Nintendo DS Launch today

[Arrrhalomynn]

Today the Nintendo DS got launched. Who got one and what do you think of it? I'm rather curious.

[Antimind]

I didn't get one but I did play one yesterday at GameStop. At first I was like ok, Metroid. Typical FPS but why the fuck can't I jump? After some pondering I walked away and I was talkin to this dude for a bit (employee) an it turns out that you need to tap the touch screen twice with the stylus to jump. Total bullshit IMO. The worst part is, if you're prone to usin your left hand to write and happen to have the stylus in your left hand you are SCREWED.

I'd also like to note that the current list of future releases doesn't look promising at all. I'm a huge Nintendo fangirl so negativity coming from me must mean that it's gotta suck...hehe

[Lord Nepenthean]

That really sucks.  I really wanted Nintendo to do well against PSP, but when the two screen thing got announced I was kind of skeptical.  If you of all people is saying it's bad, that is a horrible sign.  I'll still have to try it out for myself eventually, but PSP is looking cooler and cooler all the time (which surprises even me that I am saying that).

I didn't even know this thing was coming out already.  Has a PSP release date been set?  Predictions were December, but I haven't read anything about it in a while.

[Tynstar]

Like any handheld I will wait til it is about 50 bucks to get one. For some reason I just dont collect or play handhelds. :-/

[Odonadon]

I sold both my  GBA SPs on eBay for the DS.  Was going to pick it up today, but by the time National Treasure let out (goot movie, by the way) Futureshop was closed.  I think I'll have to mosey on over at lunch tomorrow or after work and pick it up.  Looking forward to Mario DS - never did play Mario 64 very much, though it was a blast.

OD

[danvx6]

almost everyone i know agrees with me that the stylus things is retraded, especially the Metroid Prime Hunters controls *cringes in pain*

[Odonadon]

Well, bought the DS at lunch today.  My thoughts?  Well, I try not to judge too quickly, but this is one of the best systems I've had in a long time.

After playing the demo for Metroid, and having bought Mario DS, I can honestly say this thing rocks.  Metroid's controls are fantastic - either using the stylus to aim, or using the "thumb pad".  I was very skeptical at first, but using the touch screen gives you control never before seen with an analog stick.  Eat THAT PSP!

Mario DS is great.  I was worried how it would play without an analog thumbstick - digital works just fine.  The enhancements and mini-games are definetely a big addition, and well worth playing.

Overall I am very surprisingly impressed.  I can't wait until online play is going strong - yes, via 802.11 - better get your wifi routers out.

OD

[Izret101]

To bad the chances of you just happening along another player with their DS on playing the exact same game as you is pretty slim.
One good thing is anyone who wants to collect DS the games are coming out at a relatively slow and steady pace for now. 3-7 games a week.
Alot of them sound like decent titles too.
Kids over at Nintendo are already packing in their GBA's and posting about it in the Legacy system section over there. So much for the "Third Piliar of Nintendo".

[Lord Nepenthean]

I got a chance to try out Metroid and Mario on my friend's DS the other day.  Mario DS is cool, but in the fifteen minutes I played the game, the second screen was 100% worthless.  

Metroid was actually really cool.  I was very surprised by the fact that the touchscreen actually does give great control.  As OD said, it is about as good as a keyboard/mouse combo, and certainly better than any standard controller (for an FPS).  However, I do have a major problem with this.  Since one hand holds the stylus, it isn't holding the unit itself.  Thus, the other hand gets really, really tired and cramped up trying to compensate.  There is a little thumb thingie you can use so you can still support the DS's weight with both hands, but this isn't quite as good in terms of control.  Again, the second screen was 100% worthless for the time I played, aside from being a cool controller (though you could have had a touchpad instead to save power).

[Odonadon]

You would have to use the thumb "shoe" thingy in order to hold the DS as well.  The only problem with this is the sensitivity of the thing is WAY too low - you will have to lift your thumb and move it across the screen multiple times just to do a 360.  In the retail version, I hope to god they include a sensitivity setting.

OD

[Antimind]

I broke down and got a DS yesterday. Something I noticed right away is that GBA titles appear brighter and more colorful on the DS. I can honestly compare it to the difference between playing a GBA game with the Game Boy Player and on the GBA itself.

I'm really hoping for an organizer program that at the very least includes some form of e-mail. Wifi chat/messenger would be nice but for now I think that's hoping for too much. For now I think multiplayer and chat options are reserved for those who have buds with a DS or those who live near a school...lol

[Izret101]

I thought the control for Metroid on DS sucked of course i was forced to use it in the stand with a chained stylus so that could also be the reason.
I won't make a definate opinion until i get to use one that is not chained and locked down though.

[TraderJake]

I bought my DS a Best Buy on launch day (stupid working there), and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoy the system. I bought Mario 64 DS also on launch day, and I find myself consumed more so by the minigames than the actual game. Both are really good, but I think I actually enojy the mini games on the game a little more. There is something addicting about bouncing Marios all over the touch the screen. I also bought Feel the Magic: XX/XY, and I have to say that this game is also very neat. It is very much like Wario Ware, only you're trying to impress a girl with crazy stunts (mini games), and the games are no where near as fast paced as Wario Ware. So far, I think this system is quite neat, and I look forward to seeing what innovative games they come up with in the future.

[sharp]

Just tried it for a few minutes today (yes this Europe we're late), I was kind of impressed. Ok at the store it wasn't a good place to play metroid, but it looked promissing and gameplay is a matter of getting used to it i think. Also the gab games looks much better on a ds. But the negative thing arre the small buttons and the faact it's quite big and heavy. (but the first is maybe just me, I wanted to buy  X-Box again, but Micro$oft stopped making the decnt orginal controllers, and I can't play with those stupid S Controller)

[Izret101]

I asked my dad to get me one for Xmas yesterday.
I don't know if he will for sure or not but i figured since im not to sure on other stuff i want still i might as well get DS.
Out of al the stuff i asked him for i wanted this the most.

So lets see what happens. Hoping i get one but it is still a bit on the pricey side.