Genre: Platformer
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Local Play: 2 Versus
Release Date: May 19, 2006
Exclusively on: Nintendo DS
ESRB: E for Comic Mischief

Review:
Despite the sort of weird title, New Super Mario Bros. is exactly what it sounds like. It's a new Super Mario Bros. game that pulls off the series' classic 2D, side-scrolling gameplay without feeling contrived or like a needless nostalgia trip. While there's plenty of old memories referenced in this game, it is most definitely new. You rarely see 2D platformers at all these days, and it's even rarer when it's done right. While experienced players might blow through the game quickly, New Super Mario Bros. is still completely awesome and absolutely necessary.

Mario's got more than enough moves to deal with his enemies.
The story is simple, provides just enough to get you going, then gets out of the way. Bowser Jr. kidnaps the princess, and Mario needs to save her by running to the right and jumping on the heads of his enemies. You'll cruise through up to eight worlds in the game, though the occasional use of Super Mario World-like secret exits and a few alternate paths mean that you'll only really have to play through six of those worlds. Of course, the quality of the levels means that you'll probably want to go back and see everything there is to see, but if you're bent on blazing through the game, you could burn up the minimum number of levels in a day or two.

You'll get a full SMB-like variety in the game's levels and worlds, including underground and undersea levels, as well as an ice world, a desert, a few forced-scrolling levels that may make you lose it, and so on. The visuals are fantastic, simultaneously reminding you of the older games while using polygonal graphics and effects very well, making the levels and characters all look really, really impressive.

The level design in the game is great, taking advantage of Mario's moves in a few key spots. Mario's move list isn't terribly deep, but he's got more than enough to get by. The game reverts all the way back to the NES games' two-button control scheme. One button jumps, while the other runs when you hold it down and shoots fireballs when you're equipped with that ability. The game includes some of Mario's 3D platforming acrobatics from Super Mario 64, too. You can cling to walls and slide down them or use them for wall jumps, which really comes in handy. Many of the game's secrets seem to be built on knowing exactly when and where to wall jump up to some otherwise-unreachable spot. You can push down on the D pad to execute a butt stomp, too, which is handy for busting through columns of blocks. The game's power-ups are roughly the same, too, though there are a few new options. The mega mushroom makes Mario grow to fill the screen, making him invincible for a short time and letting you just run right through obstacles. The mini mushroom makes you really small, letting you fit in a few tiny pipes. And the blue turtle shell lets you crouch and slide along like an empty shell, taking out enemies as you move. The new power-ups are interesting, but they don't really pop up very often, so you're usually just rolling with fireball power. Overall, the level of control you're given and the moves and power-ups at your disposal are put together very well and help make the game fun.

Fun, definitely, but not especially challenging. There are a few levels here and there that can get frustrating because they demand that you take your time, but for the most part, the individual levels feel a bit short, though there are plenty of them to go around. You'll get into several boss fights along the way, but some well-placed fireballs make quick work of your foe--and you keep facing the same foe over and over again in boss fights that feel like they were lifted directly from Super Mario Bros. 3, with some occasional twists that attempt to make the battles feel different. But you're really just trying to beat Bowser Jr. over and over again, usually by jumping on him unless you have fire power, making the boss fights pretty underwhelming. Though they're so short that they don't have much impact on the game one way or the other.

The initial single-player quest is the main chunk of the game, and it's the best part of the game, as well. But there are additional modes. There's a two-player Mario versus Luigi mode that puts you up against another player in a short level that wraps around. Big stars appear in the world, and you attempt to collect more than the other guy. If you can hit your opponent with fireballs, jump on his head, and so on, he'll drop stars. It's a fun little diversion. Also, the game has a mess of touch-screen minigames, just like the ones found in the DS remake of Super Mario 64. Some of these games are OK, but for the most part, they're a little tired.

Mario's main adventure is the real action here. The other stuff isn't quite as exciting.

The game really rides the nostalgia line very well. There's just enough old or remixed Mario music and sound effects in there to remind you of the older games, and there's just enough newer-sounding stuff to prevent the whole thing from feeling shameless. In short, the audio is another one of the game's many high points, containing plenty of great sound effects (both old and new) and the standard array of speech you've come to expect from Mario.

With its ability to recall the older games without leaning too heavily on its famous name, New Super Mario Bros. is an essential new classic that lives up to the legacy of the series quite well. If you're looking for a quality DS game, look no further.

