I need some help. I’m putting together a story and wanted to crowdsource the always intelligent and handsome Infendo community. Specifically, what are the most overlooked, under-rated, and/or under-appreciated DS games since the system launched in 2004? Do tell!
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What are the most overlooked, under-rated, under-appreciated DS games of all time?
I need some help. I’m putting together a story and wanted to crowdsource the always intelligent and handsome Infendo community. Specifically, what are the most overlooked, under-rated, and/or under-appreciated DS games since the system launched in 2004? Do tell!
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Personally, I say Contra 4. That was truly a great game (and my favorite action game on the DS), yet almost no one played it.
Meteos. It's a great action puzzle game. It works by fusing music and and gameplay into a very fun experience. The gui reminds me of
Super Smash Bros. gui and the multiplayer feels like smash too. The game has excellent multiplayer and single player, it sold decently at the time it released, but is for the most part unknown.
I thought Nintendo would've offered to add it to Touch Generations and get the ball rolling on a true sequel back on the system that started it all. It's been on phones and on the 360. There's been a decent Disney spinoff, but it's stayed out of most people's mind. Not mine, it's easily one of the most accessible and fun single and multiplayer experiences on the DS.
Meteos and Picross DS – I'm a puzzle fanatic, and these are two great puzzle games.
Kirby Canvas Curse – a bit of a change from a normal Kirby-style platformer, but very fun to play.
I would say, Ninjatown! It's truly a little gem! Only replay value is a bit low, if you are not a high score fanatic!
Oh, and keep an eye, if it ever cross the pacific pond, RIZ-ZOAWD!
It's an RPG made around The Wizard of Oz!
Time Hollow was surprisingly fun and well-written, if a bit short. Replay is very interesting, too!
Kirby Canvas Curse, without a shadow of doubt.
"The World Ends with You" is an unsung top-notch game. The battles are action-packed, the pin system is a very cool way of allowing for character customization, and the style and storyline are unique and engaging.
My one complaint is that it's really hard, but i'd rather a game be too difficult than too easy, and there's an option to lower the difficulty setting if you get stuck. I'm just stubborn like that, though.
It's the cure for the common turn-based RPG, and it's entirely underrated.
Like people already said, Kirby Canvas Curse (or power paintbrush as we say here in pal-land)
I loved that game so much
I second TWEWY and Bangai-O, if anything is hardcore for difficulty its this damn game.
Meteos, what an incredible little game.
Kibry CC- the best kirby game in ages and just about floors every other Ninty platformer on the DS. Visually stunning too (makes squeak squad and superstar ultra look uber-90s).
Elite Beat Agents- I guess it's not critically underappreciated, but critically underbought. This game and it's Japanese cousins are some of the best gaming experience one can have on any system nowadays, let alone DS.
Dragonball Z Supersonic Warriors 2- An air-based fighting game based on the DBZ franchise. It's insanely fun. Multiple difficulties, modes, multiplayer, and a great cast of characters make this a must-play. And if you didn't know already, it's developed by Guilty Gear creators Arc System Works. ; )
TMNT 3: Muant Nightmare- A surprisingly fun 2D turtles game that's almost a fun poke at the NES original instead of an arcade brawler. It controls great, has a great mix of well-animated 2D sprites with 3D backgrounds, and it even has a neat soundtrack. Don't mistake this for the not-so-great gamecube version. this is a diamond in the rough. So is TMNT 2 on GBA.
Sonic Rush Adventure- the sequel to 2005's Sonic Rush (a title that, imo, gives NSMB a run for its money). This game oozes class with it's high production values and great classic sidescrolling action. Even the touchscreen minigames are fun. unfortunately the game didn't top sales charts (especially in Japan) due to sonic's console mediocrity and negative press. Remember: Sonic is still a king on handheld systems! If you already beat Sonic Rush, give this title a whiz.
oh and Contra 4 and Bangai-O.
Except Contra 4 sold about a quarter million and was popular enough to spawn Contra Rebirth on Wiiware. It seems the Contra series is almost a Nintendo-exclusive!
also, there should be another article like this for Wii games. watch it fill up FAST.
sorry for the triple post but I also have to say Metal Slug 7. i love that game.
