Why do people like the Nintendo DS?

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crono738

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Capitano Segnaposto said:
crono738 said:
Zouriz said:
Come on, the DS has one of the best libraries EVAR!

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 1 and 2
Dragon Quest 4,5,6 and 5 is the best Dragon Quest game ever in my opinion
Dragon Quest Monsters Joker
New Super Mario Bros.
Sonic Rush
Mario Kart DS
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin.
Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
Pokemon Heart Gold and Soul Silver
Pokemon Platnium(The best version of the three)
Pokemon Black and White
Jump Ultimate Stars
Kirby's Canvas Curse
The World Ends with You
Contra 4
999
Final Fantasy 3 and 4 remakes.
Kingdom Hearts 358/2
Phoenix Wright
Phoenix Wright: Justice for All
Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations
Investigations: Miles Edgeworth
Contact
Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Warioware D.I.Y.
Warioware Touched
Megaman Star Force 1,2, and 3
Elite Beat Agents

Just to name a few. And that isn't counting the good DSiware games.
The lack of Chrono Trigger/Radiant Historia on that list disturbs me XD

OT: I ended up getting an XL for the same reason as Smeatza: big screens. The edges were also rounded so it got rid of the annoyingly sharp corners of the DSi.
Was there anything even new in the Chrono Trigger for the DS? I am thinking of upgrading if that is the case. If not, I will just play it on my old SNES.
Technically, yes. The game was re-translated to make more sense. Unfortunately this caused Frog to stop speaking in his butchered old English. They also added some new content to try and tie the game into Chrono Cross, but the general consensus is that it royally screws with the original story since it all but states that Lavos never dies and Dalton causes the fall of Guardia. The new dungeons do give you some game-breaking gear though.
 

kortin

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TheBobmus said:
My point is that I don't know anyone who thinks the DS has a better design than a PSP. If you could play all your DS games on a PSP-shaped device, which design would you pick?
What.

I would pick a DS over a PSP any day. The PSP is the system that causes hand cramps for me. It's incredibly hard to hold, you can't play it while laying down without worrying about a sudden hand cramp that could cause it to fall onto your face, it's just irritating as hell to use. I WILL endure it though, because Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep is worth it. That's the only reason I'm using the PSP.
 

KarmaTheAlligator

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TheBobmus said:
other than as a system to play the latest Nintendo portable releases.
That's what I use it for, really. Couldn't care less about the touch screen (or the fact there's two screens), but it does have some fun games.
 

Ando85

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I often prefer consoles to handhelds due to being able to play on a larger screen. I don't really travel enough to make a handheld's portability useful. I kind of agree the design is kind of awkward and I'm not too fond of stylus controls which I also find awkward. The 2 screen setup can be useful at times. Perhaps one showing a map or character stats or something and the other having the actual gameplay. It makes it more convenient than opening a menu every time.

The main reason I have one is there is quite a bit of exclusive DS games that I really enjoyed.
 

DeathQuaker

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I'm with the folks who say it's largely about the games themselves. Lots of good stuff for the DS, and I'll be getting a 3DS soon so I can get the new Rune Factory and Harvest Moon games when they come out.

Could the design be better? Maybe. But I've played with the DS a lot and have never thought, "Gee, I wish this was a different shape." And I never balked on buying it because of what it looked like. It fits in the hand well, and I like that it closes up because I feel like the controls are protected when I'm carrying it around (plus the suspend on close function).

There are specific games that are not designed well for the controls--I can't remember the name of the game, but I remember one game where I was sort of struggling to press buttons and use the stylus at the same time -- but that's more about bad design than bad controls. Most games use the controls well, and the ones that use the touch screen well do it to great effect (physics games where you draw in the various apparatus you want to make things work properly come to mind). I especially like the games that play with ALL the features, like the microphone and such (read the article on this site called "Rub, Wiggle, and Blow" IIRC for more on innovations used in DS gameplay).

I guess they could come up theoretically with a better design but on the other hand, I've never felt awkward using it or ever felt like it was a bad thing to play on, so why fix what isn't broken?

And I definitely wouldn't want it to look like the picture of the Gameboy in the OP. That looks less portable because you can't close it and it doesn't fit into a pocket or pouch as easily as the nice smooth rectangle the DS is, and I'd miss having 2 screens.
 

