hupfinsgack said:
Their DS version of the Sims is supposed to be rather competent, at least if you're into that sort of thing. Let's list all the non-crap 3rd-party Wester DS software:
1. Age of Empires
2. Sims 2
3. Nanostray
4. ????
Where Are the Good 3rd-Party DS Games?
- Thread starter fearsomepirate
- Start date
Their DS version of the Sims is supposed to be rather competent, at least if you're into that sort of thing. Let's list all the non-crap 3rd-party Wester DS software:
1. Age of Empires
2. Sims 2
3. Nanostray
4. ????
fearsomepirate said:
4. Tony Hawk's American Sk8land
5. Bomberman
6. Zoo Keeper
7. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
8. Mr. Driller Drill Spirits - DS
Those are all I know of with good review scores. Though IMO there are some others that I thought were good that weren't rated well (Splinter Cell is the most obvious, I really liked that game). So yes there is a lack of good western games compared to Japanese ones.
I forgot about Sk8land. However, Hudson Soft, who developed Bomberman, is located in Sapporo City, Japan. Mr. Driller is by Namco and didn't get terribly good reviews, either. Zoo Keeper was done by a studio named "Success," which is based in Tokyo. So our list is up to:
1. Age of Empires
2. Sims 2
3. Nanostray
4. Revenge of the Sith
5. Tony Hawk
6. Ultimate Spider-Man
1. Age of Empires
2. Sims 2
3. Nanostray
4. Revenge of the Sith
5. Tony Hawk
6. Ultimate Spider-Man
Mr Driller was developed by Namco in California according to IGN (maybe they're wrong, who knows) and its reviews weren't bad (71.5% average on GR very similar to Revenge of the Sith's score). I forgot about Ultimate Spiderman, FIFA 06 might be a candidate as it was easily the best handheld Football game I'd played until Pro Evo on the PSP. Though to be honest if it was my own personal list there would be a few more in there even below the 70% mark, Splinter Cell being the first, that game was treated horribly by reviewers.
Still Japanese developers do seem to have gotten to grips with the system best (although some of Nintendo's own DS games are actually developed by western based studios. Metroid Prime: Hunters springs to mind)
Still Japanese developers do seem to have gotten to grips with the system best (although some of Nintendo's own DS games are actually developed by western based studios. Metroid Prime: Hunters springs to mind)
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Teasy said:
In my opinion most Western dev don't bother with specifically developing for the DS. Mostly, it is just revamp of a general franchise (Burnout, etc.). They don't take the time to fool around with the possibilities of its features and come up with some new ideas. Instead they'll most take over the general gameplay and then add DS controls to it. That's not only a bad idea, it usually doesn't work at all. Taking a racer and adding touch screens controls doesn't work that well. etc.
However, there loads of genres that can be easily realized on the DS without major brainstorming. Strategy titles, adventures, etc. One can only wonder why the big publisher like EA, haven't ported some classic games of those genres. Easy money.
http://ds.ign.com/articles/705/705380p1.html
Vicarious Visions strikes again on the DS with a stealth-based 3D platform game running decent 3D on both screens, it seems.
Vicarious Visions strikes again on the DS with a stealth-based 3D platform game running decent 3D on both screens, it seems.
Another Code/Trace Memory gets reader review average of 8 according to IGN. Their review pegs it at 6 tho, but press average at 7.6. Seems a decent enough game, I'm gonna buy it 2nd hand when I get my DS. 
Guden Oden said:Another Code/Trace Memory gets reader review average of 8 according to IGN. Their review pegs it at 6 tho, but press average at 7.6. Seems a decent enough game, I'm gonna buy it 2nd hand when I get my DS.
It is really nice, but it is also extremely short. It's more of a rental if you ask me.
my wife bought it and beat it in about a day, then traded it in. that game is definatley a rental, according to her anyway. no replayability, extreamly short, and what she described as an unfullfilling ending.Guden Oden said:Another Code/Trace Memory gets reader review average of 8 according to IGN. Their review pegs it at 6 tho, but press average at 7.6. Seems a decent enough game, I'm gonna buy it 2nd hand when I get my DS.
Well, I'm gonna get it irregardless because the manga girl on the front cover is cute.
Guden Oden said:Another Code/Trace Memory gets reader review average of 8 according to IGN. Their review pegs it at 6 tho, but press average at 7.6. Seems a decent enough game, I'm gonna buy it 2nd hand when I get my DS.
Brilliant uses of the DS features (some of the puzzles are downright excellent), but, as was said, extremely short (you can play it a 2nd time in order to get some details on the storyline, though). 2nd hand sounds like a good plan for this game.