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Archived from groups: alt.games.video.nintendo.gameboy.advance (More info?)
I've had my Nintendo DS for about a month now, and I thought it might
be useful to provide a view of the system after prolonged and regular
usage. I should note that the only game I have for the system as of
now is Mario, so my impressions are based on having played that game
(and the Metroid demo).
The first point I'd like to touch upon is one which I've seen stir up a
lot of discussion in other threads:
using the touchscreen for analog control.
I personally have found this mode of input to be very good. Yes, when
I first started playing Mario, there were some growing pains into using
the thumbstrap to do this, but honestly I remember the first time I
played a 3d platformer with an analog stick, there was some getting
used to the controls. Now, using the the touchpad and thumbstrap feels
just as natural to me as using an analog stick.
I also wanted to comment on the touchpad in general. I've seen some
posts refer to the touchpad as having a lot of gimick potential. In my
experience it is a valid feature. In fact, I think it significantly
enhances the portable experience. One way it does this is by giving a
mouselook-like feel in the Metroid demo. For fans of PC-like FPS
games, mouselook is the preferred input mode. Maybe it's just me, but
I don't know too many people plaing Half-life 2 or Tribes Vengeance
with a analog joystick or dpad. I expect to see more FPS games being
developed for the DS than were developed for the GBA, simply because
the controls are now a good fit for the genre.
Also, the touchpad is showcased in Mario through the slew of minigames
you can unlock. Using the touchpad as an input mode really opens up a
lot of variety in the kinds of minigames you can play. This is the
case with the Mario minigames. One example of what I'm talking about
it there is a minigame where you use the stylus to pull back on a
onscreen slingshot to shoot parachuting targets out of the sky. For my
gaming habits and schedule, minigames are ideal. Since a portable is
meant for gaming on the go, minigames that are fun and addictive, but
not time-consuming are perfect. One place I use my DS during my lunch
hour at work.
Another feature of the DS that I think is also perfect for portable
gaming is the sleep mode feature. If you're in the middle of a game,
and you don't have time to or don't want to save, you can just fold the
system closed. It will go into sleep mode (saving you battery life)
and you can just unfold the system and pick up right where you left
off.
As far as folding and unfolding the DS, I've noticed some people say
that the viewing angle for the two screen is not great on the DS. This
was a concern for me too at first. I noticed that if I was sitting
down, and holding the DS in front of me, the viewing angle was fine.
Standing up though, or laying down (if lounging on my couch or gaming
before going to sleep) the viewing angle on the top screen was a little
poor. Like I said, I was concerned until I realized that I could
adjust the viewing angle to make the two screens parallel. This second
vieiwng angle was great for playing while standing or laying down. I
just mention this because if you're like me and don't bother to RTFM,
you might not realize your DS has two viewing angles.
I'm not going to say anything about battery life, sound, screen
brightness or graphics. From reviews of the DS and NG posts, there
seems to be a general consensus, of which I am part of, that all of
these are good. Plus, I really just wanted to provide my take on some
things I noticed others who either owned a DS for only a few days or
didn't own one at all were concerned about.
The only times I've noticed these aspects of the system debated are in
DS vs PSP types of threads. I guess I should say on that note, that
I'm not a Nintendo fanboy. In fact, since I am lucky enough that cost
isn't an issue for me, I will be getting a PSP as soon as it comes
stateside. Since I got a DS first though, I guess my only comment on
the PSP is that I hope Sony does as good a job as Nintendo did in
providing a gaming device that's really well-designed for portable
gaming. I'll have to wait till March though to see.
I hope this post was helpful.
Ollie
I've had my Nintendo DS for about a month now, and I thought it might
be useful to provide a view of the system after prolonged and regular
usage. I should note that the only game I have for the system as of
now is Mario, so my impressions are based on having played that game
(and the Metroid demo).
The first point I'd like to touch upon is one which I've seen stir up a
lot of discussion in other threads:
using the touchscreen for analog control.
I personally have found this mode of input to be very good. Yes, when
I first started playing Mario, there were some growing pains into using
the thumbstrap to do this, but honestly I remember the first time I
played a 3d platformer with an analog stick, there was some getting
used to the controls. Now, using the the touchpad and thumbstrap feels
just as natural to me as using an analog stick.
I also wanted to comment on the touchpad in general. I've seen some
posts refer to the touchpad as having a lot of gimick potential. In my
experience it is a valid feature. In fact, I think it significantly
enhances the portable experience. One way it does this is by giving a
mouselook-like feel in the Metroid demo. For fans of PC-like FPS
games, mouselook is the preferred input mode. Maybe it's just me, but
I don't know too many people plaing Half-life 2 or Tribes Vengeance
with a analog joystick or dpad. I expect to see more FPS games being
developed for the DS than were developed for the GBA, simply because
the controls are now a good fit for the genre.
Also, the touchpad is showcased in Mario through the slew of minigames
you can unlock. Using the touchpad as an input mode really opens up a
lot of variety in the kinds of minigames you can play. This is the
case with the Mario minigames. One example of what I'm talking about
it there is a minigame where you use the stylus to pull back on a
onscreen slingshot to shoot parachuting targets out of the sky. For my
gaming habits and schedule, minigames are ideal. Since a portable is
meant for gaming on the go, minigames that are fun and addictive, but
not time-consuming are perfect. One place I use my DS during my lunch
hour at work.
Another feature of the DS that I think is also perfect for portable
gaming is the sleep mode feature. If you're in the middle of a game,
and you don't have time to or don't want to save, you can just fold the
system closed. It will go into sleep mode (saving you battery life)
and you can just unfold the system and pick up right where you left
off.
As far as folding and unfolding the DS, I've noticed some people say
that the viewing angle for the two screen is not great on the DS. This
was a concern for me too at first. I noticed that if I was sitting
down, and holding the DS in front of me, the viewing angle was fine.
Standing up though, or laying down (if lounging on my couch or gaming
before going to sleep) the viewing angle on the top screen was a little
poor. Like I said, I was concerned until I realized that I could
adjust the viewing angle to make the two screens parallel. This second
vieiwng angle was great for playing while standing or laying down. I
just mention this because if you're like me and don't bother to RTFM,
you might not realize your DS has two viewing angles.
I'm not going to say anything about battery life, sound, screen
brightness or graphics. From reviews of the DS and NG posts, there
seems to be a general consensus, of which I am part of, that all of
these are good. Plus, I really just wanted to provide my take on some
things I noticed others who either owned a DS for only a few days or
didn't own one at all were concerned about.
The only times I've noticed these aspects of the system debated are in
DS vs PSP types of threads. I guess I should say on that note, that
I'm not a Nintendo fanboy. In fact, since I am lucky enough that cost
isn't an issue for me, I will be getting a PSP as soon as it comes
stateside. Since I got a DS first though, I guess my only comment on
the PSP is that I hope Sony does as good a job as Nintendo did in
providing a gaming device that's really well-designed for portable
gaming. I'll have to wait till March though to see.
I hope this post was helpful.
Ollie