Just got the DS, Impressions inside

[Jasonkhowell]

Yeah, playing SM64DS right now. Few things:

-Control in SM64DS is iffy, but the graphics are supperior to the N64

-The game goes into sleep mode when you close it, great feature.

-The two extra buttons are rather annoying, but still eh...

-The touch screen is pretty good, but it requires you to push down on it a little.

-It uses the same Battery recharger as the SP

I havn't even tried the picto-chat, Metroid Prime: Hunters demo, nor a GBA game, but I will say this: This IS going to stay in the race for handheld. Props to you, nintendo.

[Jasonkhowell]

Also, I just tried a GBA game with it. While the screen ratio is smaller then the GBA's, the screen is MUCH sharper and smoother.

[Jasonkhowell]

Just played MP:H, and I wasn't too impressed. Controls were hard to handle, and it felt more like a Doom clone then the previous metroid prime games. Also, the DS cartriages are a pain in the ass to get out, since there is no eject button. Picto chat works quite well, though.

[Funkstar De Luxe]

Thanks for the info dude, keep it coming!

What do you mean smoother and sharper? Higher FPS and better screen?

Tony

[Evangelion-01]

i think he means that the lcd screen is better on the ds than on the gba. therefore, better :D

[Jasonkhowell]

Thanks for the info dude, keep it coming!

What do you mean smoother and sharper? Higher FPS and better screen?

Tony

In the SP, you had this wierd blur to even out the graphics, but because the screen is brighter (Higher resolution, as well), it looks more polished then the SP. The FPS is about the same, though (Then again, I only tried it with one GBA game, so eh...)

[Greatsaintlouis]

Apparently the DS' screen is completely backlit, which helps give some extra clairity and color definition to GBA games. The SP featured front-lit backlighting.

[asnozz]

very dumb question....has the DS been released in the states or somthing? :smt033

[Alien Workshop]

very dumb question....has the DS been released in the states or somthing? :smt033

Yes ;-)

I was at my "local" Gamestop the other day, and there was one on display. I checked it out, and I have to say Nintendo did a good job. I just wish they would have used a little analog stick instead of a D-Pad. I was going to buy one, but they were out of stock :smt009

[TheDeathcoaster]

very dumb question....has the DS been released in the states or somthing? :smt033

Yeah. Didn't you know, Nintendo of Europe like to keep us Europeans from ever getting any games.....Its only because of a small rebel team within NoE HQ that we ever get any releases.

Many bothans died to get Animal Crossing released in the UK.

[Funkstar De Luxe]

very dumb question....has the DS been released in the states or somthing? :smt033

Yeah. Didn't you know, Nintendo of Europe like to keep us Europeans from ever getting any games.....Its only because of a small rebel team within NoE HQ that we ever get any releases.

Many bothans died to get Animal Crossing released in the UK.

Yup, End of March 2005 and 129.99

Nintendo can suck my balls for that. I can get on from the states, right now for cheaper.

I'm really looking forward to getting one but I'm going to import - just so NoE don't get my sale. I can't believe the delay in getting it here - what the fuck are they doing?

[Funkstar De Luxe]

Is it an LCD or TFT screen?

[asnozz]

im importing my PSP from japan :smt023

dont blame me, this will be my first Sony console.......just all these simpsons episodes i have, need to played on the move :-D

[cahaz]

thx for sharing your experience, Jasonkhowell. :-D


i have some question for you :

1- What about playing sm64 with a cross? is it playable?

2- Metroid prime hunter is only a deathmatch fps, or there's
levels and a story?

3- did you tested picto chat with a friend? what about the speed it send and receive? it is acceptable? ( i hope so , we could see
great games online if its fast enough.)

4- Actualy , apart the characters models, sm64DS look worse
than sm64 when you download videos of it. but you say it looks
better, is it because the game on the ds play on the resolution
it was made to be or something? (uhh....my question seems a
wierd don't you think? i hope you can still understand it :-D )


thx.

[Greatsaintlouis]

Just got back a while ago from picking mine up. Overall, there's a really nice build quality, but the thing is a bit heavy. And I mean, beats-a-Game-Gear heavy. It's not overwhelmingly large, but you'll definately want to be able to rest it in your lap if you're gaming for a long time. The stylus is a tad short, but doesn't come off as feeling cheap or crappy.

