As great as the console is, it's the games that make it such an essential purchase for any gamer. After only a year on sale in the UK there are already too many AAA titles to list, and things are only just beginning as more and more developers realise that the DS is the format to developed for. Add to this the thousands of Game Boy games its backwards compatablity allows it to play and you have the finest catalogue of games any one machine has ever possessed.

While it doesn't have the graphical power, movie/music playback (out of the box) or the impressively large screen at the disposal of the PSP, that shouldn't deter anyone from picking a DS up, as it really is all about pure entertainment - and the colourful graphics of many DS games are undeniably more pleasing on the eye than the cutdown PS2 games the PSP currently has to offer anyway. However, Nintendo has already released an improved model, the DS Lite in Japan, which will be arriving on these shores in a couple of months. With a more aesthetically pleasing styling, smaller casing and a sharper screen, it is worth holding out for if you're patient enough to do so, but apart from those changes it performs no differently to the current model.

Mario Kart DS is, for my money, the best version of the game released to date: essentially a 'best of' compilation of the previous games, including the Gamecube version, as well as new tracks and additional play modes, making it not only one of the DS's finest games but one of the greatest games of all time on any format.


DS: The Best Handheld ever!   February 26, 2006
 11 out of 14 found this review helpful

I have both a PSP and a DS. With the PSP, I wasn't very impressed; it was big and bulky, the analogue stick was fiddly, and the special features were useless and unnecessary. When I got the DS, I almost forgot I had the PSP. Pictochat is so addictive; you can make little cartoons if you're skilled enough, or just doodle whatever you want. Warioware makes maximum use of the DS's capabilities, and it's just so addictive! It's smaller and cheaper than PSP, though admittedly the graphics are less sharp. It's also more comfortable to hold. So what if it can't play movies? I never found myself using PSP's useless, rubbish, unoriginal special features, whereas with DS the special features are so addictive, especially the voice sensors. If you're still not convinced, Nintendo will soon be releasing the DS Lite, a smaller version of the current DS, which has superior graphics and screen and is more compact and can play music.


As a casual gamer, I am very impressed.   February 24, 2006
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

I rarely write reviews on items I buy. However, I felt like I had to make an exception for this product.
Quite simply, the DS has made me excited about playing games again. As a kid, I remember playing on my Snes and Mega Drive for hours. There was something so fun about the games of that era.
I am not sure what happened, but I lost my interest in gaming shortly after the release of the Playsation. The games just did not appeal to me - the magic of the games from the older console systems was lost. The sparkle, the colour, the humour, the magic.
Enter the DS. It really is a breath of fresh air. It is like being a kid all over again, I am excited about playing games again! The magic of playing games is back.
Also, the games are very affordable. £25.00 and under. Plus, being able to play GBA games if you wish is also great! The array of games availabe is quite remarkable, there is so much to choose from!
I am very pleasede with my DS. It has recreated a gaming experience which I thought was lost all together. A great alternative to a console too.
If you are considering buying a DS, do not hesitate. You will be pleased and pleasently surprised!
PS. I feel obliged to infrom people that, Nintendo are releaseing a new version of the DS very soon (six months). A version with a refined design, that looks much nicer. But the capabilities are exactly the same. This did not affect my decision however, I wanted the original release!


psp vs ds my answer   February 8, 2006
 9 out of 18 found this review helpful

when getting a handheld consloe 9 out of 10 people gat them for travaling why then would you get psp with its 4 measly hours of battary when on the ds you get 10 hours battary life. when it comes to looks the psp will win hands down but at what cost just breahing on it probably scratches it and finally games admitaly the ds library of games was not massive when it came out but what games nearly every game is made for the ds not just shrunken down games that i have on x box for example why buy pro evo 5 on psp when it does not even have master leage i would much rather just stay home and play it on my xbox with my big screen and better graphics

psp vs ds

psp does not stand a chance