Nintendo always nails it in the portable gaming space, but the DS was a bit of an enigma when it launched in 2004. What could they, or other developers, do with two screens? After years of support, leading to the 3DS as a successor, Nintendo proved the concept was a good idea, and the DS has one of the best and most extensive libraries on any Nintendo console or portable.
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The bad thing is that it’s a bit hard to port games onto other consoles, although there have been some successes like Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy. Regardless of whether the following games have ports or not, they are some of the best games on the console. They will be ranked based on the overall quality and how well they hold up.
Find all 10 pairs
Find all 10 pairs
Puzzle Quest: Challenge Of The Warlords
A Puzzling RPG
There are a lot of puzzle games on the DS, but there’s nothing quite like Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords, which also served as an RPG. Players could choose a class and then go on an adventure on the world map, fighting other adventurers and monsters in turn-based puzzle combat.
Players had to match three colored gems to chain combos together, as some would build mana for skills while others would damage the opponent. It looked more complicated than it was, and after a few matches, it easily became an addiction.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
Drug Wars
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars made brilliant use of the DS and didn’t sugarcoat too much from the console games, although the blood content and language didn’t get as colorful as Trevor’s did in Grand Theft Auto 5. Players assumed the role of Huang Lee, a drug dealer trying to work his way up in the world.
Players could make drug deals, drive around Liberty City, solve some puzzles using the touchscreen, and so on. It lacked the production values of the console games, but it was a fun distraction that gave Nintendo fans a taste of the good stuff.
The Legend Of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Pirates Of The Hyrulian
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass wasn’t a direct continuation of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, but it borrowed one of the key mechanics: sailing. Link was accompanied by a sailor, Captain Linebeck, who exuded Captain Jack Sparrow energy from Pirates of the Caribbean.
This time, players could customize their ship, fitting it with different parts to make it go faster or to have more combat capabilities. Everything was controlled with the stylus, which took some getting used to, but Link was responsive enough when on dry land for action and puzzle-based problems.
Pokemon Black/White
America, I Choose You!
Pokemon Black and Pokemon White were a big step up for the series, shifting the camera slightly to have a more 3D effect, and allowing for a bit more options when it came to catching Pokemon in tall grass. It also had one of the better stories of the series, focusing on the mysterious rival, N, who was somehow tied to the game’s legendary Pokemon.
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It was also cool for North American fans since the region of Unova was based around New York City. There are countless reasons why these two games are the best original Pokemon games of the DS era, and if rumors are true, maybe they will get the remake treatment next.
Radiant Historia
Chrono Triggered
Radiant Historia is a great turn-based RPG with a twist to the combat and gameplay. The game involves time travel, but not through eras like in Chrono Trigger, as players instead have to solve low-key problems, like getting past blockades, by somehow manipulating time, which adds a fun puzzle element to progression. In battle, attacks will affect areas, and some can even group or push enemies back.
With a group of enemies gathered in one square, players can take advantage and attack them all for heavy damage, so between the time puzzles and combat, strategy plays a heavy role in Radiant Historia.
New Super Mario Bros.
Back To Basics
New Super Mario Bros. was the first new core 2D Mario game since the SNES, so it had been a while for fans. While it wasn’t as revolutionary as past 2D games, or 3D games for that matter, it was still a very solid platformer that remains accessible to anyone.
The controls were super smooth, the new addition of the big and tiny mushrooms was fun to play with, and the level designs were inventive throughout. For a Nintendo-made game, it’s a bit odd that it doesn’t cleverly use the touchscreen functionality, but not every DS game needed gimmick controls to be fun.
Castlevania: Dawn Of Sorrow
Cruz To The Future
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow is a great 2D platformer as well, but this one has much more action than a Mario game. As Soma Cruz, players will go through Dracula’s Castle in the future and fight monsters. Like the previous GBA entry, Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, Soma can gain powers from every monster he fights, which include passive and active talents, plus there is an equipment system.
The touchscreen can be used to break deals, so the DS functionality is limited, but that’s all for the better in this intense Metroidvania that still plays like it’s at the top of its game, and it’s one of the better Castlevania games.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story
Kaiju Koopa Minus One
Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story is the best Mario game on the DS, which is a turn-based RPG, continuing the Mario & Luigi series that started on the GBA. This time, Bowser accidentally swallows the plumbers, so they have to make it out of him one body part at a time.
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On the outside, players controlled Bowser, who had to defend his kingdom from invaders using similar turn-based combat. The best gimmick was the kaiju-inspired boss battles, which turned the DS on its side and made Bowser out to be a true king among Koopas, and he absolutely stole the show.
Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels Of The Starry Skies
It’s A Party
Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels of the Starry Skies is a turn-based RPG and the first new mainline Dragon Quest game to launch on a portable system. It was also the first to allow character customization and multiplayer.
Players could create their hero and the other three party members, assigning them all classes called Vocations, or players could group up within range of others for up to four-player co-op. The online functionality was superb, allowing for rare items to be exchanged along with dungeon sharing, and the overall vibe exuded a light-hearted adventure.
The World Ends With You
Using Every Bit Of The DS
The World Ends With You is an action RPG that managed to make good use of the DS without ever feeling too much like a gimmick. In battle, different pins could be equipped to attack enemies, each requiring a different strike with the stylus, from a tap to a drag. This was on the bottom screen, but on the top screen, the partner character could be controlled with the face buttons and the D-Pad.
It was a lot to take in, but the game managed to make things easier with adjustable settings. And even though the DS didn’t have the best sound system, it sure blasted the original J-Pop and J-Hip-Hop tracks to the best of its abilities.
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