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I'm working at GAME these days and I'm considering making use of my discount to expand my console collection a bit with a DS, I've been out of the hand held arena since the Gameboy itself. So, I'm turning to the G&C forum for some thoughts on what are must have games for the DS and also the GBA since it takes them...a little bit about the games and why you think they're a must have would be good too. I'm looking for lots of suggestions, so include all the top ones you know of...after all, if I'm going to abuse my discount I ought to do it in style

The Phoenix Wright games are worth checking out, at least the first one to see if you like the style. Also, Phantom Hourglass is a must-have. There's the obvious Metroid Prime Hunters, though you'll either love or hate the interface on that one. Trauma Center is a good one that makes full use of the DS's interface. Then there's Final Fantasy XII Revenant Wings that just came out.

Even if you don't like the genre, have a look at Advance Wars (DS version preferably, as it has a lot of the old maps, but the GBA games are good too). They're deceptively simple strategy games that really suck you in.

Most of the big Nintendo franchises have good games on both systems. Zelda: Minish Cap, the two Mario Kart games (but given the choice, go for the DS version, it's got free online play), Pokémon if that's your cup of tea. The first Wario ware game on the GBA was a blast, there's three or so now but they all get decent reviews. Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time is pretty fun, but not really a priority.

Avoid Phoenix Wright; the "games" are hyped up the wazoo but they're more a kind of semi-interactive cartoon. If you don't like the style, there isn't any gameplay to keep them interesting.

ETA: quick links to GBA reviews here, DS here.

The chicks around me dig Cooking Mama, but that might just be them.

The GBA/DS has the best Castlevanias to date, in order I'd place them Dawn of Souls->Aria of Sorrow->Portrait of Ruin->Harmony of Dissonance->Circle of the Moon. Circle of the Moon I'd rate as a good game, the rest of them however are great.

I'd also second Advanced Wars DS. The touch screen makes the game much much easier to play than the GBA versions, since you don't have to use the D-Pad to move the cursor all over the map.

All the good Final Fantasies, the Remakes of 1-3, and the Port+1 of 5-6 as well as Tactics Advanced are all good if your into those games. Legend of Phantasia is good too. Final Fantasy Tactics Advanced is a must, the others if you into them.

There is no reason not to get Mario Kart DS. Its like playing a better version of Mario Kart 64 online with tons of people.

Tetris DS is like heroin. *subconciously slaps his forearm trying to find a vein*

EDIT: How could I forget! Puzzle Quest! Its like Bejeweled RPG and as stupid as that sounds its pulled off rather nicely.

Best console of this hardware generation, imo

My picks:

Pokemon Diamond/Pearl
Castlevania: Dawn of Souls
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
The Legend of Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass
New Super Mario Bros.
Mario Kart: Double Dash
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker
Tetris DS
Elite Beat Agents and the original Osu!! Tatakae!! Ouendan!!
Etrian Odyssey
Trauma Center: Under the Knife
Lunar Knights
Phoenix Wright (all)
Electroplankton
Advance Wars: Dual Strike
Contra 4
Squeenix remakes

I bet I've forgotten a bunch as well.

It all depends on what kind of games you're into, obviously. To be honest, I've never been much for the really gimicky or exercise-type games. My personal library consists almost exclusively of the more conventional adventure, strategy, platform and role playing titles.

But that's the nice thing about the DS: There's a lot of variety there and you should be able to find something right up your alley. I haven't regretted the purchase yet.

My favorites:

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
New Super Mario Bros.
The Phoenix Wright series
Pokemon Diamond/Pearl
Yoshi's Island DS
LoZ: Phantom Hourglass
Mario Kart DS
Super Mario 64 DS

Panzer Tactics might be worth a look if you like strategy games. Been enjoying that one the past couple weeks.

Panzer tactics isn't that good.

88mm PaKs in 1939? Tigers and Panthers in the winter of 1942? Not to mention the entire "lose 5 core units, and you lose the battle!" bit.

