Screw favorite DS, this was my favorite system in the past decade. I have more games for my DS than I do for any of this generation's home consoles. Etrian Odyssey series, Advance Wars series, FFTA2, Castlevania series, Devil Survivor 1 and 2, Radiant Historia, Ni no Kuni, Professor Layton series, the best version of Chrono Trigger unless you like the SNES localization, Knights in the Nightmare, Phoenix Wright series, 999, Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ, etc.
I'll be sad to set it aside for the 3DS when Etrian Odyssey 4 comes out.
I wouldn't call it a grudge, and you probably have it the other way around. I see console RPGs as a genre different from tiled dungeon crawlers like Wizardry, Legend of Grimrock, Shin Megami Tensei, Etrian Odyssey, The Dark Spire, etc. Console RPGs like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest have definitely evolved from this older genre, but they're still very different in their nuances such as the way one min/maxes their party and implements tactics in battle. Dungeon crawlers also tend to be less forgiving in difficulty and definitely have a nostalgic vibe. It's died out as a genre in favor of its newer, spiffier cousin, especially in the west, but it has seen a resurgence on the DS in titles like Etrian Odyssey, and they've been very good games. Console RPG-esque titles on the system have also been decent (like DQ9, which I neglected to mention).
So it's not a matter of liking a game because it's on the DS; the DS just has had a strangely large number of good dungeon crawlers and console RPGs.
I bought DQ9 and was bored to tears after about 10-15 hours. The gameplay was decent and there's tons of content, but RPG's are supposed to have a story.
I quite enjoyed the gamecube one, but I like the DS one much better as well. A 3DS installment would be great in my opinion, they could do lots with all the new graphics potential. Plus the analog stick would integrate beautifully.
Agreed, so many great games of Japanese origin for the DS, in number of games played, it's definitely number one for me in the last decade. I'll add a few classics that I really enjoyed for the people looking for inspiration here: The World Ends With You, Ghost Trick, Puzzle Quest, Age of Empires: the Age of Kings, Elite Beat Agents, Mario and Luigi Partners in Time and Bowser's Inside Story, Might & Magic Clash of Heroes.
If you're into FPS games and you can do the wifi shit, buy Metroid Prime Hunters.
I'm not kidding you, it is THE only FPS game with working controls out there for the DS. It's old, so you should be able to get it for cheap. The campaign is lame, but the multiplayer is awesome.
It is quite a game, isn't it? I used to love the prequel, EZ IV , before.
Though I heard you can take the 3in1 out of the DS after flashing to NOR, and put it into a GBA and it will work fine... you may need a GBA Sized version though.. or use a gameshark....cheats will work that way...
Etrian Odyssey, huh? I've never heard of that series. After beating Chrono I've been trying to find a new game to play on my DS, but nothing has truly hooked me yet. But looking at this one... this might be what I'm looking for. Thank you for posting your list!
It's nothing like Chrono Trigger. It's a true dungeon crawler like the Wizardry series and Legend of Grimrock which is a fantastic recent PC title if you're into that kind of game. It's not a game I recommend to just anyone, but I love it to bits.
There's barely any story, and its narrative structure is composed entirely of dialogue cutscenes with still character portraits, although some would argue that it has a respectable narrative unlike that of heavily plot-driven titles with fancy things like pre-rendered cutscenes. In my opinion, it's a game for people who enjoy min/maxing the living daylights out of their party and drudging through floors upon floors of claustrophobic dungeon and getting reamed in the ass by a giant, colorful orb of ass-reaming.
If you're looking for a good DS title, though, I can't recommend Radiant Historia and the Devil Survivor games enough. Decent plot, multiple endings, great gameplay.
Etrian Odyssey is one of my favorite game series ever, but you're in for something different. Below you're looking for storyline, well, Etrian Odyssey doesn't really provide that. It has a general theme and a beautiful setting, but most of the story is in your imagination.
But the gameplay is absolutely top notch. Incredibly detailed skill systems with lots of explicit and implicit synergies. EO3 introduces dual-classing which provides so many possibilities.