The Good:

• Terrific control
• Classic gameplay that still works
• Great presentation
• Evokes the original games without feeling shameless.

The Bad:

• Additional modes aren't nearly as interesting as the main game
• Some levels seem a little too short.

Download: (12MB) Update at: 30/11/2009

Genre: Action Adventure
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Online Play: 2 Versus
Local Play: 2 Versus
Release Date: October 01, 2007
Exclusively on: Nintendo DS
ESRB: E

Review:
It's kind of shocking when you think about it, but despite the Nintendo DS's nearly three-year lifespan, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is the first Zelda game to hit the system. The good news is that it was worth the wait. Phantom Hourglass is essentially a sequel to the GameCube Zelda adventure The Wind Waker. It retains the art style, surrounding world, and plot of that game, but it revamps the mechanics for DS use. The result is a game that is unmistakably Zelda, with its perilous dungeons, tricky puzzles, and engaging boss battles; at the same time, Phantom Hourglass is a unique and innovative entry in the series due largely to its exclusively touch-screen-based control scheme. Everything you do in the game involves taps and swipes of the stylus, from traditional fights and puzzles, to new and specialized functions that really change the way you think about playing a Zelda game.

Ultimately, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is a superb effort and pretty much what you would want from a first entry in the series on the DS. It's got a few pacing problems, and those who demand traditional control schemes will probably be turned off by this game's control methodology. But really, even if you're convinced you hate the notion of touch-screen controls, you owe it to yourself to give this game a try. Phantom Hourglass implements its control mechanics so seamlessly into the standard Zelda game design that it's hard to imagine anyone not appreciating it on some level. There are few games on the DS that take advantage of the touch-screen technology as well as Phantom Hourglass does. It's a must-play for any DS owner.

The Good:

• Gorgeous visuals
• Touch-screen controls work wonderfully
• Lots of nifty puzzles to solve
• Great boss fights.

The Bad:

• A few pacing problems make certain sections of the game a bit of a drag
• Some experienced players might find the game a touch easy.

Download: (46MB)

Genre: Action Adventure
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami TYO
Release Date: October 04, 2005
Also on: Cell
ESRB: T for Blood and Gore, Fantasy Violence

Review:
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow is the latest iteration of Konami's decades-old franchise and the first to appear on the Nintendo DS. Don't let the title fool you; this really isn't the dawn of anything, except maybe a bunch more Castlevania games on the DS. And the subtitle here is simply a workable way to include the letters D and S in the title of the game, as seems to be the requirement for the platform at this point. Dawn of Sorrow actually takes place a year after the events in Aria of Sorrow, which came out in 2003 on the Game Boy Advance. If you've played that game--or if you've played just about any recent Castlevania game actually--you'll be right at home with Dawn of Sorrow, because it's basically the same game repackaged to fit the DS. That isn't a bad thing though, because the Castlevania games have long carried the torch for good, old-fashioned 2D side-scrolling gameplay, and Dawn of Sorrow keeps that flame burning as bright as ever.

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow sticks close to the tried-and-true formula, so it will be an instant hit with anyone with an affinity for the sort of explorative gameplay the series is known for. While it doesn't do much to distinguish itself as the first Castlevania on the DS, the updated look, excellent music, and added controls help to refine the series even further. The bottom line is: Whether you're familiar with the series or not, you can't go wrong with Dawn of Sorrow.

The Good:

• Follows the tried-and-true Castlevania formula
• Smooth animation and detailed backgrounds
• Excellent music
• Wide variety of bosses and enemies to keep you busy.

The Bad:

• Doesn't do much to distinguish itself from previous Castlevania games
• Touch-screen controls are more cumbersome than they are enjoyable.

Download: (19MB)

Genre: Puzzle
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Online Play: 4 Versus
Local Play: 10 Versus
Release Date: March 20, 2006
Exclusively on: Nintendo DS
ESRB: E

Review:
There is a distinct chance that, were it not for Tetris, there would not be a Nintendo DS. Though there were superior versions of Alexei Pajitnov's elegant and dangerously addictive puzzle game available on other platforms, Tetris for the original Game Boy was the reason to buy Nintendo's first handheld. Considering the significance of Tetris to Nintendo's handheld legacy, it's a little surprising that it took this long for it to show up on the DS. Tetris DS features a great variety of gameplay variants and online play, and is absolutely smothered in 8-bit Nintendo nostalgia; yet the package makes enough minor, obvious mistakes to keep it from being absolutely essential.

