Just yesterday, we were talking about some of the worst offenders in stylus-based controls, so it's only fitting that today, we should discuss the best. But let's not focus on the obvious answers. With adventure games, for instance we expect good stylus controls; point and click isn't difficult when your method of input is a pointer with which you click things. What are your favorite other games that use primarily stylus controls? Elite Beat Agents and Ouendan come to mind; while it seems like the stylus would make rhythm games ridiculously easy, these games manage to keep it fun and challenging while presenting a great interface. We're also fond of the punishing brutality of Trauma Center, which made us swear the first time we sewed bad stitches and got lectured about it. The recent NInja Gaiden: Dragon Sword boasts stylus swordplay that is unstoppable. But that's just the tip of a very large iceberg. For as much as we complain about bad stylus controls, so many games do it well.Posts with tag stylus
DS Daily: Getting it right
Just yesterday, we were talking about some of the worst offenders in stylus-based controls, so it's only fitting that today, we should discuss the best. But let's not focus on the obvious answers. With adventure games, for instance we expect good stylus controls; point and click isn't difficult when your method of input is a pointer with which you click things. What are your favorite other games that use primarily stylus controls? Elite Beat Agents and Ouendan come to mind; while it seems like the stylus would make rhythm games ridiculously easy, these games manage to keep it fun and challenging while presenting a great interface. We're also fond of the punishing brutality of Trauma Center, which made us swear the first time we sewed bad stitches and got lectured about it. The recent NInja Gaiden: Dragon Sword boasts stylus swordplay that is unstoppable. But that's just the tip of a very large iceberg. For as much as we complain about bad stylus controls, so many games do it well.DS Daily: Forced stylus
The touchscreen is awesome for certain types of games. Adventure titles, for example, really benefit from the DS's stylus controls.There are some instances, though, in which the stylus just seems forced, as if the developers added in these controls simply because their game was made for the DS. Most of the time, fortunately, these games will have d-pad options also, but sometimes they don't.
Have you run into any games where the stylus controls were clunky and unnecessary? If so, which titles are the worst offenders?
An explosively cute bonus for Disgaea
What would you have to do in life, we wonder, to be reincarnated not just as a Prinny, but as a piece of plastic shaped like a Prinny? And how would you earn your way back into the world -- would it be as simple as never scratching the screen?
DS Daily: Makeshift
We're willing to bet that, at one time or another, most DS owners at least temporarily misplace a stylus. If you don't have another one handy, that means you've got to wing it ... but what sort of makeshift objects can you use without damaging that precious screen? From a finger to riskier objects, we're sure DS lovers everywhere have used a stylus alternative at least once, and we'd love to hear what you chose.
Guitar Hero DS accessories on the way
Someone is willing to gamble a significant amount of money on the idea of a shrunk-down Guitar Hero on the DS. BD&A, who make officially-licensed Nintendo hardware cases and accessories, will produce accessories for Guitar Hero: On Tour, meaning that they think the product is non-wacky enough (or lovably wacky enough) to sell -- and sell other stuff.Two listings at Gamestop hint pretty strongly at their initial products: a $10 DS Lite Guitar Hero Stylus and a $20 DS Lite Guitar Hero Ruby Red Kit, which comprises "a glitter case, 2 system wraps, and a cleaning cloth." We assume they mean a DS Lite/Guitar Grip case that is glittery, and not a case for your glitter. They're saving that for Guitar Hero: Rip Taylor Edition.
The best deal on a sack of styli you'll see today
Whatever the reason, this is totally your chance to buy 50 New Super Mario Bros. styli in plastic eggs. NCSX, in an effort to clear out their warehouse, has marked the package down from $130 to $95. We suppose you could buy them individually for $3.95, but what are you going to do with just one stylus? Ridiculous.
DS Daily: Oral fixation
While spending a little time with Professor Layton and the Curious Village recently, I discovered something -- when not actively using my stylus, it seems I have a habit of putting it in my mouth. I don't really chew on it, but rather, just hold it there with my lips. The stops and starts in Layton meant that I was often not doing much with it, but just studying the screen, which gave me the opportunity to realize where I was putting my poor stylus. Here's hoping I'm not alone in this weird habit ... am I?Harvest Moon DS accessory kit spotted
If you like to have cartoon cows on stuff, chances are you're a Harvest Moon fan. You'll probably be thrilled, then, to see this Harvest Moon DS Travel Kit, which is rife with the things. Not only do you get a cow-spotted DS Lite cover (with weird interchangeable panel things), the set comes with a cow-adorned strap and a spotted stylus featuring the friendly face (and the rest of the head) of one of the series' trademark ruminants.Made to tie in with Island of Happiness, this kit comes out on April 1st -- even though Island of Happiness isn't out until June -- at a price of $19.99
Adorable Mashimaro case now available stateside
You can dress up your DS Lite in frilly bows and baby outfits all you want, but it'll never reach its full cuteness potential without this Mashimaro case. Accessory distributor Nuri Tech has brought the Korean character to the states, offering the protective, decorated shell for $19.99. To promote the new product, Nuri Tech is throwing in a DS Lite Strap Touchpen and a set of screen protectors with each order starting today until April 1st. This is in addition to the stylus pen that comes with every Mashimaro case!