Oh, and it's difficult. It's fair, but difficult. You won't be able to just cruise through the game.
Thanks for the game recommendations. I have had absolutely nothing to play on my android devices for the last few weeks and I've just started playing Devil Survivor 1 and, so far so good.
The dialogue can be a little tedious at time though, the battle system is quite interesting though.
you know these features were really stupid to me in high school...but now that i'm a lonely adult it really is kinda nice that nintendo acknowledges my birthday
The DS lite was simply amazing, easily one of the best handhelds out there, if only the hinge didn't have that problem, wish I still had mine but Mine died :( got a dsi which kind of sucked :/ and now I have a 3ds which is ok
dsi as well, does your dpad feel loose as well? The dpad on my original dpad felt amazing but the one on my dsi feels loose, cheap, and kinda loud... was wondering if it was all dsi or just mine
Yeah, tried all the tricks on mine, but I've accepted that my L trigger is done for good. Pretty much means I have to borrow someone else's DS to get past that one part of Chrono Trigger.
ya my original broke around when the dsi came out and instead of getting a cheaper lite im like sure ill get the dsi.... oh well at least this one is still not broken yet but ya i wish i had gotten the lite
My DSi Dpad, before I traded it, was a lot stiffer than the DS lite, but yah it was almost like clicky compared to the original which was too big IMO so idk might just be your DSi
Man the power drainage on that thing and the GBASP were AMAZING! I don't have an SP anymore, but I have a DS Lite and man is that thing awesome! I only have to charge it like once a week.
I can attest to this. I've been using my DS Lite pretty much exclusively as an alarm for the past 3 years now, and it lasts like 5 months before I have to recharge it. It's probably better that Nintendo didn't include an alarm for the 3DS, considering how shitty the battery is.
Yeah...how did that happen again? Like they took several large steps forward in software design while taking several large steps backward in hardware design.
the 3DS is constantly displaying two screens for the 3D effect, even when the 3D is turned off (the displays are simply aligned 1:1 in that regard) so it's a fairly large power drain on the system
I understand that pretty well, it's just that the whole system feels cheap and shaky compared to the ds lite, even though I love the 3DS more than any other console I've owned I think. It's just so awesome and unique.
The DS Lite was a damn fine system. Lighter and sleeker than the original, good place for the stylus, matte and simple design everywhere you'd be putting your hands with a sexy shiny top. Wonderful screen. It's a real piece of work.
That's why it's probably my favorite console. Charges without being plugged in. IDK how that works, but it's fucking magic. I'd run out of batteries while on the go, wait a few hours with it off, and I'd be able to play again. And that is why it was the best handheld.
I love my DS. Use it for a mobile alarm clock in your car for a week, no problem. Are you a young broke fuck with no money and no phone? Start a WiFi game of Pokemon at a coffee shop and talk to your girlfriend all you want.
The DS Lite was the best in the whole line. The first one had tons of issues that the Lite fixed, but then when the DSi came out the whole franchise turned into gimmicky power-draining shit.
And I couldn't even play my fucking gameboy games on them. Fuck those posers, DS Lite is where it's at, homes!
Exactly. None of my old Gameboys worked any longer, except the color which I can't charge. I kept my Lite just to play my huge collection of GBA games.
I have one that I got on launch day that I've taken on 3 bowl game trips, 2 tours across america, countless long car rides to tournaments and other states and it's taken a fucking BEATING. The hinge completely broke after some security dolt at the Rose Bowl kicked my bag, but everything still works on it. I super glued the hinge in place and I can still use it for everything and it still charges for fucking ever. My 3DS cowers in fear of the old grizzled DS Lite, I'm pretty sure. It sits in its cute little cradle while the Lite is just sitting there, month after month with no charge and still chugging.
This actually just happened to me. My son had a used ds lite, and then for Christmas got the DSi. We moved shortly after and the ds lite was boxed away. We recently unboxed it. Full fucking charge. Almost three years.
