DS Lite, worth it??

[Sladeophile]

mmmm, bread. I love bread, thank you princess leia!

 

[DRSpeed85]

I think both the PSP and DS have their comparative advantages, but they are marginal at best. Why not just get both? The PSP system is only worth 4~5 PSP games and the same goes for the DS. If you can afford it in the short run, it won't make much difference in total game expense in the long run anyway.

My PSP does some things the DS can't. I occasionally download magazines, watch movies, youtube style video clips and play some games. Aside from gaming, I can't see myselfing doing these on a dual screen. Plus the widescreen is perfect for a racing game fan like myself. And I just love GTA: Liberty City.

But despite owning a PSP, I do recognise the DS's appeal. The dual screen layout is very interesting for me. And having grown up with Super Mario, I'd really love to play some of them on the DS. Also the DS has winning eleven/pro evo soccer with infrastructure which is a huge leap ahead of the PSP version of the same game IMO. Those metroid prime games looks really nice as well.

 

[Mercuttio]

Perhaps I went a little overboard, but you've got to understand: The PSP was such a huge letdown for me. When a few more games pop up in a few years (and the screen issues are sorted out) I may pick one up. Right now, it only feels half baked in application. Games like GTA feel very under-designed to me... I much prefer the finished polished feeling of the DS Castlevania, Metroid, and many others. I expected the PSP to be the light and the way in the new portable world... and so did Sony, so they banked almost entirely on brand name.

I do want to try that new "Daxter" game though. I really liked that series on PS2.

 

[DRSpeed85]

Well strictly speaking, the DS isnt a perfect machine either. The games are good but I still can't think that the dual screen layout is necessary. I mean its a mess having two different screens showing different things. Since when is a map as big as the gamin screen itself considered good??? I remember my first experience of metroid prime and I was just staring at the lower screen puzzled at why the hell its there. Nintendo would probably be better off with a screen as big as a PSP but touchscreened. I think the PSP is a more refined option overall where it can seamlessly switch between wifi internet, music, video and games. The same process on the DS is abit more complicated. So far I don't really have a DS game that impressed me. I always found myself looking up the game reviews for GBA which I think are generally more "nintendo" for me. And again, I'm a huge racing fan. The DS is pretty poor in that respect. And no, I played Mario Kart when I was a kid. I want some proper Toca Race Driver in my pocket now. For now the PSP doubles as a PMP to a certain extent which the DS isn't.


Overall, I don't think either machine is completely superior over another. They have overlapping abilities and some comparative advantages. I'm a little surprised at times people get so serious about is essentially a gameboy going down to specifics of which is better than the other and why. These things are never meant for serious gaming anyway so why the fuss. We all have our own home consoles or gaming PCs too.

 

[Mercuttio]

Oh, the DS is definitely hugely flawed in its first iteration, and the dual screen bit was never necessary. I can't argue that. It was a gimick that was some sort of magical accident, I believe. The first DS hurt my hands badly. Particularly Mario Kart... it was rushed to fight the PSP. I'm glad they've fixed most of the problems with the DS Lite, hence my joy in it.

As a system, the PSP is a nicer piece of hardware in many aspects. But when you get right down to games, the PSP isn't pulling its weight. I'm all too aware of the strange "kiddie" game comments leveled at Nintendo, but those games are simply fun to play. I've got an Xbox 360 at home when I want to see more "adult" titles. And really, once you've played something like Half Life 2, GTA certainly seems like a "kiddie" title.

As for wi-fi on the PSP, I don't see as many games using it. The DS has a bevy of fantastic Wi-Fi ready games.

 

[DRSpeed85]

Good to see we're starting to agree with each other. I always thought it would have been absolutely awesome if they made something with a widescreen like the PSP but with a touchscreen. Both thumbs reach most parts of the screen and that could present some interesting solutions.