Unfamiliar with the chubby, expressionless bunny? He has a few Flash animations floating around, but here's a quick description: "In a quiet, small, and peaceful town in the forest, our Mashimaro is always causing trouble here and there in the forest with his little pot belly full of guts, witty spontaneous responses, and playful manner. He may seem a little prankish at times, but he adds a bit of flavor and puts smiles and cries into a boring life in the forest."
Yes, this is just the accessory you need to put "smiles and cries" into your boring life. Peek past the break for more photos of the DS Lite case and bonus stylus pen.
Continue reading Adorable Mashimaro case now available stateside
DS Daily: Franchise reboot
We were looking over the reviews that have come in so far for Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword and we were thinking about how that franchise rebooted itself on the DS. Now, it didn't really need a reboot, nor is it 100% a reboot in the normal way we think of reboots, but it did take an established franchise and retool it for another platform. Now, whether it was a good retooling or a bad retooling remains to be seen.But, we were wondering what other established franchises could use a reboot in this manner? What about a Crazy Taxi game on the DS that has you controlling an interactive steering wheel on the touch-screen or only turning with the shoulder buttons? What about a Sims game that allows you to control them only by barking commands through the microphone? How about a Space Channel 5 game redone with Ouendan controls?
What can you come up with?
DS Daily: One-handed
Trying to get my game on while experiencing the real-life version of Imagine: Babyz (only cuter and without the z) has opened my eyes to something: too many games require the use of both hands! I can read while cuddling the child, so why can't I sit around with my DS? Oh, sure, I can play a few games, but too many require both hands, which means they're going to sit on my shelf for a while. Why's this important? Well, it's really not, at least for me -- I'll survive -- but when reader Zack wrote in to tell us about his uncle, it made me pay particular attention. See, Zack's uncle only has full use of one hand, but he loves his DS. Zack wrote to us asking that we ask you for your recommendations on games that require mainly stylus input. Of course, he knows the obvious titles, like the Ace Attorney series ... what he's looking for are more obscure titles. Even homebrew games will work! So start your day off by doing something nice: recommend your favorites, and help out a fellow gamer.
The DS Life: Sleep Mode
The DS Life is a weekly feature in which we scour the known world for narrative images of Nintendo's handheld and handheld gamers. If you have a photo and a story to match it with, send both to thedslife at dsfanboy dot com.
Like many other three-year-old boys, Kristopher divides his playtime among toy cars, toy trains, and toy things with buttons and lights. When his dad's iPhone isn't available for him to appraise with his tiny, curious fingers, he flips open his Nintendo DS Lite, a hand-me-down from his mother (she now owns a newer edition/color).
Of course, we don't expect to entertain you with just photos of some kid and his DS -- no, we have something much more hilarious planned for you! Jump past the post break and into Kris's crib!
Taiko: Stand Master
Similar to its Sangokushi Taisen DS-branded base, Hori has another themed stand set in the works for rhythm game series Taiko no Tatsujin. The adjustable platform comes in red and has two holders for the drumstick styli that come with every copy of the original game. Also included in the kit is an adorable screen wipe The bundle may or may not also come packaged with the attachable banner of cheering characters -- we haven't decided yet if this would be distractingly goofy or awesome to the max.
Japan has already seen one Taiko DS title release and has another coming, whereas every other country's DSes have been so far Taiko-less. Thus, it's safe to assume that Hori's accessory won't appear in North American stores any time soon. Import shop Play-Asia, however, has the stand available for preorder (due April) for $19.90. Peek past the break for a look at the full, watermarked product sheet.
DS Daily: Our good pal, the mic
One of the features the DS has that we feel gets underused most is the microphone. It's always getting left behind by the school bus, receiving countless wedgies in the hall from more popular features of the hardware and also getting its milk money took. It's a hard-knock life for the DS's microphone, if you ask us.Do you feel the same as we do? Could you care less about the microphone on the DS? Do you think it should only be utilized in Ace Attorney games?
Toughen up your DS with a pudgy bunny
MashiMaro could be described as Korea's answer to Sanrio, Japan's heavily-merchandised community of Hello Kitty characters. The adorable, chubby rabbit sits atop a mountain of plushies and other branded products that are too cute for many to resist. Unlike his Sanrio colleagues, however, Mashimaro can be a jerk. In the Flash animations where he made his debut, he can be seen stealing food and pushing a pig off a cliff. He's a bad bunny to the bone.
Joytron recently put out a line of cases decorated with MashiMaro scenes, and they're just as cute as the thuggish cottontail himself. The shells slip over your DS Lite, adding an extra layer of plastic protection to your handheld. Joytron will even throw in a pen stylus with each order. Hop into the gallery below for more shots of the different "System Skin Cases" now available in Korea.
[Via Ruliweb]
