Reviews
From The DS Ultimate Wiki
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[edit] Information
There have been many reviews written by other DS Ultimate members, this is a collaboration of some of the more popular games. This compilation is far from completion.
[edit] Metroid Prime: Hunters (by charpeedarth07)
well im gonna pretty much review metroid prime hunters for the DS
start with some pros and cons
pros: -doesnt take long to learn the controls -although lacking graphical capability, it makes up for it with superb gameplay -in my opinion, greatest FPS for the DS of this time -getting a kill is more satisfying in thsi game than others because 1v1 battles can last up to about 10 minutes because of amo and health pick ups -^^^yes that is a good thing
cons: -scratches can be found if u use the touch screen to aim -L button may be a bit worn out after a while -if ur into graphics well...they can be shifty -ur morph ball camera might go into funky camera angles in singleplayer mostly -HACKERS, the game has been out so thus resulting in hundreds of hacks
Additional info
-learning time: 10 minutes -Total gametime from start to finish on average-about 30 hours if u do everything -uses dual screens to make the gaming fun,FUN shown below
the bottom screen is used for aiming and it is touch sensitive, very fun. top screen shows your hunters field of vision,spans pretty far and is life-like
available hunters TRACE-sniper of the game, will go partly invisible if u stand still in biped form and when in alt, u are invisible SPIRE-immune to lava and can give magmaul burns SYLUX-uses shock coil very cool which drains enemy health bar to fill yours WEAVEL-use him to glitchWariosmily and in alt form, fires battlehammers NOXUS-uses judicator to freeze enemys and is the "cool guy" of the game SAMUS-your old pal from the days of the SNES, not much has changed with her but is the favorite next to trace KANDEN-special weapon is the volt driver which will home in on yoou, hell give u a run for your money with those things, u just keep running!
NOTICE:ALL PLAYERS CAN USE ANY WEAPON BUT UNLESS USING THE SPECIAL CHARACTER WITH THEIR SPECIAL WEAPON, IT WILL NOT DO THE SPECIALTY...I SED SPECIALTY 3 TIMES,I KNOWFlyGuy|
pictures of them in order as listed above
weapons
battlehammer-very efficient bomb type weapon slight arc imperialist-sniper,low recoil,about a secoond to reload magmaul-burn weapon-MONDO ARC-use up close judicator-freezing weapon but if not used by noxus it is a trishot volt driver-homing weapon when kanden uses it, fire volts that screw up vision shock coil-"health sucker" and is a lock on weapon some say it is the "weapon of the noon" bc of lock on
well thats a shorter review than what i could do but there u have it, i give Metroid Prime:Hunters for the DS a 9.4/10
[edit] Mario Kart DS (by Symerwizkid22)
Mario Kart DS
More than just a new paint job
I have been a fan of the Mario Kart series ever since I first played Mario Kart 64 all those years back. Such memories of chucking shells at people, laying down slyly placed banana peels, and trying to figure out the fastest way to get through Yoshi Valley. The Mario Kart series has changed in many ways, but in many ways it has also stayed the same. The gameplay still remains fun and frantic to this day, and the inclusion of some valuable new modes makes Mario Kart DS just as simple and fun as any other Mario Kart game before it, without the formula the series has used since it’s introduction feeling stale.
Mario Kart DS is a 3D racer at heart, although some of the track scenery has clearly not made the jump into the third dimension. The racers are cute, blocky figures, and the kart and tracks are all well done. Each track has it’s own theme, and the music that goes along with each track fit’s the theme perfectly- from the reggae influenced beats of Cheep Cheep Beach to the creepy organ symphonies of Luigi’s Mansion.
At it’s core, Mario Kart games are all about one thing- winning. Mario Kart DS is no exception. Luckily, Mario Kart games aren’t just about driving around Mushroom Kingdom locales and trying to win, no, that wouldn’t be very exciting. What makes the Mario Kart series such a smashing success is it’s items. Items have always been the staple of the franchise to me. It’s what keeps the games interesting, and adds an unrivaled sense of luck and satisfaction. Without items, the series would lose nearly all it’s popularity (and fun, for that matter). Obviously items have been kept in Mario Kart DS, but there are also two new items that have been added. The bullet bill, which shoots you at ludicrous speed straight up the track, and the blooper which shoots ink onto the screens of all the other racers. These two new items are welcome additions to the veteran list of items such as mushrooms (used for speed boosts) and shells (used for hitting other racers).
The Mushroom Kingdom is the home of many unique locales. From sunny beaches to massive clocks, fiery castles and galactic roads made of rainbow; the tracks in the Mario Kart series have never failed to impress. There are 16 brand new tracks for you to race at in Mario Kart DS. I’m happy to say that the new tracks are, for the most part, welcome additions to the Mario Kart series. Some are unique and some are recycled from past ideas; yet every course is unique in it’s own sense and you will surely find a bunch of tracks that you can enjoy racing at hundreds of times. What really impressed me is that the production team also took 16 race tracks from past Mario Kart games and made an entire Grand Prix out of them. Even if the classic track list is hit and miss, it’s addition really adds both longevity to the game and some nostalgia for Mario Kart veterans.
Yoshi driving in Frappe Snowland from Mario Kart 64
There are so many things to do in this game. When you reach the main menu you are presented with the either selecting from single player options or multiplayer options. I am quite pleased with the wealth of single player options in the game. Mario Kart is a series that suffers from some lackluster single player, but the heap of single player modes helps to up the longevity of the game, especially when multiplayer is not an option.