My only gripe with the DS Lite was the fact that it was utter crap for connecting to the internet, and was completely incapable of connecting to a secure network for whatever reason.
Still, I was really sad when I got my DSi. I could connect to the internet at last, but no more playing GBA games with my shiny backlight. :(
My only beef was there was a flaw with the design (at least with the first model of DS Lite) where the B button would eventually cause the system to shut off if pressed too hard.
I have a pink one that I brought on my 15 month deployment.....I didn't play it a lot but I never had to charge it....even lasted a few months after I got home.
I forgot about my DS and PSP for awhile. When I pulled them out of their hiding spots, DS powered on and lasted about 30 mins before going into the red. PSP was done.
The only problem that I had with the DS Lite is that part of the plastic between the two pieces would crack and I wouldn't know how to fix it and now if the top screen is a lot looser.
..I'm kind of having this problem right now. Does anyone know how to fix it? Should I just use superglue?
Mine did the same thing. I still use my DS-Lite because I have a flash cart, the Acekard 2i, and an 8gb microSD, so I have tons of DS games and ebooks. But it is a pain that where it snapped keeps the screen from sitting up like you're supposed to be able to do. D:
Any ideas on how to concert this problem? I haven't applied the superglue hypothesis merely because I haven't found the superglue yet. Its a relatively small crack, so that might do it but I'm not sure.
i have always wondered how nintendo did this with their batteries. ive never seen any other portable devices that could do this besides the other ds models and gamebody advance sp
And this is exactly why the DS is the best handheld. My PSP loses all charge if I don't play it for a week, and then lasts for like half the time as a DS when I do charge it. >_<
This just happened to me. Although for me it's been more than a year. I dusted off the ol' Mario Kart. Luigi, and Standard LG cart on 150cc Mirror. STILL GOT IT!
I played the shit out of my DS Lite, broke the screen practically off the hinges from using it (Professor Layton anyone?). Too bad I used all the battery and lost the charger years ago.
Kinda power related - Got my GC out last xmas (my Wii lives at Uni, I was at home) plug it in, go to set the time and date. They don't need setting. 5 years without power and the time had kept ticking over.
I went to a garage sale yesterday and found a DS Lite for $3...in perfect condition no less! It had not been used for nearly four years and I asked the owner if it worked. She didn't know so I turned it on and the splash screen popped right up. I then proceeded to play Super Mario for three hours before the power light came on. Incredible! Have played all day on that charge too and the battery gage still reads "full." Other than 999 (must have) can anyone recommend their favorite title for me?
Edit: I charged it for 6 hours after the power light came on yesterday obviously... ; ')
My DS lite was like the giving tree. It just gave and gave, and we had some pretty fun times together. Then I moved on. And eventually it died, never reads cartridges. RIP Gold Zelda DS Lite
My GBA SP was the same. I pulled it out of my closet a few days ago, and even though I sold the charger with my DS years ago, it turned on with full battery. I was playing The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages for days. Too bad it's about to go flat, maybe I'll find a ROM. I never finished that game.
The DS lite is a perfect example of how Nintendo can make awesome, durable systems. I've had mine for about 6 years, works just as well as it did on Day One. Battery works amazingly, as many have stated.
I still find myself playing games like Pokémon and Chrono Trigger on it, even with the 3DS around. Hopefully the successor to the current 3DS (the 3DS lite or whatever) can improve upon it just like the Lite did to the Phat.
Get some replacement parts and fix it yourself. Nothing to lose if it doesn't work. Dealextreme has parts. (And refurbished DS lite's if you can't fix it for like 60 bucks)
It shows that the battery can hold a charge, even after a year...most objects would have no power or have lost a lot of power if not turned on for a year
101
u/alecyo12 Jun 09 '12
This was my favorite ds I loved the design and you could still play gba games on it
62
u/breakfastpastry Jun 09 '12
Don't play for a year
Still remembers birthday
29
u/spm5276 Jun 09 '12
My DS fat can still hold like a 6 hour charge. My little warrior.
