Top 5 DS games you have to play…

Professor Layton DS series

For professor Layton I can’t suggest just one game without suggesting another so I’ll just suggest the whole lot. The Layton games are well crafted puzzle games all tied together by a charming story that is helped by Saturday morning cartoon style animation and top notch English voice acting. I’ve never heard the ports of the game, but I would hope that it carries the same voice acting with subs, it’s that good. The puzzles in the Layton games are not ridiculously tough. They are technical and when you figure them out you will have that moment of euphoria that only a Layton game can offer. The story is about a detective and his companions that solve strange mysteries all the while solving puzzles along the way. It’s a puzzle game about puzzle games.

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings

Final Fantasy games have always been the go to titles for JRPG enthusiast and though over the past few main series titles they have lost most of what made FF games great in the first place their off shoot series of titles have been amazing. One of these amazing titles is FF Xii: Revenant Wings. This somewhat sequel is not a typical JRPG like the original game it is based on, but as a real time strategy RPG I find it offers more than its predecessor in some ways. The story follows the cast of the original FF XII along with some new characters and a new plot. This titles style also allows for the use of enemy units via a new summoning system which adds a new dynamic to the gam that I rather like. Add the smooth stylus controls, plus those wonderful sprites and we have the makings of a cult classic.

Pokémon mystery dungeon

Speaking of cult classics Pokémon mystery dungeon is the poster child of cult classics. It’s the kind of game that either you like or dislike. There is no middle ground. Even among the BSB editors we have those that like the titles and those that hate it all the same. I’m of course in the wagon of love for these titles. These games are Dungeon styled RPGs that offer a unique new way to fall in love with the Pokémon series all over again. The original games were first released on both SP and DS at the same time and I played both. Both are exactly the same in the story department, but like the main series feature some differences when it comes to which Pokémon you can acquire along your adventure. Another trait this game shares with the main series is the ability to send Pokémon from one person’s game to another. This and rescue missions however the only form of multiplayer that these games offer and I like it that way. This allows for the player to not feel as rushed to complete the story all to get into the multiplayer action. On the other hand not having active multiplayer does not encourage replayablity so it’s a one shot wonder, a long one.

Elite beat agents

If you listen to the Podcast (Buttonsmashers Podcast, or the Legend of podcast) you may have head me mention this game on numerous occasions. It is a big part of why I love the DS so much, and why I fell in love with rhythm games. The simple stylus controls make it easy to get into add to that classic music from the 90s, 20s and before and you have the makings of a gem. I did not think much of this title when I first saw it on a trailer, but due to encouragement from a friend I ended up sampling it and fell in love. The animation for the story (yes it has a story, a good one) is entertaining. It’s a big reason to replay missions over and over just to make sure you see all of it while trying to keep up a great high score. Elite beat agents is a charming game that every DS/3DS owner should own in their collection. If ever it gets a re-release or a sequel in the eshop I’ll probably be among the first to download and complete it.

The world ends with you

Why is this game not bundled with DS/3DS systems? No, seriously why? TWEWY is and shall forever be my favourite DS game and one of my top 5 JRPGs I’ve ever played. A story of a boy that knows nothing, has no one, cares about nothing and learns to care, love, feel. That’s the plot of the game in a nutshell. This game is set in a fictional version of one of Japan’s most lively cities. Set in the modern-day Shibuya shopping district of Tokyo, The World Ends with You features a distinctive art style inspired by Shibuya and its youth culture. What this means is that the game looks like something that some punk kid spray painted on a wall. Its soundtrack is pulled from popular Japanese rock, hip hop, and electronica. I would like to write more about the story, but If I do I risk spoiling what will be one of the best story telling experiences you could have. Yes you could go watch a review or a let’s play, but I urge you not to.  A small portion of plot was spoiled for me and boy do I wish that it hadn’t been. It’s the kind of game that you lock yourself in your room all weekend to complete. So if you have not played it yet and you have a DS/3DS get a copy on Amazon, Ebay, gamestop, or where ever you can. It’s 999% worth it.

Notable mentions:

• 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors
• Mario kart 7
• Inazuma eleven DS series (remake of the first game on 3DS)
• Castlevania DS series
• Legend of Zelda DS series

So did you like my list? Is there any title you think deserved to be on the list? Let me know in the comments.