Man I'm jealouse that you have an xbox 360, I think its a wicked console. I'm twiddliing my thumbs waiting for the PS3. Its ridiculous that they've been delaying it for a year. It'd better be good. LOL

Half life 2 is the best PC game ever. Seriously. My laptop is running it with reasonable speed and I'm absolutely loving it. After years of counter strike, planting headshots on Combines is a doddle.

 

[Mercuttio]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRSpeed85 Good to see we're starting to agree with each other. I always thought it would have been absolutely awesome if they made something with a widescreen like the PSP but with a touchscreen. Both thumbs reach most parts of the screen and that could present some interesting solutions. Man I'm jealouse that you have an xbox 360, I think its a wicked console. I'm twiddliing my thumbs waiting for the PS3. Its ridiculous that they've been delaying it for a year. It'd better be good. LOL Half life 2 is the best PC game ever. Seriously. My laptop is running it with reasonable speed and I'm absolutely loving it. After years of counter strike, planting headshots on Combines is a doddle.

Yeah, I won't lie, I'm a DS convert. I bought the older system because of Castlevania rather begrudgingly... I wasn't too pleased with the build. I think that a second screen might be sort of a necessity though... now that I consider it. If the PSP was all touch, your hand would cover up the screen in many cases. You couldn't do the Mouse style control that works so well in Metroid on the PSP... you might obscure your view of the enemy!

Really, I just got so frustrated with my PSP. It had so much potential, but month after month I became weary of seeing it squandered. A nice gadget is one thing, but it needs delicious food. The DS has a lot of delicious food! My racing needs are well taken care of by the Xbox 360 now, and Mario kart is such an addictive multiplayer game!

Heck, the beauty of the DS is the "download play" feature. I can hang out with other friends who have the DS and they don't need a copy of Mario Kart to play a ton of tracks. Most of the games have REALLY solid "download play" multiplayer features... nearly the whole experience! As well, I can walk into any Best Buy or the Nintendo store here in NYC and download demos of most current games. Very user friendly. The DS won me over with features like this, and the PSP has a lot of catching up to do if I'm ever to buy another one.

 

[BlindTiger]

Mercuttio,
thanks for those pictures of the New DSLite.
Now to save my deposit cans and bottles.

 

[jjcha]

I'm a DS convert as well for the same reasons as Mercuttio above. I got the PSP pretty early on. I was living in Japan, though I didn't brave any "all night in the rain" craziness to get it. It was alright. Really enjoyed Ridge Racers, Metal Gear Acid! and goofing off with its multimedia capabilities.

I didn't pick up a DS until just a few months ago because I thought it was pretty clunky looking. But there just weren't any games I was interested in on my PSP, and I was a big fan of Advance Wars and FF Tactics Advance. Got it, played Advance Wars DS to death.

Then I got Tetris DS, and it's all over. I agree for the most part the dual screens/touch nature is kinda gimmicky (e.g., wouldn't Super Mario DS simply be better with another analog pad?) But for Tetris DS, the dual screen is perfect for competitive play. That coupled with the wifi Tetris madness. Crazy.

Of course the fact you can rotate blocks left and right forever, as well as stock them up in your "Hold" is utter blasphemy. But oh well, guess I'm a luddite.

Best,

-Jason

 

[bobeau]

"And no, I played Mario Kart when I was a kid."

LOL, I played Mario Kart when I was stoned in college. I got the original NES (w/ the robot) back in '86 or so - SMB, Zelda, Metroid, Kid Icarus... man those games had a pretty formative impact on what I like in a game. In the 90s I played a ton of the Sierra computer games, didn't buy another console until the N64 in college and even then didn't play it much.

I don't play games much anymore... got an Xbox and a few games for it, like Halo and GTA IV, but only made it about halfway through those before losing interest. Picked up a PSP on launch day as it was the sexiest piece of hardware I had ever seen. With Wipeout/Tony Hawk it was a pure marvel, though I took it back a couple days later due to 11 dead pixels. Waited some time to see if the problem cleared up and then realized there wasn't much gamewize that was enticing me to pick it up again. A good friend of mine came to the same conclusion and returned his to Costco.