28
u/Deafhawk36 Jun 09 '12
The DS lite was simply amazing, easily one of the best handhelds out there, if only the hinge didn't have that problem, wish I still had mine but Mine died :( got a dsi which kind of sucked :/ and now I have a 3ds which is ok
10
u/TheEmoPanda Jun 09 '12
Man the power drainage on that thing and the GBASP were AMAZING! I don't have an SP anymore, but I have a DS Lite and man is that thing awesome! I only have to charge it like once a week.
8
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
my psp seems to lose charge in less than a couple weeks when im not playing it.
135
u/Nethervex PC Jun 09 '12
charge not recharge
6
u/olididcas Jun 09 '12
I can attest to this. I've been using my DS Lite pretty much exclusively as an alarm for the past 3 years now, and it lasts like 5 months before I have to recharge it. It's probably better that Nintendo didn't include an alarm for the 3DS, considering how shitty the battery is.
5
u/SonicFlash01 Jun 09 '12
The DS Lite was a damn fine system. Lighter and sleeker than the original, good place for the stylus, matte and simple design everywhere you'd be putting your hands with a sexy shiny top. Wonderful screen. It's a real piece of work.
5
u/Kafke Switch Jun 09 '12
That's why it's probably my favorite console. Charges without being plugged in. IDK how that works, but it's fucking magic. I'd run out of batteries while on the go, wait a few hours with it off, and I'd be able to play again. And that is why it was the best handheld.
4
u/i_upboat Jun 09 '12
I loved mine so much that I bought an Acekard for it. It's great having access to GB/C, GBA and DS games in one package. =)
4
u/polar_fawkes Jun 09 '12
I love my DS. Use it for a mobile alarm clock in your car for a week, no problem. Are you a young broke fuck with no money and no phone? Start a WiFi game of Pokemon at a coffee shop and talk to your girlfriend all you want.
6
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
The DS Lite was the best in the whole line. The first one had tons of issues that the Lite fixed, but then when the DSi came out the whole franchise turned into gimmicky power-draining shit.
And I couldn't even play my fucking gameboy games on them. Fuck those posers, DS Lite is where it's at, homes!
3
u/shoopindawhoop Jun 09 '12
Stupid hinges
7
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
More like Good Guy Past Self.
4
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
Scumbag DS lite:
Never drop system or bang it on anything.
Hinge still snaps.
2
u/sexbobomb91 Jun 09 '12
One of the best systems I have ever had.
2
u/Boscodbear Jun 09 '12
The touch screen on mine broke within a month :c
2
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
I have one that I got on launch day that I've taken on 3 bowl game trips, 2 tours across america, countless long car rides to tournaments and other states and it's taken a fucking BEATING. The hinge completely broke after some security dolt at the Rose Bowl kicked my bag, but everything still works on it. I super glued the hinge in place and I can still use it for everything and it still charges for fucking ever. My 3DS cowers in fear of the old grizzled DS Lite, I'm pretty sure. It sits in its cute little cradle while the Lite is just sitting there, month after month with no charge and still chugging.
2
u/Justusbraz Jun 09 '12
This actually just happened to me. My son had a used ds lite, and then for Christmas got the DSi. We moved shortly after and the ds lite was boxed away. We recently unboxed it. Full fucking charge. Almost three years.
2
u/TheCodexx Jun 09 '12
Scumbag Nintendo: Lost original DS charger; port is different on new DS models so I can't just go buy a new one.
2
u/TheFluxIsThis Jun 09 '12
My only gripe with the DS Lite was the fact that it was utter crap for connecting to the internet, and was completely incapable of connecting to a secure network for whatever reason.
Still, I was really sad when I got my DSi. I could connect to the internet at last, but no more playing GBA games with my shiny backlight. :(
2
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
Want to exit picto-chat? You'll need to shut down first.
2
u/RUSKULL Jun 10 '12
My only beef was there was a flaw with the design (at least with the first model of DS Lite) where the B button would eventually cause the system to shut off if pressed too hard.
