New DS Titles!

[NoName]

Over at Eurogamer they have a list (http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=61186) of the new DS titles that were announced at the 2005 DS Conference in Japan. While for the time these are only official upcoming titles for Japan, there's a good number that should make it out to the rest of the world. Hopefully the new Nintendo online will be supported in a lot of them.

It's not yet known whether any of the aforementioned titles will work online via Nintendo's new Wi-Fi Connect service. However, it has been confirmed that previously announced RPG Lost Magic will indeed feature an online mode, as will Contact - the new game from Killer 7 creator Gouichi Suda. In addition, SEGA and Treasure are planning to include an online mode in the DS version of Bleach.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles? About time. A new game based on Tingle from Zelda? A bit scary. Square Enix making a Mario basket ball game? A bit... confusing?

[Savok]

Man, I have to get that Tingle RPG. He's the most fucked up thing Nintendo has ever done.

[bapenguin]

I really like my DS, but for me, it isn't a very mobile platform. The buttons are too small and it's a bit uncomfortable to play for lefties. I need to sit it on a table to play it.

Does anyone else have that problem?

[Deadend]

I kinda did, except somehow I can use the stylus ok with my right hand, which is odd as I too am a leftie.

OMG! A NEW Yu-gi-oh game, I am so shocked!

[ezzkmo]

sudoku, hells yah.

[Abednigo]

Castlevania will be arriving in the mail today. And with that list of upcoming DS games, I've never been happier to be a DS owner!

[VoodooKarma]

I really like my DS, but for me, it isn't a very mobile platform. The buttons are too small and it's a bit uncomfortable to play for lefties. I need to sit it on a table to play it.

Does anyone else have that problem?


I am a lefty as well but I really haven't found it to be an issue other than Combat mode in Advance Wars. I usually play my DS on my couch when the wife and daughter are watching something on TV I am not interested in. The only game I really need to sit at a table to play is Trauma Center but that is more due to the needed precise control with the stylus to do the operations.

[Madhatter45]

I really like my DS, but for me, it isn't a very mobile platform. The buttons are too small and it's a bit uncomfortable to play for lefties. I need to sit it on a table to play it.

Does anyone else have that problem?

I did have that problem..thats the exact reason I sold my DS. It's too heavy for a handheld, and very akward to hold when using the stylus. It has some great games it's just not very portable.

[netcraazzy]

I really like my DS, but for me, it isn't a very mobile platform. The buttons are too small and it's a bit uncomfortable to play for lefties. I need to sit it on a table to play it.

Does anyone else have that problem?

Damn, I never even thought about that. I'm left handed too. Are there a lot of games that require you to use the stylus and the dpad at the same time? That would be a deal breaker for me and I've been seriously considering picking one up too.

[NoName]

"Portable" I think is a relative term. With todays handhelds getting smaller and smaller (gameboy micro?) we tend to relate portable to that size. Then (before the PSP) you had "portable" DVD players slightly smaller than a laptop.

So my DS is portable in the since I'll throw it in my bag and play it on an airplane, but unless I'm wearing my baggy cargo pants I might have trouble fitting it in my pocket. All relative.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

Woohoo for more Tingle! I was really disappointed to hear that he won't be in Twilight Princess. Here's hoping EAD/Shiggy change their collective minds and put him in before it's too late - maybe even in a kind of secluded spot. It would be kinda cool to just come across him in the middle of nowhere.

You have to love a 30 something year old man who wants to be a fairy, so he dresses like one and dances around singing strange little songs.

[screwtape]

I'm a southpaw, too. The only time it's been a real problem (as VoodooKarma pointed out) was Combat mode in Advance Wars. I actually beat combat mode 2 or 3 times, wondering how the fuck the computer opponent was able to shoot at those crazy ass angles. I never even thought to try the stylus, since I had to use the D-pad to move and I'm unable to use the stylus in my right hand.

The Metroid Prime: Hunters demo lets you swap the D-pad functionality over to the AB/XY buttons, which makes sense - it's already set up like the D-pad. So I'm hoping more games give the option of swapping the controls around.

