What's your favorite Nintendo DS/Nintendo GBA games, and why?

[Vocenoctum]

Okay, time for a second question: what is it about a good GBA or DS game that makes it rise up above the bad ones? Also, is Gamefly (the Netflix of games) worth it?

Well, keeping in mind the differences between games (which you play for days) and movies (watch once and send back), the main problem is that they ship and receive from Cali. I'm in Fl, a friend in NH, and it'll take a 3-4 days to get a game. They have a feature where if a game being returned gets scanned by the PO, they'll send out the next game, but it's inconsistant.

I'll be canceling this month, since I've been mostly ordering games I would never have bought anyway. Getting a game, playing an hour of it, then sealing it back up and waiting a week to get another game, it's just not worth the trouble.

If someone lived in Cali or thereabouts, maybe it's better, but it seems a bit much for what it is.

 

[Rackhir]

Don't know how much of a Giant Robot/Anime fan you are PC, but this summer they are supposed to be bringing two of the Super Robot Wars games to the US. These have a mash up of worlds and robots from most of the Bandai/Sunrise anime series like: Macross, Gundam, Getter Robo, Raideen, Dogram, etc....

 

[Arnwyn]

My GBA picks:

- Tales of Phantasia (RPG) - first time in North America! The first of the Tales series
- Golden Sun 1 (RPG)
- Golden Sun 2 (RPG)
- Phantasy Star Collection (RPG)
- Mario Kart (much like the original - and best, IMO - SNES Mario Kart)
- Tactics Ogre: Knight of Lodis (strategy RPG)
- Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (strategy RPG) - pretty good, though it is definitely kiddied up from the PSX classic
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga

I'm not a fan of the DS yet, but later this year (after the DS Lite comes out), there will finally be games that I'm interested in [almost none of these have been released yet]:

- Final Fantasy III (RPG) - first time in North America, and gussied up to boot!
- Children of Mana (action RPG) - continuation of Square's Mana series
- Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time (sequel to Superstar Saga on the GBA)
- New Super Mario Bros. (if you like the 'classic' Super Mario series)
- Mario Kart DS - the best Mario Kart there is, it's taken all the best from all the Mario Karts yet released)
- Tales of the Tempest (RPG) - another entry in the Tales series
- Yoshi's Island 2 - the sequel to the SNES platformer classic (and the best platformer in existence, IMO)

 

[Piratecat]

Tremendously useful, thank you.

 

[Welverin]

I don't have DS yet, and don't suspect I will for some time, so all of these are GBA games.

Games already mentioned: the Castlevania series, tLoZ The Minish Cap, the Metroid Games, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, Rebelstar Tactical Command.

Other games: Astro Boy Omega Factor (I may have the subtitle wrong, but it's the only GBA AB game from Sega), Gunstar Super Heroes. Both of these games are by Treasure (Ikaruga), and both are old school shooters (in style, but without the archaic simple gameplay). GSH is a lot like the original GH (if that means nothing to you, think Contra), AB I can't think of a good comparison (maybe a bit like Mega Man).

 

[ThirdWizard]

Phoenix Wright! I love this game. You don't have to yell OBJECTION!! at the DS, but I'm not sure why anyone would choose not to. It's a great game where you're an attourney and search for clues and cross-examine witnesses. It's got humor, can become somewhat difficult, and it makes good use of the touch screen.

The first four scenarios are actually GBA games updated to be used with the DS touch screen, but they were never released in America. The 5th scenario is brand new and takes more advantage of the touch screen including dusting for fingerprints and examining 3-D evidence. There have actually been several other Phoenix Wright games in Japan, and I hope they bring them all over here plus make some new ones.

Can't get enough of that Ace Attourney.

 

[Arnwyn]

You don't have to yell OBJECTION!! at the DS, but I'm not sure why anyone would choose not to.

Speaking to inanimate objects is too weird for me. I know I'll be avoiding any game that makes use of the DS's microphone...

 

[Rackhir]

Speaking to inanimate objects is too weird for me. I know I'll be avoiding any game that makes use of the DS's microphone...

I OBJECT!

 

[ThirdWizard]

Speaking to inanimate objects is too weird for me. I know I'll be avoiding any game that makes use of the DS's microphone...

You can use the buttons or touch pad... but you'll have less fun. Try it, I know you'll like it. All the cool kids are doing it.

 

[Vocenoctum]

Speaking to inanimate objects is too weird for me. I know I'll be avoiding any game that makes use of the DS's microphone...

In Trace Memory, you have to blow on the microphone to blow dust off a painting.

Phoenix Wright was okay, it's one of those linear games where you have to deduce the path, and sometimes it was quite obtuse with it. It also resembles no modern court system I've ever seen...