We’re in the course of a Nintendo DS renaissance on Nintendo Change, which is becoming as that traditional handheld turns 20 in 2014. Coming off the superb Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective re-release from final 12 months, extra DS classics are coming to Nintendo Change this month. First, One other Code Recollection accommodates a full-on remake of the cult traditional One other Code: Two Reminiscences, and it’s out now. In a couple of days, on January 25, Apollo Justice: Ace Lawyer will remastered as a part of a trilogy assortment that additionally bears its namesake.
This has all gotten me to consider what different Nintendo DS video games I’d prefer to see make a comeback. In keeping with Moby Video games, There have been effectively over 2,000 DS titles, however not all of them matched the notoriety and success of titles like New Tremendous Mario Bros. or Nintendogs. Meaning the DS library continues to be filled with cult classics primed for a re-release or full-on sequence comeback. These are the 5 I’d prefer to see make a comeback within the wake of One other Code Recollection and Apollo Justice: Ace Lawyer Trilogy.
Lodge Nightfall: Room 215
Lodge Nightfall: Room 215 is an journey sport that garnered its following not simply due to its stunning aesthetic and charming story, however due to its distinctive play expertise. This title had gamers holding their Nintendo DS programs sideways like a e book. A few of its finest puzzles had gamers messing round with the {hardware} in different methods, together with a puzzle the place gamers needed to shut the DS solely with the intention to flip one thing and discover the answer.
The {hardware} specificity of those options has stored Lodge Nightfall locked to the DS for years, but it surely’s an expertise price adapting for brand spanking new {hardware}, using the Change or its successors’ unique options in equally distinctive methods. Contemplating that Lodge Nightfall was made by the developer of One other Code: Two Reminiscences, we are able to solely hope that this sport and its sequel, Final Window: The Secret of Cape West, are up for the same sort of remake remedy if One other Code Recollection does effectively.
Radiant Historia
The DS library is filled with unbelievable RPGs, however Radiant Historia will get much less love than among the others. Its frequent turn-based battles keep partaking as a result of enemies are laid out on a grid in order that they are often moved round, encouraging considerate technique. Its timeline-hopping narrative additionally feels primed for a zeitgeist that presently appears to be obsessive about the thought of a multiverse. And I don’t assume anybody ought to move on the prospect to take heed to yet one more excellent soundtrack from Yoko Shimomura.
All these issues make Radiant Historia a must-play RPG for followers, however sadly, it’s more durable to get ahold of these days. It had a remake on 3DS, however even that’s powerful to get, due to the 3DS eShop shut down in March 2023. I’d love for Atlus to present this underrated RPG traditional the identical adore it’s giving Persona 3 with February’s Persona 3 Reload.
Elite Beat Brokers
Possible the highest-profile sport on this record, Elite Beat Brokers is an entertaining touch-screen rhythm sport for the DS. In it, gamers clear up quite a lot of crises as secret brokers by — you guessed it — dancing. Its quirky humorousness and comedian book-inspired presentation are iconic, whereas tapping and dragging the stylus across the touchscreen can get surprisingly intense. The sport has fairly the next now, however Nintendo has not often talked about it within the years since its launch.
The core gameplay of Elite Beat Brokers might work on any platform with a touchscreen or movement controls, so I’d like to see it return in some trend. As a result of it’s primarily based round music, re-releasing it will in all probability be a licensing nightmare for Nintendo. As such, Elite Beat Brokers’ finest probability at making a comeback might be with a brand-new sequel that includes new tracks.
The Legendary Starfy
Kirby has gotten a sport nearly yearly for the final decade, however that’s meant certainly one of Nintendo’s different cutesy platformer sequence has gone ignored since its final sport on Nintendo DS. The Starfy sequence from Tose, the studio behind Dragon Quest spinoffs like Treasures and The Darkish Prince, truly acquired 5 video games earlier than 2002’s The Legendary Starfy. Most of these by no means left Japan; The Legendary Starfy was the one sport that did, and it delivered a easy but entertaining 2D platformer that stands out as among the best on a system with fairly a couple of of them.
At occasions, it may really feel like a Kirby clone, as certainly one of its greatest gameplay gimmicks is giving gamers the flexibility to vary into totally different types with distinctive skills. It nonetheless gives an adorably good time and isn’t intrinsically tied to the DS’ options sufficient for essential points of the sport to be misplaced in a port. As such, I’d like to see The Legendary Starfy, or maybe the complete sequence, get touched up and re-released on Change.
Aliens: Infestation
WayForward has made some surprisingly good licensed video games, with 2017 Metroidvania The Mummy Demastered being a specific spotlight. Earlier than that, there was Aliens: Infestation for the DS. An analogous Metroidvania shooter, this licensed mission punches above its weight due to an method to permadeath that basically provides the participant as many lives as they’ve marines.
This technique makes an in any other case pretty simple licensed sport right into a tense expertise filled with participant company and watercooler moments. The rights surrounding this one between WayForward, Gearbox, Sega, and Disney would in all probability make it tough to re-release, but it surely’s a improbable Alien launch that doesn’t need to be misplaced in time. The DS was filled with licensed video games starting from wonderful to horrible, so a minimum of certainly one of them deserves to make a comeback.
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