Also, many left handed people hold a pen and write in a semi-bizarre way, having been taught by right handed people in most cases. So I have to have my hand flat on something to write/doodle accurately - for games like Warioware, this is an issue, since I can't really rest it on the DS. The minigames that require precision doodling are extremely difficult and sometimes impossible for me.

All that being said, I absolutely love my DS. I just hate having to continually adapt to living in a right handed world.

[bapenguin]

Damn, I never even thought about that. I'm left handed too. Are there a lot of games that require you to use the stylus and the dpad at the same time? That would be a deal breaker for me and I've been seriously considering picking one up too.

I know the Metroid Prime: Hunters demo allowed you to use the buttons for movement, but since they can't "rock" like the d-pad, it's a bit of a disadvantage a little bit tougher.

I suppose I could learn to use the stylus righty as I do some other things right handed as well....namely cutting and racket sports.

By portable I just mean it's hard to hold for quite a bit, not only that you can't play it very well in a moving vehicle because it's hard to hit what you want with the stylus....at least I can't.

[mister_slim]

Hey, at least the Revolution should be really easy to use for you sinister-dominant people.

[jacktion]

These new DS titles are looking good. Also in the rumor mill is Zelda DS. Some more info should be coming soon. That will be the bomb. The DS is getting pretty damn good. Plus the wifi stuff is about to start. about damn time.

[Kamalot]

I put up a TON of screen shots of the upcoming games on my site.

http://kamalot.blogspot.com/

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/68/411/320/ds_scr29.jpg (http://kamalot.blogspot.com/)

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/68/411/320/ds_scr53.jpg (http://kamalot.blogspot.com/)

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/68/411/320/ds_scr57.jpg (http://kamalot.blogspot.com/)

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/68/411/320/ds_scr33.jpg (http://kamalot.blogspot.com/)

There is a LOT of interesting and new stuff coming.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

I just hate having to continually adapt to living in a right handed world.


Me too. So many things are developed exclusively for right handed people, with no left-handed alternatives. As such we have to adapt and give up some precision when using various devices.

A personal pet peeve of mine are the desks in my college classes. They are super tiny, and to add insult to injury most classrooms only have one or two left-handed desks, if any at all. Even worse is the fact that most of the time, some right-handed bastard sits in the left-handed desk and complains the whole time about how he/she can't write. It takes all of my willpower to avoid shoving a pencil through that persons temple.

[Chagrinful]

I think I'll wait for the inevitable DS SP or w/e they'll call their new ergonomic version of the DS I might have to wait a good long time too :( ah well. One title that I'll have to try hard not to buy a DS for is Mario and Luigi RPG 2, its subtitled something IN TIME or something like that, you control both mario and luigi and their younger counterparts. I dunno what it is, but I fucking love Mario RPGs all of them, I just WISH they'd give the world of Mario RPG fans what we all want, a true bonafied Mario RPG(Snes) sequel, I guess I can hold my breath for it on revolution, speaking of which, one can only imagine what the hell you'll have to do in battles in Mario RPG on the Revolution.

[mister_slim]

These new DS titles are looking good. Also in the rumor mill is Zelda DS. Some more info should be coming soon. That will be the bomb. The DS is getting pretty damn good. Plus the wifi stuff is about to start. about damn time.
I'd love a wi-fi Four Swords, ideally with single-card play and online play. Such a goddamn clever game.

[Abednigo]

I put up a TON of screen shots of the upcoming games on my site.

Any way to tell what is what? Some are obvious (like the Metroid Pinball), but what is this game?

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/68/411/320/ds_scr10.jpg

That looks cool.

[VoodooKarma]

The second shot in Kamalots post has that 'Phantasy Star' look to it. Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part.

[Kamalot]

Any way to tell what is what? Some are obvious (like the Metroid Pinball), but what is this game?

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/68/411/320/ds_scr10.jpg

That looks cool.
I believe it is called Magical Vacation II, and I don't know a damn thing about it except it looks sweet.

[Kamalot]

The second shot in Kamalots post has that 'Phantasy Star' look to it. Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part.