GrimHeaper

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TheBobmus said:
GrimHeaper said:
Also I could play it for 8 hours straight with no cramps because of the DS's design.
There was no need for grip when it's small and the edges never really touch you.
As someone with big hands, the few DS variants I've used have been exceptionally uncomfortable to hold. And even more so to use the stylus at the same time.
Solution to that use your fingers.
Yes that's what I said use your most useful tool.
I had a screen protector so no worries.
 

RatRace123

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Well, I still have the original, huge DS, even after all this time. I prefer its design to the DSi.


Love that design, and it's incredibly durable. My DS has taken a few floor falls over its lifespan, and it still keeps on keepin' on.
Plus it had (has, I think they're still making games for it) a very very expansive library. They have games for all tastes.
 

Denamic

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I don't own a DS, but I've played quite a bit on one I borrowed from my friend.
I cannot enjoy its design.
Even when not using the stylus, the thing just doesn't sit well in my hands.
After extended play, it feels like I've got a severe case of carpal tunnel syndrome in my hands.
Whereas I'll only be somewhat uncomfortable after the same amount of time spent on my GBA or PSP.
 

lord.jeff

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Other then being able to view inventory and maps without pausing the game as well as games that make the touch screen part of it's main controls, I like the folding design it keeps the screens a lot safer compared to the constantly exposed screen of the PSP, the thing it needs is a dual analog the PSP does have that.
 

Bad Jim

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TheBobmus said:
I don't know anyone who thinks the DS has a better design than a PSP. If you could play all your DS games on a PSP-shaped device, which design would you pick?
I'd pick the DS over the PSP. Simply because it's a bit smaller and fits in my pocket better. It's pretty fundamental really, the PSP cannot hope to beat non-portable systems except for portability but isn't as portable as I'd like it to be.

Also, the PSP screen can get scratched, while the DS screens are safely folded up while you carry them around.

That said, my 3DS screen has gone dark, a problem that is inherent in systems with folding lids, including laptops.
 

Lunar Templar

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TheBobmus said:
Lunar Templar said:
TheBobmus said:
Zouriz said:
The point ->

You <-

It may have a good library, but what makes its design better than the design of any of the gameboys?
pretty sure the software is the draw, not the design.

it has a crap ton of good games and really, only the DS like was a 'hard to hold' on a count of being to small, the DS, DSi and 3DS all fit comfortably on hand
My point is that I don't know anyone who thinks the DS has a better design than a PSP. If you could play all your DS games on a PSP-shaped device, which design would you pick?
doesn't really matter to me, i don't see any issue with the DS design, cept when the shrank it, then it kind sucked, but *shrugs* the DS is over all fine in my book, and since this is really the only time i've heard any one complain about it, i'm gonna go ahead and say, i'm far from the only one that thinks that
 

Razoack

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Personally, i felt that the GBA was clunkier than the DSi and beyond, while the DS felt more natural using.
The DS as a concept was great, however it just let down by a lack of innovative gameplay ideas.
The only games that really used the touch pad well that spring to mind was Scribblenauts and The World Ends With You.
 

Faladorian

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Zouriz said:
Come on, the DS has one of the best libraries EVAR!

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 1 and 2
Dragon Quest 4,5,6 and 5 is the best Dragon Quest game ever in my opinion
Dragon Quest Monsters Joker
New Super Mario Bros.
Sonic Rush
Mario Kart DS
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin.
Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
Pokemon Heart Gold and Soul Silver
Pokemon Platnium(The best version of the three)
Pokemon Black and White
Jump Ultimate Stars
Kirby's Canvas Curse
The World Ends with You
Contra 4
999
Final Fantasy 3 and 4 remakes.
Kingdom Hearts 358/2
Phoenix Wright
Phoenix Wright: Justice for All
Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations
Investigations: Miles Edgeworth
Contact
Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
Warioware D.I.Y.
Warioware Touched
Megaman Star Force 1,2, and 3
Elite Beat Agents

Just to name a few. And that isn't counting the good DSiware games.
This.

The DS's library is very ambitious, especially for a handheld.

Mario and Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story
This is a god among not only handheld titles, not only RPGs, but all mario games. Love love love this game, coming from somebody who has always hated turn-based games until i played this game and found my respect for them.
 

geK0

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I like the touch screens for moving in some games and in RPGs, it's somehow easier than button pressing I find. Also, it gives a lot of leverage for developers to make certain mechanics that wouldn't be possible otherwise; but mostly it just makes a nice menu screen.
 

sextus the crazy

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I thought the DS was pretty ergonomical; I'd choose it over the PSP if only because the PSP gets smudges n' shit more noticeably.

But to repeat what everyone else has said, software is much more important than hardware.