I got two games with mine, the included Metroid Prime: First Hunt demo and Feel The Magic: XX/XY. First Hunt is rather limited in the gameplay, it's mostly a, "Look! Metroid Prime works on the DS! Coming Soon!" sort of thing. The control scheme where you use the D-pad to move and the stylus to look works great if you leave the stylus alone and use the thumbstrap thingie, but even then it feels a bit awkward at times - it's about halfway between playing a FPS with a dual-stick controller and a keyboard and mouse, and is suitably awkward because of this. Using the thumbstrap, however, loses a bit of the sensitivity with the stylus, and I found it hard to switch to missles or morph ball mode - which, of course, you do by taking your eyes off of the main screen and tapping at icons on the touch screen. This could be a cool game on release, but don't hold your breath.

Feel The Magic: XX/XY, however, is sheer genius, and I won't even attempt to do it justice with a lousy review. Think Made In Wario with Sega's own magical touch. If you have a DS, this is definately a must-own.

GBA games look wonderful with the new screen, however, the tradeoff is that the DS buttons are a bit smaller and closer together than on a GBA SP. Not nessicarily a bad thing, just a little different.

Overall, it seems Nintendo did a good job on this console, and if games like Feel The Magic keep coming out for it, it should fare nicely in the next round of handheld wars.

[Jasonkhowell]

thx for sharing your experience, Jasonkhowell. :-D


i have some question for you :

1- What about playing sm64 with a cross? is it playable?

2- Metroid prime hunter is only a deathmatch fps, or there's
levels and a story?

3- did you tested picto chat with a friend? what about the speed it send and receive? it is acceptable? ( i hope so , we could see
great games online if its fast enough.)

4- Actualy , apart the characters models, sm64DS look worse
than sm64 when you download videos of it. but you say it looks
better, is it because the game on the ds play on the resolution
it was made to be or something? (uhh....my question seems a
wierd don't you think? i hope you can still understand it :-D )


thx.

1. Funny you should ask that. Unfortunatly, no matter what way you play it , there are still a few parts that are nearly impossible, such as the level before the first bowser fight.

2. From what I have seen (and played), it does have a few practice missions and a multiplayer option, but no story so far.

3. Unfortunatly, besides a few people I work with in nashville, I am the only person I know who has the DS. I'll try to test it later, but I dare say it's about the same as the Wireless adapter for the GBA, more or less.

4. There are quite a few parts that were toned down (one of the blur filters is gone, making some of the bosses look meh and the stages on par with the PSone), but it's still very impressive overall (and that they could at least try to get the GCN character models on there, although they still lack the filter).

EDIT: I should clarify 4 a bit better. What I mean to say is that certain areas look bad, while others are much better then the origional. For example, outside the castle looks like crap now, while that sky level (Yeah, forgot the name), looks quite good.

[XerdoPwerko]

Haven't yet gone to theck prices at the black market... but the god damn robbers at MercadoLibre are charging up to 399 dollars for it.
399 DOLLARS! DAMMIT!!!

The lowest price I've found is 2800 pesos, which would amount to like... 250 dollars. Those sleazy lying bastards. Then they wonder why people like me have to resort to piracy and the black market!

God damn "legitimate" businessess and internet scammers!

I FUGGIN Hate these scammers... :angry

(and they have also managed to mis-spell like 3 english words. Not that my english is shakespearianly magnificent, but sheesh, they make my people look BAD)

Hoping to find one for 200 dollars at the black market once the semester ends and I'm free.

[Greatsaintlouis]

Cahaz, apparently the release of Metroid Prime: Hunters is going to have some story behind it, but the Metroid Prime: First Hunt bundled with the DS is mainly demoing the deathmatch aspect of the game.

[einbebop44]

I played this at the local ebgames today. Had great fun sending pictures of penises to my buddy. :smt043

The control was smooth. Metroid Prime was just ghetto though. Too dark.

I'd buy one...but my Ebgames said they weren't getting them until after Christmas! :-( :-(

[Jasonkhowell]

Bad news for those who may have thought a few of the wireless adapter games may have worked (AKA: PKMN FR/LG). Tried going into the union room and it didn't work. I haevn't tried it with any other GBA link-ups, so eh..