wars DS? I mean, I know that some of your more... feeble minded... market might be confused about the license, but come on!

I know about Famicom Wars and Super Famicom wars - but Advance Wars just sounds like a cool name - regardless of what system it's on. "Advanced Warfare" - not just "Wargame on Gameboy Advance".

DS Wars just sounds kind of silly.

Kishi · Post by **Kishi** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 9:35 pm

Dick-Sucking Wars.

It would be epic.

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 9:49 pm

Just out of curiosity, did anyone happen to catch the brilliant pun in the title of this message?

Post by **Segaholic2** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 9:51 pm

Post by **Delphine** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 10:01 pm

Not a brilliant one, anyway.

Kishi · Post by **Kishi** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 11:15 pm

I recognized it as the advent of the new Messiah.

j-man · Post by **j-man** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 9:21 am

Yes, but then I flogged myself and ate a punishment meal of gravel and hay.

Locit · Post by **Locit** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 9:30 am

It's an all-round solid piece of hardware. The only thing that makes me uncomfortable is the giant gaping hole for GBA carts... it would be nice if there were a way to cover that.

I put Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow in there. That way the hole is filled and I get to play the best GBA platormer. Of course if you don't have any GBA games I suppose you're shit out of luck...

Light Speed · Post by **Light Speed** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 1:56 pm

I saw it and immediately though Gibbon bought a DS. I didn't even read the thread poster. Then again, I bet everyone else that has over 5 posts at this board thought the same thing.

Can you put a GBA game and a DS game in at the same time and tell the system which one to boot?

Spazz · Post by **Spazz** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 1:58 pm

Just a guess; I think it loads the DS game, because in order to unlock things in some games, you need to have a certain GBA cart inserted.

Light Speed · Post by **Light Speed** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 2:00 pm

Well then fill the hole with a random GBA game.

Zeta · Post by **Zeta** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 2:29 pm

Yes, but then I flogged myself

Did you take pictures? Can me and Del see them?

Baba O'Reily · Post by **Baba O'Reily** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 4:08 pm

Uh-oh, I think someone's going a little Italian monk on us.

j-man · Post by **j-man** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 5:13 pm

I never knew you wanted a slice of the j-pie, Zeta. If I ever turn gay and single, you'll be the first, mate.

Post by **Green Gibbon!** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 5:58 pm

Can you put a GBA game and a DS game in at the same time and tell the system which one to boot?

Yeah, everytime you power the system on you get taken to a simple menu screen regardless of whether or not you have carts inserted. If you want to start the game, you select which drive you want it to read.

One other thing that I find a bit unnerving is the blow sensor. When you blow air, spittle, nasty breath vapors, and other things I would rather not have my clean $150 system directly exposed to go along with it. Plus I'm blowing on a goddamn piece of hardware. Seriously. I know it was a standard feature of NES games, but seriously.

j-man · Post by **j-man** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 7:05 pm

Don't get ideas above your station. We'll be blowing on surly game cartridges and hardware far beyond our own untimely deaths, and indeed the deaths of our children and our childrens' children.

Post by **Delphine** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 9:00 pm

Green Gibbon! wrote:One other thing that I find a bit unnerving is the blow sensor.

Thus the greatest sentence in the history of mankind was typed.

Post by Bo » Sat Dec 18, 2004 11:30 pm

Nasty Breath Vapors would be a good band name.

Locit · Post by **Locit** » Sun Dec 19, 2004 1:24 am

The blowing issue doesn't really concern me. What does worry me is how damn small the cartridges are. It's like they're going to snap in two if I hold them wrong. Also, Feel the Magic has the best battle involving mohawks that shoot lazers ever, if not the only one.

The GHZ Forum

DS Nuts

DS Nuts

Re: DS Nuts