Now that you’ve bought a Nintendo DS, it’s time to buy a game. Only 1 game? Well, if you choose to stick strictly to DS titles, yeah, since the selection is yet to have matured. Luckily for us, the DS’s Gameboy Advance compatibility opens our little beloved handheld to a wide selection of really top-notch games as we wait for some really stellar titles to appear in the system’s native format. This top ten list will help you get started.
If you didn’t have the good fortune of growing up with this title back in the day, you get the good fortune of experiencing it for the first time now. The GBA version of the classic SuperNES title brings one of the best Zelda games ever made to a new system and a new generation of gamers. Fair warning: don’t piss off the chickens.
While new ports of old games are all fine and dandy, there’s nothing quite like a fresh adventure in an old franchise to get the blood flowing again. The Minish Cap, released in January of 2005, is not just a new Zelda game; it’s a great Zelda game. Being able to use your cap to shrink in size, explore mouse holes, and battle creatures many times your size will drain away your hours in a very positive way.
Nintendo has the advantage of longevity; they’ve been around long enough to build a catalog of titles that never grow old, and few games demonstrate this as well as Super Mario Advance 2. While the double naming schemes of these Mario releases are confusing, there’s no doubt that the accurate recreation of the SuperNES launch title Super Mario World is spot on, and probably the best Mario game ever made.
Hitting us again with the confusing name scheme, Mario Advance 4 is actually the NES title Super Mario Bros 3. Once you get past the nostalgic fondness for the early days of Mario side scrolling, this third installment is probably the best Mario to ever appear on Nintendo’s first home console. While it was later trumped by the game dynamics of Super Mario World, it had the distinct honor of appearing in the Nintendo produced ’80s movie, The Wizard. “I love the PowerGlove. It’s so bad.”
Handhelds are great for their ability to claim either minutes or hours of your time depending on how much you have to spare. Few games are as capable of offering both long and short play times as Mario Kart. This cart driving, Ben-Hur style battle racer lets you hit people with turtle shells, shrink and run over opponents, and compete for that ever-elusive gold cup. While the DS doesn’t support the GBA’s system link features, it’s still a game worth having for the single player experience.
With hours of gameplay packed into a tiny cartridge, Golden Sun is an old-school RPG that takes you back to the glory days of the genre. If you’re like me and have bemoaned the gradual shortening of game lengths as production values climb, you’ll be thrilled with the hours of gameplay Golden Sun offers. Plus, your protagonists can read minds, letting them dig into the dark under thoughts of the people they encounter. How cool is that?
7. Advance Wars:
Advance Wars is one of the few titles on the list specific to the GBA. The highly acclaimed turn-based strategy game offers you a chance to smash armies, blow things up, and out-think your opponent in one of the most complex and detailed presentations on the system. If you’re looking for an experience that’s slower paced and more thought-provoking than Mario or Metroid, Advance Wars might be for you. If it’s your style, you’ll love it, and it’s easily one of the more unique games available.
Metroid Prime: Hunter might be great, but until you get your hands on a copy I’d suggest exploring the Metroid universe from the perspective that made it famous: side scrolling. While it doesn’t offer anything new to the universe, Zero Mission serves up an interesting story, great gameplay, and coverage of the events that take place following the NES Metroid from 20 years ago. While a bit short and a bit easy, it’s still worth having in your collection.
This is harder to recommend now that WarioWare: Touched! has made an appearance on the DS in true touch-screen glory, but if you’re looking for an addictive title that’s a bit cheaper than the DS game, Mega MicroGame$ might be just the ticket. Even though it doesn’t have touch-screen interaction, it’s still brilliantly designed to offer flash-games suited to the controls of the GBA or DS. If Mario & Advance Wars are too slow for you, you’ll find a more hectic experience waiting for you here.
While Aria of Sorrows takes the Castlevania story on a tangent, you’ll still find yourself fighting creatures of the dark in a moody and atmospheric castle of the undead. Though not the only Castlevania on the GBA, it’s generally the best received, and includes play dynamic boosts that set it apart from the others. Aria of Sorrow should appeal to those of you looking for a darker experience than Mario or Metroid, with stakes and whips, even if it is a bit short.
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