The Nintendo DS is often overlooked as a gaming device for more expensive consoles like the PS3 and 360. Thought of as a platform for casual gamers, the great games that come out for it rarely get their time in the spotlight. That said, I've compiled a list of ten of the platform's greatest games in 2010. If you consider yourself a gamer at all, you should do yourself a favor and pick up these games.
Alice in Wonderland for the DS is a much better adaptation of Lewis Carroll's book than Tim Burton's recent movie, fuzing a myriad of puzzles with exploration of the game's unique visual aesthetics. With charming characterization of the story's characters, the game does justice to the original story instead of bastardizing it with some vulgar 'dark' reinterpretation of the tale, not that there's anything wrong with subversive art.
Developed by French studio Etranges Libellules, Alice in Wonderland features simplistic, childlike visuals that elicit more emotion than all the expensive CGI of the movie. Unlike other games featuring Alice, this one puts you in control of the four supporting characters (McTwisp, Absolem, Chesseur and the Mad Hatter) who must guide her way through the game. If you've ever played The Lost Vikings you'll be immediately familiar with the game's mechanics. If that doesn't sell the game for you, I don't know what will.
Known in Japan as Final Fantasy Gaiden, or side story, The 4 Heroes of Light is Final Fantasy's return to classic RPG form, and a step away from the cinematic flare of the main series. Released in Japan last year, it only made its way to foreign shores and into the hands of waiting gamers late this year.
Like classic RPGs, enemy encounters are totally random, and the turn-based battle system resembles old school RPGs, but with a "Boost" action in place of mana points. The game also borrows a staple of western RPGs by allowing full customization of the characters' appearances through the equipping of armor and weapons. Like previous Final Fantasy titles, character classes can be defined through a job system.
Playing the role of a 14-year old boy named Brandt, the player forms a party consisting of four heroes (the classic Final Fantasy ensemble) to rescue a princess kidnapped by the Witch of the North. Though the quest is a tired old trope, the adventure is engaging thanks to the four main characters.
A sequel to the top-notch Scribblenauts released the previous year, Super Scribblenauts returns with more puzzle-based fun, allowing players to summon more objects than ever before to collect the Starite on each level.
As Super Scribblenauts is an actual sequel rather than an expansion pack, one of its new features allows you to add characteristics to summoned objects, like "fire-breathing Karl Marx". Super Scribblenauts also features an improved level editor for players who can't get enough of the game.
Sonic fans may be lamenting the series' demise with the release of each new spinoff, but Sonic Colors is one of the few games in the series that actually manages to reclaim Sonic by actually being fun to play.
Playing in three dimensions, Sonic Colors uses a similar move set to Sonic Unleashed, but plays way more fluidly than its predecessors, bringing back that exhilarating sense of speed that Sonic CD was known for.
Available on both Wii and the Nintendo DS, the DS version also features Missions, Time Attack and competitive multiplayer modes for wireless play.
Dark Dawn is a return to the Golden Sun franchise that takes place 30 years after the events of the previous game. With the world in peril once again, a new generation of heroes must rise up to face the threat.
Alright, so there's nothing particularly imaginative about the initial set up, but Dark Dawn is good where it matters: the character development. Although the dialogue is rather wordy, the localization team did a good job with injecting some much needed personality into each of the characters, making this one of the better written titles on the DS platform. The only real complaint I have with the game lies with its mute protagonist, though the NPCs more than make up for his silence.
Fans of the series will find themselves immediately at home with Dark Dawn's gameplay, which doesn't differ too significantly from its predecessors, which includes a return of the Djinn system. All in all, and despite its flaws, Dark Dawn is one of the best RPGs available on the DS.
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