Posts from the Ds Daily Category at DS Fanboy

DS Daily: How much do you trust reviews?

Posted Nov 16th 2007 9:00AM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: DS Daily

Penny Arcade's Gabe had some choice words for reviewers of Assassin's Creed, and we couldn't help commenting on it. Sure, the game isn't for us -- at least, not yet -- but the sentiment behind his words is something that should be important to every gamer ... or at least, every gamer who reads reviews.

How much do you trust reviews? We've discussed it before, of course, and we know that many people have reviewers they return to again and again, people who've demonstrated similar tastes in the past. But as occasional reviewers ourselves, we not only see the point Gabe is making, but agree with him. Reviewing a game within a particular time frame is wholly and completely different than playing it just for fun. It doesn't always make a huge difference in the way that you perceive or play the game, but sometimes -- as in this case, apparently -- it does.

So weigh in. Do you take that attitude into account when you read reviews? Our biggest regret in regard to Gabe's statements is that it just seems unfixable. Reviewers are almost always working within some sort of time frame, and some games are just long. It can't be avoided, unless we all want short games (and we don't).

DS Daily: Game Survey CX

Posted Nov 15th 2007 9:00AM by JC Fletcher
Filed under: Imports, DS Daily

A very simple topic today: would you play the Game Center CX game? Check out our previous coverage of the game and make a hard decision about whether parody retrogames, combined with parody game magazines, are the kind of thing you'd like to experience.

Just in case somebody from Namco Bandai happens to wander into our little website, we'd like to have proof that there's an Anglophone audience for this game. Your comments will be that proof! (Note to hypothetical Namco Bandai representative: if nobody comments, it's just because our readership has puckishly decided in unison to play a little joke.)

DS Daily: What's missing?

Posted Nov 14th 2007 9:00AM by JC Fletcher
Filed under: DS Daily

We were at the GameStop, browsing through the old stuff as we tend to do, when we happened upon a copy of Heiankyo Alien. We were giving serious consideration to buying it, but in the end, the inconvenience of not being able to play it in our DS weighed heavily on our decision. So Heiankyo Alien sits unpurchased and unloved in a glass case, surrounded by copies of Mary Kate and Ashley: Crush Course.

Backwards compatibility may be one of the worst ideas in gaming, but it certainly does come in handy. Game Boy compatibility on the DS would make for a much friendlier device, and one with which we'd be even happier. What single feature do you desire? It could be anything that a previous handheld system has had, or a new feature.

DS Daily: Space available

Posted Nov 13th 2007 9:00AM by JC Fletcher
Filed under: DS Daily

Thanks to the Virtual Console, the Wii has become a haven for shooters. But the DS, with no Virtual Console, hasn't. There are very few original shmups on the DS, as well -- pretty much just the Nanostrays and Ketsui. We are of the opinion that any system that can handle a shooter -- which is any system -- should be loaded with them. This is especially true for a platform like the DS, which is both extremely cheap to develop for and ubiquitous. If a niche game is going to do well, it'll be on the DS.

So why hasn't the DS become a shooter's paradise? Is the screen gap really that much of a problem? Are shooters too hardcore? Or is there some other reason, do you think, that the DS has yet to fill up with shmups?

DS Daily: Charge!

Posted Nov 12th 2007 9:00AM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: DS Daily

One of the first things most people notice when going from a DS Phat to a Lite is how seldom the newer model requires charging. If there's any one benefit between models, it's the battery life. Unsurprisingly, we play a lot of DS around here (at DS Fanboy? You don't say!), and not having to charge as often is just awesome. Still, this blogger, at least, plugs it in once or twice a week, just to keep that green light glowing.

How often do you charge your DS? If you upgraded models, do you notice the difference?

DS Daily: INAPPROPRIATE!

Posted Nov 11th 2007 10:30AM by JC Fletcher
Filed under: DS Daily

Many of us cart our DS systems around with us all over the place, planning to play a bit between classes, or in the waiting room, or just whenever an opportune moment occurs. But where do you consider an inappropriate DS-playing location? For a surprisingly large number of you, the bathroom is not such a location. But a Halloween party? Inappropriate!

Where might you decide naah, maybe now is not the time? In a restaurant? A movie theater? In class? During a job interview? Climbing a mountain? In the cockpit of the Space Shuttle? While exchanging wedding vows?

DS Daily: Under the radar

Posted Nov 10th 2007 10:30AM by Candace Savino
Filed under: DS Daily

When we expect a game to be good, it damn well better be good. We just assume, for example, that a Zelda game is going to be fun before we even play it. Sometimes, however, the best gaming experiences are with a game that doesn't have much hype surrounding it. Then, we pop that beauty into our handhelds and it blows our minds.