Tetris DS has a lot going for it--plenty of gameplay modes, amazing game sharing, and online play--which makes it all the more disappointing that it contains no "pure" Tetris experience, and features a weak selection of online gameplay modes. But still, it's Tetris, one of the most popular and significant puzzle games ever, and some of the magic that put it in such a venerable position still manages to shine through.

The Good:

• Great selection of modes
• Online play
• Amazing game sharing
• Dude! it's Tetris.

The Bad:

• Compromising gameplay options that can't be turned off
• Minimal customization options
• Meager mode selection online
• Dude? It's Tetris.

Download:

Genre: First-Person Action Adventure
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: NST
Release Date: March 20, 2006
Exclusively on: Nintendo DS
ESRB: T for Blood, Violence

Review:
Given how long the Nintendo DS has been available, it's hard to believe that Metroid Prime: Hunters was one of the first games shown off when the system was first introduced. Some of you early adopters may remember getting a brief demo level of the first-person shooter as a pack-in with your system. After a long wait, the game is finally out, and for the large part, it hits the nail on the head as far as delivering a faithful Metroid Prime experience in the handheld. It's also got the best multiplayer options we've seen yet in a Metroid game and surprisingly fluid controls.

Despite those caveats, Metroid Prime: Hunters is an excellent multiplayer game and easy to recommend to anyone who enjoys FPS action. The single-player is also well worth a play through, despite its limitations, if only to take in the story and unlock all the hunters for multiplayer action.

The Good:

• Surprisingly fluid and precise control, once you get used to it
• Lots of multiplayer options for multicard, local play
• Four-player online play
• Great look and presentation, complete with numerous cutscenes
• Lefty-friendly control options.

The Bad:

• Level design is limited and linear
• Bosses repeat
• Online matches against random players are limited to battle mode.

Download: (42MB)

Genre: RPG
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: AlphaDream
Release Date: November 28, 2005
Exclusively on: Nintendo DS
ESRB: E for Crude Humor, Mild Cartoon Violence

Review:
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time is the second entry in Nintendo's fledgling role-playing game franchise starring the brothers Mario. The series began with quite a bang in 2003 with Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, a polished action RPG for the Game Boy Advance. For the next entry in the series, Nintendo and developer Alpha Dream have moved the sequel to the DS, have done some tweaking to the winning formula introduced in Superstar Saga, and have taken advantage of some of the bells and whistles offered by the dual-screened hardware. The end result of all this work is a sequel that maintains the same level of quality as its predecessor but falls just a bit short of surpassing it.

At the end of the day, Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time is a perfectly fine sequel that hits just about every point you would want in a follow-up. The visuals are excellent, and the gameplay offers just about the right mix of old and new. However, the game's music and story lack the kick of Superstar Saga, which ultimately keeps it from surpassing its predecessor. Still, it's definitely a game worth checking out for the DS given that there aren't many RPGs out for the system and that this is easily one of the best of the bunch.

The Good:

• Superb gameplay
• Engaging combat system
• Meaty quest
• Wonderful graphics.

The Bad:

• Weak battle theme music
• Occasionally awkward viewing angle makes jumping tricky.

Download: (36MB)

Genre: First-Person Shooter
Publisher: Activision
Developer: n-Space
Online Play: 4 Versus
Local Play: 4 Versus
Release Date: November 11, 2008
Also on: X360, PS3, PS2, Wii, PC, Cell
ESRB: T for Blood, Mild Language, Violence

Review:
Developer n-Space has been all about shooters for a while now, specifically when it comes to Nintendo systems. The team was behind GCN's Geist, was a ghost developer on Goldeneye: Rouge Agent as a first-time DS shooter, wowed us last year with Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare for DS, and is back again now with Call of Duty: World at War. The team has poured an incredible amount of content into the COD franchise thus far, bringing an extremely cinematic (it's on a portable; color us impressed) shooter experience with Modern Warfare, complete with more VO than any other DS title out there, a huge list of missions to explore, local multiplayer, lots of event-style gameplay, and a fun overall package that lasted just as long on the single player front as the final 360 version did - if not longer. Well, the team is back again, and just like last year the war machine has been turned up to full speed, as this year's offering - despite being based on the overplayed World War II era - brings some serious content to pocket gamers looking to dabble in the world of FPS.