There is the Grand Prix mode, which allows you to race against seven other computer controlled racers in a set of four races. Grand Prix mode is how you unlock various things in the game such as new characters and added karts. There is also the mainstay game option of Time Trials. This is a rather self explanatory feature; one in which you try to best your ghost times or Nintendo staff times in any of the game’s 32 tracks. Vs. mode allows you to race in any track against seven other computer controlled characters. In this mode you can pick specific options such as speed class, computer kart difficulty, which track you wish to race on, and various other rules. The addition of team racing is a good new feature that is loads of fun if you can get a bunch of friends together to play.
Battle Mode makes it’s welcome return. For those who don’t know, Battle Mode pits you against other racers in either a match of Balloon Battle of Shine Runners. Balloon Battle is a frantic game in which users pop the balloons of the other contestants by using items. Shine Runners is a race to get the most Shines by any means necessary- which means stealing of Shines is in full effect. Battle mode may seem boring if you play it by yourself, but it definitely “shines” (bad joke, I know) when you play it with people.
The final new game mode is Missions. Missions is a fairly dull new mode in which you have an objective set that needs to be accomplished on various race tracks. These objectives range anywhere from driving through gates in an allotted amount of time, or driving through a course backwards. You are then graded on your performance. Passing each mission is not difficult whatsoever- the competitive part is trying to best your score and eventually get three stars. Once you have passed all eight missions in a certain class you unlock a boss battle. These are the only fun part of the Missions, and they revolve mostly around getting items and using the predetermined item that you get from every item box to attack the boss and either eliminate it, beat it in a race, or knock it off the arena. Missions add a little more bang for your buck, but they served as nothing more than a decent time killer for me.
“It’s-a-me! Mario!”
You can probably tell that there is plenty to do alone in this game, but single player is not where this game really shines, and this has always been the fact for every Mario Kart game. Where the game really shines is the multiplayer. You can get up to eight people to race against you via local multiplayer, and even people without the game can race; although they are limited to the first four tracks in each Grand Prix. Battle Mode is also present in the local multiplayer aspect, and it really is exceptionally better with real people to play against.
The Mario Kart series has always been limited to local multiplayer, and it has always succeeded in being a fun game to play with a group of friends. Mario Kart DS is going into grounds that have not yet been trespassed upon by Nintendo. Yes, Mario Kart DS is the first Nintendo game to go online. It may seem rather nonsensical to start off Nintendo’s online system- known as the Nintendo Wifi Connection (WFC for short) on the DS instead of the Wii- but Mario Kart DS’ online mode is exceptional for being the first step Nintendo has placed into the realm of online play.
The online is fluid, and there is minimal lag. Races consist of a maximum of four racers choosing a track they wish to race at out of a list of some various tracks from the game- both new and retro. The online matches consist of four races, and the winner is decided based on a point system that works well. The downsides are here though. There are people who abuse Action Replay and use it online, there are people who disconnect when they lose, not every track is available online, and there is the infamous war over the (obvious) legality of SSMT’ing, AKA snaking. The online has no communication between players whatsoever, but there is a friend list for the exchange of friend codes with other racers so that you can play online with specific friends. The lack of online Battle Mode is also a bit of a letdown, but at least Nintendo is finally incorporating online play into their games.
Mario Kart DS is definitely a solid addition to the Mario Kart series. It is a solid game in it’s own right too, and one of the most full-featured DS games. It establishes the series more in the single player department by adding some new game modes, and the addition of online play helps to put it above every other Mario Kart game in terms of longevity. As a longtime fan of the Mario Kart series, I am content seeing the series get better with every new addition. From a personal standpoint, nothing will ever beat Mario Kart 64; but from a critical standpoint, Mario Kart DS is the best Mario Kart yet. It has a sufficient amount of ways to play the game, and it can keep you racing for years; even if it doesn’t have Koopa Troopa Beach from Mario Kart 64. *tongue-out smiley face*
Pros:
- Solid Mario Kart mayhem
- New character and karts
- Online racing
Cons:
- Single player becomes mediocre and repetitive
- No online battle mode
[edit] The World Ends With You (by Zamurick)
The game takes place in modern Shibuya, where Neku Sakuraba wakes up remembering nothing, and is clutching a pin in his hand. Neku begins on a quest to beat what is called the "Reaper's Game". Along the way, Neku will become acquainted with three partners; Shiki, Joshua, and Beat.
In battle, you must control two characters simultaneously to defeat monsters known as "noise" as well as reapers. On the lower screen you will engage in battle using the touch screen to control what are called "psychs", there are hundreds of them in the game, each having their own abilities. On the upper screen, you'll be using the directional pad to control your partner. Each partner you become acquainted with has their own attack style, and even their own combo map. The battle system overall is very creative.
The problem with this battle system is the fact that it can cause damage to your touch screen if you get too involved. Most psychs involve slashing the stylus across a certain part of the screen. Others involve tapping, sometimes tapping rapidly is required. Other times you need to hold the stylus on the screen, and sometimes drag it across.
What really hooked me about the game was the fact that it's like reading an amazing book, it feels like you haven't played a decent game in years. In a short time, you will become attached to the characters, and feel like you're part of the game (you'd basically need a cold heart not to).
There's one more thing I really like about this game, it's not too easy like most games out there today. It's not too difficult either. Even if you find it too easy or hard, there are three difficulty settings you can choose from at the beginning, and four if you buy ultimate mode at the end of the game.
Pros:
- Intertwining storyline
- Creative and comfortable game play overall
- Adjustable and reasonable difficulty
Cons:
- Battle system can cause minor touch screen damage and/or several scratches.
The Verdict: 9.8