Have you had experiences like that with any DS games this year? If so, let us know what they were. Perhaps there are other folks out there hoping to discover hidden gems. We know we certainly are.

DS Daily: Screen safety

Posted Nov 9th 2007 9:00AM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: DS Daily

Alright, spill: are you using screen protectors, or do you like taking risks? It took me a while to get around to getting a set when I got my (omgsoawesome) Crimson and Black Lite, and every time the DS was turned on, it was like an exercise in terror. But now all is safe and grand and a shiny new level of safety has been installed. Of course, then it led to another train of thought ... in this house, that screen (or rather, the shield) gets cleaned often. Just a rubdown with a soft cloth, to be sure, but a dirty DS is just not allowed. Are you vigilant, or do you let the fingerprints pile up?

DS Daily: A quick helping of dubya-tee-eff

Posted Nov 8th 2007 9:00AM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: DS Daily

Yesterday, we spent a lot of time talking Spanish for Everyone. We couldn't help it; there were too many comments just begging to be made. But it's got us thinking about other eyebrow-raising moments in our gaming histories. Sure, developers don't usually intend to put in lolworthy scenes (except, perhaps, in those Ace Attorney games), but sometimes, things don't always come out as planned. Can you think of other examples?

DS Daily: What games should we write about more?

Posted Nov 7th 2007 9:00AM by Eric Caoili
Filed under: DS Daily

More often than not, we keep the front page current with news on games we're interested in. It's a selfish policy, yes, but fitting with our character. Unfortunately, in our pursuit to cover all things Super Dodgeball and Bangai-O, we often miss the titles you're anticipating.

With that in mind, we'd like to know what games you'd like us to pay more attention to. Is it that import puzzler no one's ever heard of? Or is it the high profile release we've completely ignored in favor of posts about rubbing down sweaty ~~hunks~~ lads? Help us help you!

DS Daily: Filling out the GBA collection

Posted Nov 6th 2007 9:00AM by JC Fletcher
Filed under: GBA, DS Daily

With the possibility of cheaper Game Boy Advance games tempting us, we are considering a trip down to the local GameStop to blow some cash. There are plenty of GBA games we never picked up but would like to, including ... well, a bunch of stuff. Embarrassingly, we never got the Mario Advance games (because we have multiple versions of all the Mario games already). We'd definitely consider those at the right price, for portability alone. We'd also be likely to buy every copy of River City Ransom EX we saw and distribute them to anyone nearby, possibly by throwing them from a parade float.

What about you? What does your collection need? Are there any GBA games you want, but have yet to get? If so, are you planning on checking out the (potentially) newly-price-dropped stock?

DS Daily: What's in it for you?

Posted Nov 5th 2007 9:00AM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: DS Daily

Everyone has their own reasons for buying a system. Sometimes, it's simple faith in the manufacturer. Many of you probably either bought, or planned to buy, a DS at launch. For others, it takes waiting for either enough games to make it worthwhile, or a particular game, to move a system. What brought you into the world of the DS, and what drives your continued dedicated to the handheld?

DS Daily: Battle of the boxes

Posted Nov 4th 2007 10:30AM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: DS Daily

It's been a while since we've done one of our wacky "versus" topics for daily discussion, and when we saw these two boxes posted over at GoNintendo, they just seemed too perfect to resist. They have some similarities and yet are pretty distinct. Which would be more likely to catch your eye? Is that also the game you think you would prefer?

DS Daily: The good, the bad, and the strange

Posted Nov 3rd 2007 10:30AM by Candace Savino
Filed under: DS Daily

Even after Puzzle Quest, we never thought we'd see the day when a game would combine jewel stacking with survival horror. We're so glad it's actually happening, but we didn't expect it. The concept is odd, to say the least.

The DS has a lot of niche titles like this, but some of them are weirder than others. Which DS game out there (or coming out) do you think has the strangest concept? Is it bejeweling your way through a haunted schoolhouse? Or perhaps a game involving sponges, rubbing, and anime? Let us know! And remember, strange doesn't always mean bad.

DS Daily: The pinnacle of strategy

Posted Nov 2nd 2007 9:00AM by Alisha Karabinus
Filed under: DS Daily

It seems like the DS is suddenly inundated with strategy-based titles. If variety is the spice of life, the DS is like a delicious array of strategy salsas, ranging from mild to fiery hot. Yet, are any of them even fit to shine the shoes of Advance Wars: Dual Strike? Listen, we're talking about games from a variety of studios, and Square Enix is all sorts of up in the strategy mix, so it's not like we're comparing shovelware to diamonds here. The first Advance Wars for the DS was just phenomenal -- so good, in fact, that we can't help but wonder if even its own follow-up can live up to the glory of that title.

What do you think? Can any of them stand up next to Advance Wars? What are some of your favorites among the current strategy offerings, and what are you looking forward to most?

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