Upcoming DS games that tickle my fancy

Tuesday 22 Jan 2008

The Nintendo DS is a marvelous little machine – not only are we DS owners spoilt for choice in terms of games but we also have the option of on-the-go gaming and a multiplayer feast of fun. Recently I have discovered another use for old faithful – being able to still play games despite Eskom’s pesky power-cuts across South Africa.

If I may comment briefly on the multiplayer aspect of the DS, may I point out just how fun it is to round up some mates and test your mettle in the ever-popular Mario Kart DS which does not seem to age at all, try your hand at Metroid Prime Pinball, spin and drop in Tetris DS or even prod your grey matter with multiplayer maths in Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training. You don’t even have to be physically near to play multiplayer thanks to Nintendo’s Wi-Fi which allows you to play against gamers from around the world. Trust me if you have not yet tried this out, get to it right now, you will not be disappointed.

Turning to the games side of things, it is difficult to single out titles since there are so many DS games which appeal to so many gamers out there and every gamer is so unique in their tastes that it is almost impossible to recommend titles. However, with that being said I am definitely an adventure game kind of girl so I would highlight all the games in the Phoenix Wright series which is a firm favourite for me (Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Justice for all, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney- Trials and Tribulations) as well as Hotel Dusk: Room 215. Another real winner was Animal Crossing for its sheer ingenuity and Super Princess Peach for showing me that platformers were in fact possible.

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney

It should not come as much of a surprise then that I am looking forward to the next installment in the Phoenix Wright series. Although Phoenix Wright is not actually the main character, the game is sure to follow the same formula and is destined to be a champion. Titled Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, it is set to court North American gamers from the 12th of February.

Interesting to note is that although this is the fourth title in the series, it is the first Ace Attorney game to be developed specifically for the Nintendo DS. The game will introduce new characters including a new defense attorney, Apollo Justice, his trusty assistant Tracy, who also happens to be a magician, and mentor Kristoph Gavin, attorney by day, lead singer of a rock band by night. Like the previous games in the series, players will need to scan crime scenes, solve puzzles, interview witnesses and gather evidence before stepping into the court room and facing the prosecutor and judge. Look out for the new Crime Recreation Mode which can be used to reveal hidden clues.

Prof. Layton and the Curious Village

The second title which I have been eagerly awaiting is Prof. Layton and the Curious Village. It is a part adventure, part puzzle game - it’s got a beautiful hand drawn art style that is really quite unique, and the puzzles are of the brain-teaser variety and only loosely tied to the plot. Level 5 have created a distinctive feel to the game with a story with fully voiced animation scenes as well as a memorable cast.

The game will introduce you to Professor Layton, a puzzle expert and archaeologist, and his apprentice Luke who are hired to find a treasure hidden in the village of St. Mystere. Prepare to be faced with over 130 puzzles including mazes, riddles, logic and sliding puzzles. In addition players will be able to download new puzzles every week for half a year via Wi-Fi. It will be available in North America from the 10th of February. The good news is that this is the first in a trilogy so if you become a fan of the game you can look forward to many more Prof. Layton gaming hours ahead!