November 24th 2024.
There is no denying that the Nintendo DS was an unusual and unexpected success. One reader passionately argues that this low-tech handheld console is not only the best one ever made, but also boasts an impressive line-up of exclusive games that cannot be found on any other platform.
As someone who thoroughly enjoyed the recent feature on the 10 weirdest Nintendo DS games, I was proud to realize that I own most of them. These games were categorized as the best and the weirdest, which perfectly encapsulates the DS's overall essence. It had a plethora of great games, but almost all of them were quirky and unconventional in some way. They were unlike anything you could imagine playing on any other console, not even on a fellow handheld like the PSP.
This was largely due to the DS's unique design, with two screens and only the bottom one being a touchscreen. Even then, you needed to use a stylus for any kind of accuracy. Combine that with its low-tech graphics that could barely produce 3D, and it was not a machine that could rely on flashy visuals and shallow gameplay.
Games on the DS had to be truly exceptional, interesting, and one-of-a-kind to make a lasting impact, and the best ones absolutely did. In fact, there were so many amazing games that I genuinely believe the DS is the best console ever made, even more so than the Switch, which shares many of the same qualities. This may not be a controversial opinion, considering it is the second best-selling console ever, behind the PlayStation 2, but for some reason, it often goes unrecognized.
The DS may not be a flashy console, and its models may vary in terms of aesthetics, but when it comes to the range and variety of weird, innovative, and completely unique games, there is simply nothing like it. And this is all without even considering the vast array of indie games available. These were all quirky little games developed by mainstream publishers and developers that were unlike anything else they had created for any other platform.
For instance, we had Nintendo-published games like Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland and Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan, sitting alongside Soul Bubbles, while even EA got in on the weirdness with Henry Hatsworth In The Puzzling Adventure, and Rockstar Games created an exclusive GTA game for the DS.
But it wasn't just Nintendo games that shone on the DS; there were also many third-party titles that were equally as impressive. These included all the Konami Castlevania games, Dragon Quest 9, Ace Attorney, Professor Layton, Bangai-O Spirits, Meteos, Ghost Trick, Etrian Odyssey, Pac-Pix, Might & Magic: Clash Of Heroes, Scribblenauts, and so much more.
However, as much as I understand the inevitable shift towards more versatile consoles, it is a shame that dedicated handheld consoles have become a thing of the past. They required their own specific games, and in many cases, those styles of games are no longer being made today. While the Switch may be the closest relative, its games do not have the same constraints and almost always have a higher budget than those on the DS.
But I believe it is these constraints that make the DS so magical. With the DS, companies were forced to think outside the box and come up with something new and different, rather than simply relying on flashy graphics. Of course, they wouldn't have bothered if the DS hadn't been so successful, but because it was, they were compelled to make an effort, and the end result was something truly special.
The problem now is that not only is there nothing else like the DS, but it is also very difficult to emulate the console. The games do not translate well on a larger TV screen, and the touchscreen cannot be emulated with a regular controller. Some may suggest turning the Switch vertically to play DS games, but Nintendo has not pursued this option, likely due to the inability to use it on a TV.
While it is a shame that DS games are not easily accessible to others, I also appreciate the fact that the DS is so unique that it cannot be emulated on any other platform. It is a testament to its exceptional qualities and a reminder of the incredible experiences it offered to those who were lucky enough to own one.
As this reader has so eloquently pointed out, the Nintendo DS was and still is the company's most successful console, and it deserves to be recognized as such.
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