Basically when I look at the DS Lite this is what I see - a killer new Mario game, a new Zelda game, a revamp to an attrocious design that is actually pretty attractive. A handful of other games people are really nuts about, and a handful of games that are somewhat innovative. On the PSP it's basically just ports of games I'm not too sure about. GTA looks great, but I'm burnt out on it. I don't know if I really like 'adult' games. It seems when the fighting games became super popular, you know, Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat, I sorta lost interest in the arcades. I miss Paperboy, Bubble Bobble, Ninja Gaiden, Double Dragon, 720, all the way back to the early 80s with Sprint, Zaxxon, Centipede, etc. Maybe it's just a childhood/nostalgia thing, I dunno, there seems to be something lost from games of the 80s like music is lacking today from the 60s... and I was born in the mid 70s. The GBA library, when looking into it, seems to have many games that cater to the notion. And some of the DS games seem to as well.

So I'll be giving the DS Lite a shot when it hits state side.

 

[Mercuttio]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjcha I'm a DS convert as well for the same reasons as Mercuttio above. I got the PSP pretty early on. I was living in Japan, though I didn't brave any "all night in the rain" craziness to get it. It was alright. Really enjoyed Ridge Racers, Metal Gear Acid! and goofing off with its multimedia capabilities. I didn't pick up a DS until just a few months ago because I thought it was pretty clunky looking. But there just weren't any games I was interested in on my PSP, and I was a big fan of Advance Wars and FF Tactics Advance. Got it, played Advance Wars DS to death. Then I got Tetris DS, and it's all over. I agree for the most part the dual screens/touch nature is kinda gimmicky (e.g., wouldn't Super Mario DS simply be better with another analog pad?) But for Tetris DS, the dual screen is perfect for competitive play. That coupled with the wifi Tetris madness. Crazy. Of course the fact you can rotate blocks left and right forever, as well as stock them up in your "Hold" is utter blasphemy. But oh well, guess I'm a luddite. Best, -Jason

If you were a luddite, you'd keep the original DS rather than Jonesing so hard for the DS Lite. I swear, I can hear you jittering for it from here.

 

[bobeau]

Mercuttio,

Do you know if there have been any QC issues with the Lite? I _might_ just pick one up off eBay... but lack of a place to return it to in case there are issues has me a bit worried.

 

[Mercuttio]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobeau Mercuttio, Do you know if there have been any QC issues with the Lite? I _might_ just pick one up off eBay... but lack of a place to return it to in case there are issues has me a bit worried.

Other than the occasional stuck pixel like mine, there have been no problems. If you wait though, NOA's got a good policy about replacement, and they'll be out in a few months.

 

[HiGHFLYiN9]

I'll probably trade my old unit in for the new Lite if we start seeing some new A-list games on the horizon. The current DS can be slightly cumbersome if you are constantly using the touchpad and holding the unit with the other hand. Looking back, Nintendo does reiterate it's products quite a bit. There are multiple versions of most systems and numerous types of gameboys. Sometimes they are worth it, sometimes not.

In regards to the DS vs. PSP debate earlier in the thread. I still find both lacking in quality games. There are only a handfull of good games for each system. With the DS the only games I really got into were Castlevania and Animal Crossing. Many of the new RPGs coming out are still in Advance format, like Tales of Phantasia for instance, and using the DS to play Advance games seems like a waste.

 

[mr_baseball_08]

People keep bringing up the fact that the PSP is great for all types of media, but for 25 bucks, the DS can do the same thing, correct?

Here is what I'm referring to.

I've always wondered my Nintendo put the dual screens on as it does seem pretty worthless.

Which reminds me, is there any reason why you HAVE to shut down the system when you finish playing a game or using an application? Why didn't they make it to where you can just go back to the main menu?