Hear hear! Metal Slug 7 is great, but got average review scores for being too similar to previous Metal Slugs. I guess some people overlooked the fact that having Metal Slug in your pocket is AWESOME!
Civ: Revolution…As much fun as the first version of Civ. on the PC, IMO but for some reason didn't seem to catch up much retail wise. I recently saw some brand new ones on sale for like $12.00 in Gamestop
ELECTROPLANKTON!!!
Oh my god, Electroplankton is quite possibly my favorite DS game! It's so different than any other music game I've played.
Ninjatown and Transformers: Autobots. It's actually a decent movie game, although it doesn't last long. The gameplay reminds me of GTA.
@ gojiguy
Contra rebirth? I think you mean GRADIUS Rebirth. Regardless, I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who bought it.
@HyperPhazon
No, I mean Contra ReBirth! It got announced today and I crapped myself.
Trace Memory. Most fun I've had on my DS yet.
I'd have to say "Hotel Dusk: Room 215".
That was an amazing game, it was like a 3D hand drawn graphic novel, it had an interesting storyline, a nice rotoscopic art style, and was just flat out interesting. I loved the "hotel in the middle of no where" setting.
The second game I have to say was overlooked is "Moon".
This was a fun little DS FPS by Renegade Kid. And it easily had the best 3D work on the DS. It ran in full 3D at 60 frames per second! It also had a gripping story which kept you thinking. And those of you that thought it was bad because it was an FPS, don't think of it like that. I'd describe it more as a an Adventure game with shooting elements, while you would be shooting, it would be more fopr things such as hitting locks. It was a really fun game!
And lastly I'd have to say "Retro Game Challenge".
This was truly a fun game, through and through. You just sit down, read gaming magazines, and play retro games. Pure and simple. I really wanted that sequel localized… but if sales don't pick up then that'll never happen!
Soul Bubbles for one, I'm sure a lot of us have played the Nintendo Channel demo, and its market price is a steal, at $20 I think.
I enjoyed Pirates of the Carribean 3, actually, which surprised me. Solid platformer, some could consider repetitive, but I consider myself rather average when it comes to expectations, and this game satisfied them well enough.
I've never played it, and have no experience with it, but did anyone like Mario Party DS? Just throwing the idea out there.
Oh, and DEFINATELY Trace Memory, aka Another Code (in the UK). And we have a Wii sequel coming out! Woo!
And I loved the Ninjatown demo, so I'm sure I'd absolutely love the game.
It's hard to remember all these underappreciated games…
Drawn to Life was a pretty neat game.
Oh! I almost forgot! "Lock's Quest" by 5th Cell.
This game was the second DS project from the makers of Drawn to Life. In my opinion, I enjoyed it much more than DtL. Of course this was a strategy story game, not a platformer. But none the less, it was a really great game that deserved more attention than it received. Not to mention that it came with a free comic inside the box!
Never heard of it. I'll go check it out.
Why did I forget Trace Memory? That was a pretty good game!
Chessmaster! … For reals!
Trace Memory and Hotel Dusk. Those games are das bomb.
trace memory and hotel dusk.
@ gojiguy
Turns out you're right. I suppose that makes two of then.
Another suggestion for a great game that is fairly recent: Henry Hatsworth and the Puzzling Adventure! Seriously a fun platforming puzzler.
proably final fantasy tactics A2 grimore in the rift. That game was proably the most awsome game ever but I dont remember seing any adds or articles anywhere.
Bob's game.
Kirby Canvas Curse, Metroid Prime Pinball, Electroplankton
Yoshi Touch & Go.
It's a great game, but it seems most didn't understand its greatness.
I've found that meteos was a terribly overrated puzzler that lost a lot of it's appeal within the first hour or so of play.
Most of the games people are mentioning (Kirby Cabvas Curse, meteos) aren't acually underrated or overlooked. They're well liked games that got as much exposure as they deserved, or more. For something that went completely under the radar, there's a little known visual novel (AKA Dating sim styled game) called Lifesigns: Surgical Unit. The characters were genuinely interesting, the story was engaging, but it was almost globally panned because people dug into it expecting a new Trauma Center, and instead got hours of story.
I second electroplankton. Truly an amazing game.