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BULLDOG1
12-18-2007, 01:25 PM
Well....as the title says, I finally 'gave in' and purchased a portable game system......specifically, a Crimson & Black DS Lite.

I had been 'on the fence' for about a year or so.......as it was hard for me to be convinced that there would be enough games that I would like which 'work well' on small screen(s).

What pushed me over the edge was when I learned about Panzer Tactics for the DS......as it looked to be quite similar to the older PC franchise....Panzer General......one of my favorite series of 'turn-based' strategy games.

Panzer Tactics has turned out to be even better than I expected.....as it works surprisingly well on the small dual screens. :)

However......other than Age of Empires (already ordered ;) ), there didn't seem to be many (if any) other similar type of strategy games that had already been released for the DS.

So, I decided to look at other categories......and initially took a shot with Puzzle Quest.....specifically because I always liked to play Bejeweled.......but was uncertain about the 'RPG' aspect.

To make a long story short....I was not disappointed with it at all. :)

In addition, I recently picked up Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney......and have become hooked on that series. :D


That begs the question........what else is out there that I might like which I am overlooking?


I should note that in addition to strategy warfare games as previously mentioned......I also like:

- 'traditional style' RPGs........and as such, am seriously considering the Final Fantasy DS games.

- 'resource management' sims (either RTS or turn based)......be it something like Civilization or Sim City for the PC

- card/puzzle games.....such as Solitaire, Sudoku and Tetris

- 'investigative' games......which is probably why I like Phoenix Wright.


Speaking of investigative games.......being a CSI junkie, I would have probably snapped up the DS version (CSI: Dark Motives) in short order......if it wasn't for the fact that I learned that it's only a rehash of 1/2 of the Xbox version (which I already own)......which itself was simply a 'collection' of 2 of the PC CSI games.

Enough of what I like....as I should also mention what I don't....

Above all else, I have never cared for 'side scrolling screen' games at all.....

While I like FPS and 3rd PS.....I'm still not convinced that they work well on the 'small' screen(s).

That being said.....I am seriously tempted to give the DS version of Brothers in Arms a try simply because I REALLY liked the 2 XBox games from this franchise (Road to Hill 30 and Earned in Blood).


FWIW, I have already picked up Star Trek Tactical Assault (had to give it a shot due to my interest in the ST franchise ;) ).......with Platinum Sudoku, Phoenix Wright: Justice for All, Age of Empires and Trauma Center already ordered........and have Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations, Brain Age 1&2, Hotel Dusk and Clubhouse Games on my 'to buy' list.

I am also considering Orcs & Elves and Warhammer 40K......but am not yet totally convinced.

Personally, I wish there was an Air Traffic Control sim for the DS (a US release....as I heard about one being released in Japan)....as I could see that working quite well with the dual screens.

So.....what else am I missing?

A.J.

Geno
12-18-2007, 01:36 PM
The only thing I can really recommend for your tastes is starfox command. However that game doesn't
completely focus on strategy and has a bit of dogfighting, so I recommend you watch a few videos of it to get a feel of what I'm talking about.

ellone
12-18-2007, 02:01 PM
I'd recommend Tetris DS IF you can find a decently priced copy. Looks like it's out of print and ebay prices are just going up.

Also Trace Memory which is similar to Hotel Dusk.

Although it doesn't match up with the interests on your list Elite Beat Agents is a lot of fun. It's a rhythm game.

And I find Cooking Mama 2 to be lots of fun (Cooking Mama is great too, but I like 2 a bit more).

Andrew Cunningham
12-18-2007, 02:08 PM
Zelda, obviously.

ooga
12-18-2007, 02:48 PM
I have about 15+ games that I felt the need to purchase and out of those I can recommend the following:

RPG: Mario & Luigi Partners in Time
Action: New Super Mario Bros and Both Castlevania games (awesome stuff)
Strategy: Age of Empires and Advance Wars DS
Misc weird stuff: Rocket Slime, Brain Age (it includes Sukodu) and WarioWare! Touched
Racing: Mario Kart
Puzzle: Meteos

ADC
12-18-2007, 04:45 PM
All right, I'm in.

