What's good for the DS this season?

[Loyal]

Christmas is coming up, and I'm being pestered for my holiday wishes. We had the Wii thread not long ago, but it occurs to me that I haven't been keeping up with DS news at all lately (for reference, I haven't gotten a single new DS game since last Christmas), and the 3DS isn't due till March-ish.

So, what do you folks recommend?

[PCD]

Would be helpful to know what sort of things you've got for it already, and what things you're into.

Most of what I've bought this last year has been sequels or remakes, i.e. Pokemon Soul Silver, Ace Attorney Investigations, Professor Layton and the Unwound Future, and just last week Golden Sun: Dark Dawn. I go with what I know works, and it hasn't let me down yet.

As for the most recent to come out, Golden Sun has proven to capture the spirit of the originals really well, in all the right ways, and also the tedious one of having dialogue that is unbelievably unbelievable. Dear god the exposition. But the puzzles are a lot of fun to work with, the battle system handles well--it's a well-done RPG, just like its predecessors.

[Loyal]

Would be helpful to know what sort of things you've got for it already, and what things you're into. Figured you guys could just go nuts and I'd figure it out from there. I wouldn't want to overlook any possibilities. Not like there's harm in mentioning something I already have.

I suppose I should mention I have no intention of bothering with the new Pokeymanz. Also, anything that requires the microphone to progress is a bit out of the question as the one on my DS isn't operative. I don't remember how much it costs or how long it takes to send it to Nintendo for repairs, but it's outside warranty by now.

[PCD]

How many games actually require the microphone? I think I've used mine for a total of three games as an extremely minor feature.

[Loyal]

How many games actually require the microphone? Bowser's Inside Story uses the microphone for the Giant Bowser battles, and both DS Zelda games required it as well. One early-game puzzle for Phantom Hourglass, and each of the panpipe segments of Spirit Tracks.

[Eltargrim]

Golden Sun 3 is out for the DS.

I have no idea whether it's good or not, but if the previous two are any indication...

I'll be buying it shortly.

[Great Cartoonist]

Heh, Golden Sun wins the hearts of every RPG fan once again.

For me, I'm still all over Super Scribblenauts. I don't need to tell you how AWESOME that game is as you'd probably have other sources telling you anyway.

Also, I hear Rune Factory 3 and Dragon Quest IX are good.

[Azisien]

Dragon Quest IX is pretty boring and the handbook for doing a mediocre RPG. At least it showed your gear on your sprite though!

[Aldurin]

I need a good action or rpg game that has good replayability, I'm relying too much on my computer and PS3 for entertainment.

[EVILNess]

Maybe pick up Lufia Rise of the Sinistrals? It's an action RPG.

[Aldurin]

I'm looking into it, but whether or not I find it is a separate issue of its own. I was looking around the new nintendo list when Final Fantasy: 4 heroes of light caught my eye, then I saw the graphics and I decided "screw that, it's like maplestory but even worse because it's in low quality 3D".

So I need to find something either reflex intensive or strategy intensive (that means both strategy or RPG) or I'll be forced to descend into the madness that is building a team on Pokemon Platinum that will kick ass in Battle Revolution.

I miss the old games like Sonic Advance 3 . . .

[Loyal]

Maybe pick up Lufia Rise of the Sinistrals? It's an action RPG.I thought I should mention I had decided on this plus a few Wii games. I had completely forgotten this existed till you mentioned it.

[Aldurin]

A quick look through the Nintendo list and I've noticed Mega Man Zero Collection, Nostalgia and Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey.

I want opinions and bitching about these, so I know exactly what shit I'm going into.

And NonCon, GPD has a review for only the Mega Man one so I would like to see you participate in the crowd of bitchiness about games.

[Kim]

There is a review for Strange Journey (http://www.gamepad-dojo.com/?p=1059).

Short version: Strange Journey is very much like Nocturne, but with sci-fi trappings. Nocturne is easily the superior game and you should play it. However, if you've already played Nocturne, or you can't play it for whatever reason, there's really very little reason to not play Strange Journey. Strange Journey is a pretty great game. It's just not Nocturne good.

I haven't played Nostalgia so no idea on that one.

[MuMu]

Nostalgia

From the little I've played it, it's just your standard jRPG but in a steampunk setting.

Turn-based random battles, some cool animation for the Skills, Ship combat is slightly more intricated than ground and it has a Skill Development System a bit like FFXII licenses.

I liked how this time the Mage didn't have to choose between a weapon that raises Physical Attack or one that raises Magical Attack, the maces just raise both and that's it.

[Aldurin]

Yeah, so I'll probably go with SMT or Mega Man Zero.

Also looking through the Nintendo list and scrolling past almost entire pages of pointless crap gives me the urge to adopt and finish KQ (http://kqlives.sourceforge.net/) then port it to a mobile system.