El33tonline's DS Christmas Buyer's Guide for South African gamers
Written by Lisa on Monday 29 Nov 2010
Nintendo’s handheld continued to perform well this year and as a result we were treated to a number of great releases. This list includes most of the new titles that arrived this year as well as a few older titles that were added to our catalogue but are equally deserving of your attention.
Whether its adventure, puzzle or Pokemon that gets your pulse racing, there’s a little something for everyone on El33tonline’s Top 10 recommended titles. If you’re new to the DS family then be sure to also take a peek at the Classic Collection list, which includes those golden oldies that are definitely a worthwhile investment.
El33tonline’s Top 10 DS Game Recommendations:
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks 
Spirit Tracks, graphically, looks very similar to the previous Zelda outing on the DS, Phantom Hourglass, but this time sees Link commanding the direction of a train to progress through the adventure. Players will use a steam locomotive to travel around the world, switching between Phantom and Link to explore the dungeons, all the while using new items to solve puzzles.
Last Window: The Secret of Cape West 
You’ll hold your DS sideways while solving puzzles in this adventure game that features a beautiful pencil sketch art style, lots of atmosphere and a fascinating plot. It’s a direct sequel to Hotel Dusk, so if you’ve played that excellent title before you’ll know what to expect and welcome the return of a few familiar characters.
Read the review.
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies 
This turn-based role-playing game will see your four characters becoming stronger by fighting endless slimes and other funnily named monsters in turn-based combat, collecting experience to level up and gold to buy better weapons, all the while helping people in need and working towards the goal of saving a medieval styled world.
Read the review.
Pokemon SoulSilver/HeartGold 
These are remakes of the second generation of Pokémon games, Gold and Silver, which were released for the GameBoy Color 10 years ago. You can look forward to collecting these monsters, have them battle other monsters in a turn-based battle, collecting experience and levelling the monsters up until they evolve into bigger, better monsters. You’ll also need to defeat other Pokémon trainers and take on the evil Team Rocket.
Read the review.
Picross 3D 
Puzzle game fans will enjoy the huge amount of quality, fun puzzling that Picross 3D offers in what we think is one of the best puzzle games on the DS.
Read the review.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story
Bowser’s Inside Story is the best game in the handheld Mario and Luigi series, in fact this is one of the best games on the DS full stop. The premise itself is unconventional and very creative – in a hilarious opening scene, Bowser ends up sucking Mario, Luigi, Peach and a whole bunch of Toads into his belly. Now Mario and Luigi have to somehow figure their way out of Bowser’s insides, but in the meantime they help Bowser from the inside, so to speak, in his quest to get back his own castle from Fawful, the most hilariously hilarious villain ever.
Read the review.
Super Scribblenauts
Super Scribblenauts features an overhauled user interface and inclusion of adjectives along with 800 hundred new words. For first time buyers it is a must and even if you already own the first one this is a worthwhile investment.
Read the hands-on preview.
Golden Sun: Dark Dawn
The newest entry in the popular Golden Sun role-playing game series takes places 30 years after the events of Golden Sun and Golden Sun: The Lost Age for the GBA and sees players exploring a planet-sized world. You’ll be able to collect over 70 unique Djinn, spirits that fill their owner with unique abilities, which you’ll use to navigate dungeons and overworld environments.
Tetris Party Deluxe
Puzzle fans will enjoy the traditional Tetris game modes as well as new multiplayer modes that you can enjoy with friends. You can’t go wrong with Tetris!
Professor Layton and Pandora’s Box / Professor Layton and the Unwound Future 
Professor Layton and his apprentice Luke return in two brand new adventures, with new mysteries to solve and new brain teasers and puzzles to challenge players. You can look forward to more hand-drawn animated sequences and voice acting than the previous instalment in the series.
Classic Collection
1) Mario Kart DS
2) New Super Mario Bros.
3) The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
4) Phoenix Wright:Ace Attorney
5) Phoenix Wright: Justice for All,
6) Hotel Dusk: Room 215
7) Professor Layton and the Curious Village
If you found this list useful, then be sure to look over El33tonline’s previous 2010 buyer’s guides for South African gamers to find out what is available on other consoles:
- El33tonline’s Wii Christmas Buyer’s Guide for South African gamers
- El33tonline’s PSP Christmas Buyer’s Guide for South African gamers
- El33tonline’s DLC Christmas Buyer’s Guide
- El33tonline’s PS3 Christmas Buyer’s Guide for South African gamers
- El33tonline’s PlayStation Move Christmas Buyer’s Guide for South African gamers
- El33tonline’s Xbox 360 Christmas Buyer’s Guide for South African gamers
- El33tonline’s Xbox 360 Kinect Christmas Buyer’s Guide for South African gamers
- El33tonline’s Wii Bundle Christmas Buyer’s Guide for South African gamers
- El33tonline’s DS Bundle Christmas Buyer’s Guide for South African gamers
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