I would add Megaman ZX to the DS side.

For the GBA, I recommend digging up the following:

Golden Sun series
Metroid Fusion and Zero Mission, if Prime Hunters turns out not to be your thing.
Super Robot Taisen Original Generation 1 and 2.
Super Mario Advance series (Remakes of the NES and SNES Mario games)

Elite Beat Agents is a game that simply couldn't be done on any other console, hand-held or otherwise.

It's a music rhythm game, but even if you don't like music rhythm games, you should like this.

Hell, even if you don't like the music in the game, you should like it.

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:Hell, even if you don't like the music in the game, you should like it.

Yeah, don't bother looking at the song list.

You will enjoy songs you would never listen to the radio when you start getting into the beat pattern and the scenario.

I would heartily recommend these three games due to the ability to pick up, load and play a "quick fix" game.

Meteos

Planet Puzzle League

Geometry Wars.

These three games are quite easy to pick up and start playing.

Squad Command is actually quite fun, particularly if you ever played chaos gate, and even I suppose if oyu don't really like 40k.

The Dreadnaught level is a pain in the arse though, fucking thing takes out everyone in a turn of shooting almost!

General Zod wrote:The Phoenix Wright games are worth checking out, at least the first one to see if you like the style. Also, Phantom Hourglass is a must-have. There's the obvious Metroid Prime Hunters, though you'll either love or hate the interface on that one. Trauma Center is a good one that makes full use of the DS's interface. Then there's Final Fantasy XII Revenant Wings that just came out.

I find it kind of sad that I just figured out that your avatar is from one of the Phoenix Wright games.

But yeah I recomend getting Advance Wars.

Oh, and get Contra 4.

Hard as hell, but equally fun. If you ever loved the old 8/16-bit Contras (Original, Super C, Operation C, Alien Wars, and Hard Corps), you owe it to yourself to play this game.

Plus, us western fans finally get to play around with a Probotector!

Plus, us western fans finally get to play around with a Probotector!

Well Probotector was PAL Land mainly.

Chōsōjū Mecha MG is like the best silly robot game ever. (feels a little bit like Blast Corp)

the Ace's Attorney are definetely to get.

on GBA:Rythm Tengoku is the perfect mix between wario ware and Ouendan.
in the same minimalist way: the Bit generations games are also pretty cool.

and yeah get Contra 4

If you like point & click adventure games, or noir mysteries, then I would add Hotel Dusk: Room 215 to the list. A fun game with a nicely engrossing story, although it can be difficult to find in the stores now.

I've heard good things about the Zelda game for the DS. Phantom Hourglass.

Vampiress_Miyu wrote:I've heard good things about the Zelda game for the DS. Phantom Hourglass.

It's Windwaker, but portable. A lot of Zelda titles suffer repetition, though I like the uniqueness of the DS functions. I really need to spend time on it though, since I've neglected my DS what with work and my iPod with Heroes and Prison Break on.

Another good pick up and play title is the 42 All Time Classics compilation, especially online.

Word of warning for Phantom Hourglass. There is one dungeon that you need to enter multiple times in order to progress the plot. It's timed, there are invincible enemies you have to sneak around in every room, and you have to redo the areas you cleared in previous incursions every time you come back. The rest of the game is great, basically Wind Waker with easier ship controls, but I disliked that dungeon so much that at one point, when I realised I had to go back to it, I turned off the DS and never played the game again.

Grandmaster Jogurt wrote:Word of warning for Phantom Hourglass. There is one dungeon that you need to enter multiple times in order to progress the plot. It's timed, there are invincible enemies you have to sneak around in every room, and you have to redo the areas you cleared in previous incursions every time you come back. The rest of the game is great, basically Wind Waker with easier ship controls, but I disliked that dungeon so much that at one point, when I realised I had to go back to it, I turned off the DS and never played the game again.

So because you suck at that level it's terrible?

Forced stealth levels ARE a really stupid design element.