Download:

Genre: Action RPG
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: AlphaDream
Release Date: September 15, 2009
Exclusively on: Nintendo DS
ESRB: E for Comic Mischief, Mild Cartoon Violence

Review:
The story in most Mario games boils down to three things: Princess Peach is ransom fodder, the Mushroom Kingdom residents are hopeless at damage control, and Luigi treads that fine line between hero and zero. But though these elements have been in one combination or another in just about every Mario game for more than two decades, Nintendo has almost always managed to put some new spin on the classic Mario formula to keep the games fun and interesting. Case in point: the recently released Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story, a fun and funny action role-playing game for the Nintendo DS that tosses Mario's longtime nemesis, Bowser, into the action as a playable character. The odd coupling of hero and surly shelled villain--who you just know is chomping at the bit to smash the mustachioed plumber--makes for not only comedy gold, but also a complete gold-star experience that's definitely deserving of your time and money.

On top of all this superb and varied gameplay, Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story boasts a colorful and crisp art style, impressive character animation, and some whimsical audio design that's perfectly in keeping with other aspects of the game. It's a fun, accessible role-playing game for the DS that anyone with even a passing interest in the subject matter shouldn't miss.

The Good:

• Funny story introduces some hysterical new characters
• Varied gameplay features plenty of creative puzzles
• Terrific array of moves and combos
• Badges and ranks are fresh additions
• Bright, vibrant visuals.

Download: 50MB

Genre: Third-Person Action
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: Rockstar Leeds
Release Date: March 17, 2009
Also on: PSP, iPhone
ESRB: M for Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence

Review:
At first glance, Chinatown Wars could be mistaken for a return to the Grand Theft Auto series' humble 2D beginnings. The action is viewed from a more or less top-down perspective, and of course you still spend much of your time driving stolen cars and causing trouble with firearms. But the similarities between this superb Nintendo DS game and its '90s progenitors pretty much end there. Chinatown Wars actually has more in common with GTAs III and IV than it does with earlier games, and, remarkably, it even adds to and improves on the formula that made those games so successful. That's a bold statement for sure, but Chinatown Wars really is that good.

Perhaps what's most amazing about Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is that it doesn't feel like a scaled-down handheld version of a GTA game. Rather, it feels like a logical and somewhat experimental progression for the series, introducing a handful of great new features that seem destined to become standard in future iterations. And don't let the art style or the presence of simple minigames fool you; Chinatown Wars is every bit as deserving of its mature rating as previous games. It's also one of the best GTA games yet.

The Good:

• Doesn't feel like a compromise compared to other GTA games
• Improves upon previous games with new features
• The massive Liberty City from GTAIV is instantly recognizable
• Intuitive controls make great use of touch screen
• Lengthy story, loads of optional activities, and fun multiplayer modes.

The Bad:

• Multiplayer supports only two people
• Camera doesn't always afford you a clear view of action.

Download: 60MB

Genre: RPG
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Game Freak
Release Date: March 22, 2009
Exclusively on: Nintendo DS
ESRB: E

Review:
Two things are certain in the crazy world of Pokemon: Somehow these adorable creatures trigger an undeniable urge to collect 'em all, and every new generation of games ultimately spawns a special edition with additional features. Usually these new editions rely on cheesy gimmicks, but Pokemon Platinum's gameplay is much more refined than that of its predecessors, Diamond and Pearl. The focus is still on classic, addictive battling, but Platinum also incorporates several new areas and an impressive array of subtle changes, making it the best of the bunch despite heavily recycled content.

Though most of Platinum's content is recycled from the Diamond and Pearl games, the Battle Frontier and numerous tweaks applied to even the smallest of elements manage to make it feel fresh. Pokemon Platinum's rich gameplay and extensive replayability create a highly satisfying adventure that's well worth taking for newcomers and Pokemaniacs alike.

The Good:

• Same great Pokemon core mechanics
• Countless tweaks refine the experience
• Battle Frontier, Distortion World greatly extend replayability
• Almost 60 Pokemon added to Sinnoh's native Pokedex.

The Bad:

• Limited, simplistic minigames in Wi-Fi Plaza
• Heavily recycled material from Diamond/Pearl
• Story could use sprucing up.

Screenshot:

Download: 30MB