You like the RPGs? You want to get
• Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker (which you may also call Jokémon)
• Etrian Odyssey
• Final Fantasy III DS
• Final Fantasy XII Revenant Wings (whether you liked FF12 or not)

You like the strategy games? Check out
• Front Mission 1st

You like the action/adventure games? You need
• Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow
• Castlevania Portrait of Ruin
• Contra 4 :>
• Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime
• The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
• Megaman ZX :>
• Megaman ZX Advent :> :> :>
• New Super Mario Bros
• Super Princess Peach

You like the visual novel games? You're already on the case with
• Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney
• Ace Attorney Phoenix Wright: Justice for All
• Ace Attorney Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations
• Apollo Justice Ace Attorney (Q1 2008)
• Hotel Disk: Room 215
• Trace Memory

And if you're about the casual games, you want
• Clubhouse Games
• Picross DS

And then you keep your ear to the ground for information on some great 2008 games like
• ASH: Archaic Sealed Heat
• Dragon Quest IV: Those who are Shown the Way (not confirmed for US yet)
• Dragon Quest IX: Defenders of the Starry Sky
• Final Fantasy IV DS
• Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
• It's a Wonderful World (aka "The World Ends with You")
• Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword


Welcome to DS fandom. Get a second job. ;)

Andrew Cunningham
12-18-2007, 05:29 PM
How did you not mention Professor Layton and the Mysterious Village on your promising 2008 list?

ADC
12-18-2007, 05:48 PM
Because I didn't have it written down in my PIM. I'm a moron, see.

jecca-neko
12-18-2007, 07:47 PM
And then you keep your ear to the ground for information on some great 2008 games like
• ASH: Archaic Sealed Heat
• Dragon Quest IV: Those who are Shown the Way (not confirmed for US yet)
• Dragon Quest IX: Defenders of the Starry Sky
• Final Fantasy IV DS
• Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
• It's a Wonderful World (aka "The World Ends with You")
• Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword


I know it has been out in Europe for a while, but I'm actually looking forward to the US release of Myst DS. Even though there's already a couple of copies of that game for the PC in the house. :sd:

For something more original, there's also Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles (Japanese name for the game was Tantei Jinguuji Saburo DS) coming in 2008. I'm also a dork that's looking forward to Guitar Hero DS.

Phil
12-18-2007, 10:16 PM
Another vote for Elite Beat Agents for all around goofy fun.

If you've got dexterous fingers, theres Trama Center: Under the Knife. I'm currently stuck on the damn thing, but its such a wierd and interesting game idea.

Final Fantasy 3 definately. It turned me back into an FF whore. Which means I also picked up the Gameboy Advanced versions of FFV and VI. Graphics are a bit oldschool, but the stories are terific.

Maybe I've just gotten old, but I've not been a big fan of Contra 4. I just can't seem to get very far.

dunno001
12-18-2007, 11:23 PM
Hmm... let's see here...

Yes, the FF games are an obvious must-have. (And if you're willing to go the GBA route, then you'll be busy for days there!) DQ9 upon release is also a game I'm highly anticipating. If you remember (and liked) Wizardry, I can't recommend Etrian Odyssey enough. That game has my soul, but like most Atlas games, it's OOP, and now hard to find for less than retail.

As for ones that others have said:

Yes to Tetris DS. To me, it's one of those perfect portable games. Play for 10 minutes, finish, and close the system. Ditto for Meteos. Advance Wars DS is one of the better strategy games that I've played recently outside of the Fire Emblem series. (And again, if you're willing to go GBA...)

I'd have a slight reservation mention on Trace Memory with Hotel Dusk. Don't get me wrong, both are great games, but I would suggest playing Trace first. Some of the people I know who started with Hotel were overly critical of Trace, forgetting that Trace was nearly a launch game.

Also, a few people mentioned the Castlevania games. I personally love them, as they fixed what problems I had with games like SotN, but given that you said you don't care much for side-scrollers, I'd be cautious about recommending them. I guess the better way to ask it would be by that, if you mean Mario-esque games only, or if it includes things like the original Metroid. If it's the former, yes, get the Castlevanias also; if the latter, then they're probably not for you...

prismic
12-19-2007, 12:46 AM
For turn based strategy, you really can't go wrong with Advance Wars DS. It's got low barrier of entry, incredible depth and a gazillion different maps, plus a create-your-own map feature so youa re never out of things to do. And since the DS can play GBA games, if you don't mind it, pick up the earlier Advance Wars games for more addictive fun.

BULLDOG1
02-18-2008, 09:02 PM
If you remember (and liked) Wizardry, I can't recommend Etrian Odyssey enough. That game has my soul, but like most Atlas games, it's OOP, and now hard to find for less than retail.

Well.....I managed to find a copy of Etrian Odyssey at the GameStop at Pentagon City for only......$19.99. :cool:

Supposedly, it was their 'last new copy'.......but for $19.99 I wasn't gonna pass it up even if it was 'used'.

Granted....I had my DS with me so I could immediately test it........and ended up playing it for half the night prior to the first day of Katsucon.......which meant plenty of coffee for me the next day. :sd:

Based on the first 6-7 levels that I managed to play while in the DC area (flew back to NY tonight), I am VERY pleased with it. :)

Thanks for the recommendation.

A.J.