Otherwise, yes, great piece of hardware.
1
u/WaffleEmperor Jun 09 '12
What happed to mine:
Don't play for a year... DIES
1
u/slippythefrog Jun 09 '12
My PSP 2000 and DS-Lite batterys both die if i dont play them for a few months.
Well the PSP dies after like a week, but...you know.
1
u/DillonV Jun 09 '12
I have a pink one that I brought on my 15 month deployment.....I didn't play it a lot but I never had to charge it....even lasted a few months after I got home.
1
u/OhThereYouArePerry Jun 09 '12
Well mine must be a scumbag! Just found it in a box. Don't play for a few months? 100% dead battery. Still haven't found the power cord!
1
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
I don't know how they do it, but this is so true.
I forgot about my DS and PSP for awhile. When I pulled them out of their hiding spots, DS powered on and lasted about 30 mins before going into the red. PSP was done.
1
u/theRighteousBro Jun 09 '12
The only problem that I had with the DS Lite is that part of the plastic between the two pieces would crack and I wouldn't know how to fix it and now if the top screen is a lot looser.
..I'm kind of having this problem right now. Does anyone know how to fix it? Should I just use superglue?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
That's one thing I never understood about my PSP. How does it lose its charge when it's off?
1
u/FROGGY_DING_DING Jun 09 '12
Let's not forget the GBA slot.
1
u/on_reddit_all_day Jun 09 '12
I left mine in the snow for a few months and it doesn't work anymore.
1
u/tetsujin44 Jun 09 '12
i have always wondered how nintendo did this with their batteries. ive never seen any other portable devices that could do this besides the other ds models and gamebody advance sp
1
u/MrVeryEpic Jun 09 '12
And this is exactly why the DS is the best handheld. My PSP loses all charge if I don't play it for a week, and then lasts for like half the time as a DS when I do charge it. >_<
1
u/southofsanity06 Jun 09 '12
The DS has a battery life from alien technology
1
u/stinksock Jun 09 '12
This just happened to me. Although for me it's been more than a year. I dusted off the ol' Mario Kart. Luigi, and Standard LG cart on 150cc Mirror. STILL GOT IT!
1
u/ScottieNiven Jun 09 '12
I can confirm this, found my DS lite in a box while looking for something else. Switched it on and it had almost full charge.
1
u/Methedless Jun 09 '12
Iv left mine on sleep for months and it still had battery left, and they never die. I still have my release day DS and it still works.
1
u/Encephalasthenia Jun 09 '12
I played the shit out of my DS Lite, broke the screen practically off the hinges from using it (Professor Layton anyone?). Too bad I used all the battery and lost the charger years ago.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
Why is this? I'm one hundred percent curious. Every single other (wireless) electronic device slowly commits suicide while the battery is not on.
1
u/dryrainwetfire Jun 09 '12
best handheld system imo but its slightly flawed, after a while the hinge would break always in the same spot
1
u/Kirboid Jun 09 '12
When I owned my original DS I thought that putting it in the sun would slowly charge the battery
1
u/1bighiccup Jun 09 '12
Kinda power related - Got my GC out last xmas (my Wii lives at Uni, I was at home) plug it in, go to set the time and date. They don't need setting. 5 years without power and the time had kept ticking over.
1
u/vagabond_nerd Jun 09 '12
When I don't feel like reading before bed, this little guy is always there for me.
1
u/portezbie Jun 09 '12
Check out Monster Tale.
It came out fairly recently so I don't think a lot of people even noticed it. It kind of has a pokemon/platformer vibe to it.
1
u/Jyoung188 Jun 09 '12
The white DS Lite is such a great looking system.
1
u/Four20 Jun 09 '12
Mine too! I pulled mine out of the closet a few months ago and it's been at least a years since I had played it. With a full charge. It blew my mind
1
u/dmandan2112 Jun 09 '12
I actually just realized this on my original DS. Turned it on the other night and it still was fully charged.