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/68/411/320/ds_scr53.jpg (http://kamalot.blogspot.com/)

This is Xenosaga I & II.

The Nintendo DS has had some great games, but most companies have been concentrating on short-burst gameplay genres rather than extended epics. Namco is planning on tipping the scale the other way with its DS compilation of Xenosaga I and II, both significantly long RPGs from the PS2.

Here is the official Japanese site.

http://namco-ch.net/xenosaga1_2/index.php

The PS2 versions, each clocking in around 50 hours in length, were localized and brought to the USA, so this stands a very good chance of showing up here too.

http://namco-ch.net/xenosaga1_2/outline/img/img1-7.jpg

http://namco-ch.net/xenosaga1_2/outline/img/img1-9.jpg

And yes...It DOES look like Phantasy Star. :-D

[TheEpicOfTyler]

*hugs DS*

It impresses me more every day. I cannot wait for Crystal Chronicles, that game was a blast with friends, and it'll be even easier to play now. :)

[Abednigo]

I believe it is called Magical Vacation II, and I don't know a damn thing about it except it looks sweet.

It looked a lot like Chrono Trigger to me. Dare I dream of a DS version of that masterpiece?

[Zurik]

Wasn't there some little thumb thing that you could use instead of the stylus? I just bought a DS yesterday, and yes I'm left-handed too. The seals in the new castlevania are a little annoying for me when I have to let up on the d-pad and trace the symbols. Its not terrible, but I could use something better.

[Kamalot]

Here's another site with a ton of screen shots.

http://forums.nintendo.com/nintendo/board/message?board.id=ds&message.id=1890461

As for something to use aside from the stylus, there is the thumb shoe. If you look on the wrist strap, there is a little bit of plastic. That can sit on the tip of your thumb and the strap gets tightened up to hold it in place. It is useful for FPS control sliding in games like Metroid and in Goldeneye, but does not allow for precision-tapping.

I've also seen a twisty stylus you can wrap around your finger. I'll have to keep my eye open for that link.

[Abednigo]

Children of Mana

http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/2005/10/04/h-103_44202_seiken.jpg.jpg

This looks great! Hopefully a decent game in the Mana series (if it is indeed a new game in that series). The last few haven't been that great.

[screwtape]

*snip*
And it's not just an issue of convenience - left-handed people are at a much greater risk for injury when it comes to workplace safety (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/876012.stm). Between 13% and 30% of people in the UK are left-handed. How many people are physically disabled (blind, in a wheelchair, etc)? I would imagine it's similar numbers, yet left-handed people get no laws regarding safety, accessibility, etc. Maybe that's an extreme comparison, but if I cut off a finger because Sears doesn't sell a left-handed electric saw, I'm going to be pretty pissed.

Anyway, I'm done being completely off-topic.

I had a decision to make a year ago - buy a DS or buy a PS2. I'm extremely happy I went with a DS. Some of these games look great.

[Bone]

As a leftie, I had to suck it up and become semi-ambidextrous to live in this world. I write and draw with my left hand, but everything else I do with my right, including using a mouse, DS stylus control, etc. I even throw right-handed, kick a ball with my right foot and bat right-handed (the few times I've played baseball that is).

[Nessus]

When I play console FPS games I have to go with the "leftie" setup because I'm too used to the original Turok-style controls, even though I'm right-handed.

So a game like Hitman 2 which I really would like to play is pretty much a write off because I just can't get used to the analog sticks in the standard configuration.

[feeble]

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles

Now this game im highly looking forward to, especially since its suppose to have online play.

[nonchalance]

I bought my DS on potential, and I was starting to get worried.

This makes me happy.

[Lon Lon Rabbit]

In the list there's "Tales RPG".
Does that mean a Tales game from Namco/Tales Studios?
I hope so...

[KamaItachi]

Now this game im highly looking forward to, especially since its suppose to have online play.

With online play I think CC could be a stellar game. I never got to play much multiplayer on the GC and the single player experience was just a very pretty dodgy dungeon crawl.