This originally started out as a post on a message board, but it got too long, so I figured I would throw it up here for everyone to see. Now that I've got my first post out of the way, I'm going to start doing updates on a weekly basis now.
In honor of the fact that Radiant Historia has taken over my gaming life, here are my top 5 Nintendo DS games.
1) WEWY (The World Ends With You).
My favorite DS RPG ever, probably one of my -favorite- RPG's ever. Sho Minamimoto is one of the best, most over-quoted bosses ever, but that doesn't make him any less cool (so zetta slow...) - I based by twitter name off him. Great artwork, great soundtrack, great control scheme, great style. Admittedly, it has a high learning curve (there's no in-game indication of how certain pins evolve) and once you get used to one partner, they throw another one right at you. This game almost melted by brain as I was trying to learn how to utilize both screens at the same time.
But once you get it down, once it all comes together, once you finally learn how to work both those screens at the same time and start earning"S" ranks in battles consistently...it's so money. It's the kind of zen feeling that all gamers look to achieve when they finally master something. WEWY delivers that in spades.
All this being said, I'm not sure if I could ever replay it because I put a lot time into my save file and they only allow you one, which is totally lame. You can replay sections of the story whenever you want, though, so it ain't all bad. Like all games with high replay value, you always walk away feeling like you accomplished something when you turn it on.
The game's ending song, "Lullaby For You" holds a special place in my heart.
2) SMT (Shin Megami Tensei): Devil Survivor.
I've played both this and SMT: Strange Journey and I feel that Devil Survivor is by far the superior game; much more replay value there. Six genuinely different endings and lots of branching paths...so much to see and explore and do. One of the best grid-based games I ever played, it's both tough and fair. This game really rewards you for thinking strategically and placing your units correctly to create favorable match-ups. Consequently, you will lose if you can't do this - it's not Final Fantasy Tactics, where your most powerful units will stomp everything and anything. Like all SMT games, it has a great story seamlessly tying together demons, technology, and the modern world.
The in-game clock is implemented so well that I couldn't wait to go back and see all that I missed. A very good New Game+ option makes replays even more tempting. I finished it four times and was nearing my fifth completion before I got tired of it...still working on Asturo's ending.
It's worth mentioning that I do like SMT: Strange Journey a lot, but that game can get very frustrating in a way that only SMT games can be (no real way to prepare for bosses without consulting a walkthrough beforehand, few save points, etc.) This game is a bit more user-friendly but still very challenging, which is why I rate it so highly.
Conquer your demon. Break your barrier. Let's survive.
3) Radiant Historia
Time travel finally done right. I haven't finished it yet but it's grabbed me in the same way those other two games have. Short of a huge letdown, this is where I'd place the game. A great cast of characters and a story that begs you to explore every facet of it. The best time traveling mechanic I've ever experienced in a game...and I'm only 60% of the way through it.
4) Zelda: Spirit Tracks.
A pretty unique play experience on the DS in that it's stylus-only and actually works pretty well. Took everything that made Phantom hourglass good and improved on it, and just made a better game, really. Good production values that only Nintendo could put together. Like pretty much every Zelda game before it, be prepared for a slow start. And once you finish it, it'll be years before you come back to it. Not to be missed, though.
5) Bowser's Inside Story.
Funny dialogue, excellent visuals, and the game's random battles are an absolute joy to experience. Fawful is as smooth an operator as they come as far as villains are concerned - somewhere between Master Shake of Aqua Teen Hunger Force and the lolcats. Don't believe me? Here's some quotes.
"You have energy like a little angry battery with no friends."
"Fawful scattered your minions like litter from a sad, ugly cat. Are you wanting to hear them? For they are on the TV show. The TV show of your tears!"
"Soon, I will have your castle! ...You will visit, perhaps! Fawful will reserve the Crying Room for the crying for your minions. And the crying will be like a savory soda for my soul!"
If those quotes don't make you want to play the game, nothing will. Also of note; this game takes great advantage of the DS's functionality with Bowser. A great game all-around, it just doesn't have the replay value or as much to see and do as the aforementioned games do. And much like ATHF, the jokes just don't have the same kind of impact on repeated viewings.
Honorable mentions:
Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime
This game is a blast, but it's way too easy. A non-gamer's game; it's practically impossible to lose the tank battles. The characters and dialogue are just too damn adorable to be missed - Hooly is one of my favorite supporting characters to ever make an appearance in any game. One of my favorite lines ever in, "Are you stuck on repeat play or somethin', lady...?". Again, the whole "only allowed one save file" thing really drags this game down and unlike WEWY, you can't go back and re-experience the story without starting over from scratch again. Still, building and customizing your tank is so much fun. Very few games could combine tanks and slimes (a strange combination if there ever was one), but this one pulled it off well.
Dragon Quest V
I think it's the most replayable Dragon Quest game ever, due to the decision you make in the middle of the game. And the story isn't half-bad for a DQ game either; the game takes place over several generations and when this sort of thing is done right in games, it's hard to match. There's just something about being able to see the same towns and characters grow over the course of a lifetime; not many other games attempt to do things on this scale. A pretty unique take on the franchise, overall. Like all Dragon Quest games though, it's a grindfest, so if you go into this one, you'd better be committed to see it through to the end. I've been told this game is somewhat rare, so if you're looking to pick it up, you'd better get hopping on it.
Chrono Trigger
It's the same game I loved back in 1995, which is both good and bad. Still amazing; still, alas, just a port. The extra content in the game is pretty decent, though certainly not going to set the world on fire. Probably the best version of Chrono Trigger available - it's got all the PSX extras with cartridge loading times, it's completely portable, the extra screen it utilized well, and the extra content, while not world breaking, is still pretty neat and exclusive to this version. The new boss is worth seeing and fighting if you consider yourself a fan of the series - the ending you'll get as a result is a good one. Not much can be written on Chrono Trigger that hasn't already been said. Until Radiant Historia came out, this was the gold standard for a time-traveling RPG. One of the most memorable soundtracks you'll ever hear.
Front Mission
It took me a long time to come around on this game, but once I finally learned the mechanics of it, I had a blast playing it. The story and soundtrack are on par with everything else from Square's golden 90's era. My main issue is that the game itself does very little to help you out in this regard - I had to consult a FAQ to learn how to get it down. The last boss in the game's main mission is an bona-fide joke. Like all good RPG's, it's got a great New Game+ feature.
Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume
I love the Valkyrie Profile series, but I can't forgive this game's obvious flaws. First, the good; this is one of the saddest stories you'll ever play on any system - this game will depress the hell out of you. Even the route to the game's best ending is mired with tragedy and sadness. But it's done in such a beautiful way that you'll appreciate it and the game's story will hook you. The problem is that Tri-Ace's unfamiliarity with the grid-based RPG really shines through in this game. The battles don't leave a lot of room for error, characters come and go as soon as you can build them up, and there's also some sections where you'll go a few battles in a row without a save point. The game is built around replays, so I recommend that you make the most of your plume on your first two trips through and really earn the game's best ending on your third and final shot.
Coming next week; NHL playoff thoughts, TJ vs. Netflix, and more randomness.
