The Top 10 Nintendo DS Games

10)Warioware-Touched!

Warioware always delivers the best entertaining mini game selections, and Warioware-Touched! delivers just what you want, random minigames with no real purpose, but that give you great enjoyment. A game that challenges both reactions and intuition, it has a very limited storyline, but it really doesn’t need one. WARNING-This is one you can become addicted to!

9)Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time

Breaking the mould of traditional Mario and Luigi games, Partners in Time has a very different battle concept, with a turn based system employed, instead of the usual straight up action, jump-on-head style. While this may initially leave some Mario fans sceptical, it should quickly win them over. Once you get used to the new concepts, and the sometimes tricky button combos required to use both the Baby Mario and Luigi and their adult counterparts successfully, it’s a fantastic game. This extra degree of difficulty also means a better challenge, something that is often welcomed by DS gamers. It’s a slightly new direction for Mario and Co. but it’s a good one, in my opinion.

8)Advance Wars Dual Strike

I’ve always been a big fan of the Advance Wars brand, not least for the way in which you can have a lot of fun playing with friends with only one console, as well as the challenge posed by the single player modes. Dual Strike lives up to its predecessors, and builds upon their success. New DS battle modes, allowing two battles to occur at the same time on each screen, further increasing the tactical calculations that have to be made, are just one great new feature. The only qualm I have with this game is the addition of a yet more powerful tank, the Megatank. Some people really like this development, but I think it may render some ordinary units below it obsolete almost entirely. Without this, Dual Strike would be higher than number 8, but regardless, it is a great game, with tough challenges, and best of all, a fun, addictive multiplayer, only requiring one console.

7)Meteos

In a similar vein to Tetris, and similar in its degree of addictiveness, Meteos uses the touchscreen to eliminate falling blocks, but in a different way, by launching them back off the screen towards hostile planets. The more players on this game the better, as you launch blocks onto your friends planets, and they try and send them back. Simple to play, but horribly addictive, it’ll keep you entertained for a long time. Special powerups and ‘fusing’ launched meteos to create new planets and specials is also a great extra feature.

6)Touch Detective 2 1/2 (Two and a half)

Perhaps a lesser known game, but a fantastic concept, this is the second game in the Touch Detective series. Being slightly more in depth and longer than the first puts it ahead of it, but both are worth getting. It’s only downside is frustration! Sometimes it can be very hard to tell what to do in certain situations, but stay calm and keep checking back areas to see if anything has changed. A rather bizarre storyline, but an easy one to follow, and an entertaining one too. Controlling Detective MacKenzie, you will interrogate, find clues, and solve puzzles, all with your trusty stylus! Great fun for all ages, although very young ones may find some of the puzzles a little tricky.

5)SuperMario 64 DS

A reincarnation of a classic, the 150 star-filled game plays really well, good graphics and easy controls make it a quick one to pick up, and one that takes a long time to put down. As each mission is fairly unique, and as there are many different areas, performing fairly similar actions doesn’t let the game down, simply because of the range of different environments you find yourself in, as one of four interchangeable characters.

4)MarioKart DS

This game is just pure fun. Whether playing through the Grand Prix mode, messing about on the Vs. or my favourite, playing across Wi-fi against other racers, Mariokart is a game that never grows old, and really brings out your competitive side. With more Tracks than ever and a hug choice of Karts, Mariokart delivers the ultimate package of racing fun.

3)Pokemon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum

The Pokemon brand may be a worn name now, but it keeps producing in the main run of games. Side games such as Ranger and Dungeon are not as inspiring or as interesting as the original games, but Diamond, Pearl and Platinum do deliver more classic Pokemon, with DS extras. Better graphics, easier item menus and better, more expansive stories, with a quite frankly ridiculous amount of Pokemon, will keep you entertained for a long time. The basic concepts are all there, and just when you thought, ‘surely the next game just won’t be as good?’,these three do give you a really good package, well worth purchasing.

2)The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

I think the move from the 2d versions of Zelda to the 3d DS version was a brave one, and at first I was dubious, but I really got into this game. The controls are much easier to use than other games that utilise mainly touch screen controls. The storyline is as intriguing as all Zelda games, and the puzzles, which are the real high points of all Zelda games, are fresh and challenging. Utilising the maps to make notes and locate treasure and such by writing on them for future reference is a particularly good new feature of this game. A big graphics change has worked well here, and I am looking forward to playing Spirit Tracks soon as well. This game is definitely worth buying, it’ll give your brain a work out, but you’ll have an awful lot of fun smiting enemies at the same time.

1) Scribblenauts

Arguably the greatest concept game for a handheld console, Scribblenauts gave me new hope for the DS brand. With the same formula being constantly repeated for every game, it needed something to liven it up. And Scribblenauts has certainly done that, starting from almost nowhere to become an underground hit. The objective of the game is to solve puzzles and collect ‘Starites’ by creating and interacting with objects, by writing the names of said objects into the game. The freeplay mode is always good for a laugh too, my friends and I messed about on this for hours after I first got the game. Definately worth purchasing!