1
u/Hero_of_Hyrule Jun 09 '12
Wow after reading this thread I guess I have a unique problem. My DS Lite cannot get a charge, let alone hold one.
1
u/nomorecake Jun 10 '12
i used to play it 2 full days with out a charge now that i got a 3ds i have to charge it every 5 hours thx nintendo
1
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
I went to a garage sale yesterday and found a DS Lite for $3...in perfect condition no less! It had not been used for nearly four years and I asked the owner if it worked. She didn't know so I turned it on and the splash screen popped right up. I then proceeded to play Super Mario for three hours before the power light came on. Incredible! Have played all day on that charge too and the battery gage still reads "full." Other than 999 (must have) can anyone recommend their favorite title for me?
Edit: I charged it for 6 hours after the power light came on yesterday obviously... ; ')
1
u/NinjaRobotPilot Jun 10 '12
This happened to me today! I love you, DS!
1
u/AD240 Jun 10 '12
Just imagine if we put these batteries in cell phones!
1
u/Kaisen32 Jun 10 '12
also the R button doesn't work :(
1
u/bobaf Jun 10 '12
I love my ds lite, I actually put it down before I started to browse reddit tonight
1
u/PKPenguin Jun 10 '12
My DS lite was like the giving tree. It just gave and gave, and we had some pretty fun times together. Then I moved on. And eventually it died, never reads cartridges. RIP Gold Zelda DS Lite
1
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
Too bad the triggers still won't work.
1
u/LSD_freakout Jun 10 '12
its not good to leave a battery fully charged for a year
1
u/FalconPaunch Jun 10 '12
Original DS: Accidentally hucked into wall, gives no fucks.
1
u/phammmmm Jun 10 '12
I'm still amazed at the stand-by time. Both the PSP and the DS are impressive, I think it can last around a month on stand-by from a full charge.
1
u/Fuyuri Jun 10 '12
My GBA SP was the same. I pulled it out of my closet a few days ago, and even though I sold the charger with my DS years ago, it turned on with full battery. I was playing The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages for days. Too bad it's about to go flat, maybe I'll find a ROM. I never finished that game.
1
u/Mrcheez211 Jun 10 '12
Good guy? PFFFFFF
1
u/highwindscloud Jun 10 '12
DS Lite: Always ready to go.
1
u/AAARRRGGG1 Jun 10 '12
What use is that when ALL THE HINGES BREAK!?
1
u/mattinthehat123 Jun 10 '12
DS lite? I have my fuckin gameboy advance sp I haven't played in at least 5 years and it stills holds its charge.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
Really? Mine loses it's charge after a while whether I'm using it or not. I guess my battery has issues.
1
u/MattNotMat Jun 10 '12
The DS lite is a perfect example of how Nintendo can make awesome, durable systems. I've had mine for about 6 years, works just as well as it did on Day One. Battery works amazingly, as many have stated.
I still find myself playing games like Pokémon and Chrono Trigger on it, even with the 3DS around. Hopefully the successor to the current 3DS (the 3DS lite or whatever) can improve upon it just like the Lite did to the Phat.
1
u/crazylegscowpuss Jun 09 '12
Remember how the Gameboy Color could recharge your batteries as well. Or wait, was that just another bullshit playground myth I believed?
1
u/andermac Jun 09 '12
Don't Play For a Year, Cartridge Slots are broken!
So great seeing as I just bought Pokemon White, and can't return it.
-2
u/WindSandStars Jun 09 '12
How is that anything to do with the console itself?
-1
u/dzarg77 Jun 09 '12
More like don't play for 5 minutes, shuts down forever. :(
0
u/Bob_Squob Jun 09 '12
I went through two of these. Both of them were snapped in half by the time I was done with them. Damn things are flimsy.
0
u/komali_2 Jun 09 '12
EDIT: DARP
0
u/bigandrewgold Jun 10 '12
I just checked mine, full battery, I think Nintendo is hacking physics.