I wasn't really aware of titles that didn't work without the GBA port. I know some DS games used the GBA slot for some GBA games to unlock certain features or stuff (Pokemon comes to mind), but I didn't know of that. Any link to those titles that don't work?

Off the top of my head, that one Guitar Hero game needed it.
I also remember there being some Japanese rhythm game that required it, as well, due the accessory.

I can't really think of any others.

Did they outsource the design to the same Chinese manufacturers who build NES/Genesis clone hybrids?

Meh, I'm going to wait for the 1DS.

There are also a couple of games where you need to close the DS/3DS and open it again for some in-game purpose. I don't know, there might be a way around that on the 2DS, though.

IIRC, the first two [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guitar_Hero:_On_Tour_series]Guitar Hero: On Tour[/url] games required their guitar grip thing, and that went in the GBA slot.

I think those were the only games that *required* it, though - there was also some non-game software; worldwide there was the Nintendo DS Browser and Japan also got stuff like the DS Digital TV Tuner.

If you include games where the GBA port was *optionally* used, there are many more; Pokémon is indeed the best known example of that, but there were others (like all the games that supported the Rumble Pak).

Not poking fun, but I bet you did not know that the GameCube could also produce 3D images in the same way the 3DS does.
Infact their spec are very close...



Wikipedia
"Nintendo developed stereoscopic 3D technology for the GameCube, and one launch title, Luigi's Mansion, supported it. However, the feature was never enabled outside of development. 3D televisions were not widespread at the time, and it was deemed that compatible displays would be too cost-prohibitive for the consumer.[34] "

Wikipedia claims that there is a "SLEEP" slider to mimic that feature. This makes sense; the DS treats closing the lid as a button anyway, so it seems like a pretty straightforward way to map it.

I seem to recall that Another Code/Trace Memory had a puzzle where you had to close it partway to let one screen reflect on the other; that one is going to be a bit harder.

It has a sleep mode switch similar to the PSP, so maybe that'll work for the purpose since I have a feeling the games just detect when the system entered sleep mode, not the system physically closing.
I forgot all about that puzzle.
Worst case scenario, you might have to refer to a FAQ to complete the game now, I guess.
I mean, that sucks, but that doesn't really make the game unplayable.

I get what you mean, though.

Granted that is a long list, but yeah also a matter of personal taste.

Aren't the Pokemon games basically not the same game apart from some extra's and a new colour?

There are some titles i never heard of, didn't even know ys had a ds release. Will check some out.

Yeah, a lot of the DS's library worth mentioning appealed to me, so it turned out to be a pretty good handheld for me. Considering that only about 10-15% of the total library is worth mentioning at all, though, and the fact that those all pretty much appeal to the same audience, I could see why somebody might not like the library if the games just didn't appeal to someone.

For the ones I grouped, I did so because they were the same game outside of what you can catch. For the separated ones (Black/silver/etc), I did so because they do include new mechanics, balancing, different regions to explore, different stories, etc. Yeah, the base gameplay is the same, though. For Conquest, that's more of an SRPG with Pokemon as your troops. There's also the Mystery Dungeon games, but I don't really like those.

Honestly, for the Ys games, at this point, there isn't much of a reason to play them. When they were released, they were pretty much the only way to get a modern version of 1&2 in English. With the release of 1&2 on PSP and PC, though, they negate any reason to really own the DS version since those versions are better than the DS release. The base gameplay is the same, but you get better quality music, graphics, etc. in the other releases.

Why I bought a DS. If these were the only games ever released for the console I'd still think it was an essential console to own. Anything else the console plays is just a bonus.

Still livid Miles Edgeworth 2 never got an English language port.

I don't think this is all that dumb of an idea... I mean it is smaller than an open 3DS, if you look at the videos (or it seems so, to me). It makes me think of the Wii U controller. $129 MSRP will probably mean $99 on sale, and I think that's pretty decent for a current-gen console.

As for the name, if it really stresses you out, just put the 2 at the end instead of at the beginning. Makes more sense when you look at it that way.

Hmmm...Wii Mini, Virtual Boy, and now the 2DS. All have one thing in common.

If we're lucky, the fan-translation might be finished some time in our lifetime's.
That doesn't really justify Capcom skipping it, but at least we'll get it somehow.
My DSTWO is ready.

I'm still a little miffed about no physical release for AA5 since I like to own physical copies of console games, but I can deal with it.