Nintendo DS: 1 Year Later

Introduction

Just a little over a year ago on 21 November 2004, Nintendo released its innovative Dual Screen portable system. Featuring built-in wireless multiplayer, wireless LAN capability, a touch screen, a microphone, and the ability to play GBA games, the DS was one sweet hunk of hardware. However, the launch titles for the system were mediocre at best. While some made use of the DS's unique abilities, like many launch titles the first round of software for the DS was long on gimmicks and short on substance. Perhaps the strongest launch title of the bunch was a port of Super Mario 64, which at least demonstrated that the touch screen could be a viable replacement for the analog stick. This lack of software at launch was somewhat mitigated by the inclusion of PictoChat and a demo for Metroid Prime Hunters. PictoChat, a messaging client, allowed DS owners a glimpse of the DS as a communication device, while Metroid Prime Hunters offered a fun first-person shooter style game that had a wireless multiplayer option to explore. However, these games were quickly exhausted.

Game Drought

The spring and summer were frustrating times for DS owners like me. There weren't any overly engaging games out for the system, and the PSP launch in March led to a lot of people to already pronounce the DS dead. While Nintendo claimed that the DS was not designed to compete with the PSP, but it is hard not to draw comparisons. Everyone pretty much figures these two systems are in direct contention for the handheld gaming crown, and in the pre-launch PSP hype (which even included a South Park episode, of all things!) it was easy to lose sight of the DS.  However, everything was not all bad, for the DS already had a large installed base that Sony has yet to overcome. Also, the lack of quality DS titles was mitigated by the fact that the DS could play GBA games, and several great GBA games, including a new installment of the Fire Emblem series, were released over the summer. However, as summer drew on, it was clear that a lot of great releases were just around the corner.

It's WAR! (And puppies)

Things began to turn around in August, with the release of Advance Wars DS and Nintendogs. Advance Wars DS is, of course, is the second sequel to the original GBA Advance Wars that was released almost 4 years earlier. Featuring a huge amount of both single player and multiplayer gameplay, Advance Wars DS is an addictive and challenging game that kept me absorbed for weeks straight. Nintendogs is an innovative puppy training simulator that allows the player to select a puppy and interact with it through the DS's touch screen and microphone. Nintendogs is a unique and engaging game that captures the emotions of puppy ownership surprisingly well. Since August, the DS has really been on a roll with the release of games like Castlevania DS, Metroid Prime Pinball, Mario Kart DS, and Animal Planet: Wild World. On top of these blockbusters, a number of unique games have been released that offer intriguing gameplay opportunities such as Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney that puts the player in the shoes of a lawyer in a high-stakes courtroom battle. Or there is Trauma Center: Under the Knife, gives the player a chance to be a gifted life-saving surgeon. The release of Mario Kart DS and Animal Crossing Wild World have also ushered in Nintendo's DS Wi-Fi network. This is really exciting, and it's a feature that I can't wait to try!

PSP vs DS: Christmas 2005

This will be the first Christmas with the DS and PSP competing head-on. While the Xbox 360 has been getting a lot of attention, the handheld market has always functioned more or less independently from the home console market. Overall, I think the DS will do much better than the PSP when the dust settles in January. The DS has a bevy of unique and engaging software. While the Wi-Fi feature is limited to a few games, those games are of sufficient quality that the success of the feature seems assured. Additionally, the DS is very affordable right now, at $129.99 (including a game in many instances). The PSP on the other hand, has yet to really find itself as far as games are concerned. About the biggest title for the system right now is Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories that seems to do nothing more than recycle GTA: III in portable form. I will say that the size of the PSP's movie library is impressive, although I'm still not wild about buying movies in a proprietary format for the PSP. For the price of a PSP,  you could get a DS and a portable DVD player.

Conclusion

The DS started off a little shaky, but that seems to be a trend this generation as hardware is pushed out before software is truly ready for it. However, the DS has  since blossomed into an excellent gaming system that has also launched Nintendo's first online service. I would have to say that the DS has largely made good on the quirk promise offered by its many unique hardware features. The future looks good too, as the full version of Metroid Prime and a new Harvest Moon game loom large on the horizon for early 2006. The PSP on the other hand, has not yet reached the point where its software capitalizes on the unique features of its hardware to present an engaging gaming experience. So, I am definitely happy with my decision to buy my DS a year ago!

Andy Rucker