Two can be better than one
When the Nintendo DS debuted over 15 years ago, my childhood brain was full of fireworks from the new piece of tech in my tiny hands. Bundled at launch with a Metroid Prime Hunters demo to show off the console’s 3D capabilities, it seemed like witchcraft that Nintendo was able to pack so much magic into such a tiny package. Looking at it now, it was actually a monster of a brick compared to today’s sleek devices, but at the time, its blocky shape and two screens glistened with potential for games to come.
My first introduction to the DS was in elementary after-school daycare, where a classmate would let me play the Metroid Prime Hunters demo included with the system. With my previous comparison for handheld games being my Gameboy Advance SP, I remember being in awe that games looking that good could be played anywhere. A bit later on one freezing Christmas morning, I finally got my own red Nintendo DS bundled with Mario Kart DS to play to my heart’s content. Even 15 years later, the Nintendo DS is still a console worth picking up today, with more than ever to play on the little machine.
The Nintendo DS library is one of the most robust available on a console, even today. Planting seeds for new innovative ideas with games such as Elite Beat Agents, Phoenix Wright, Brain Age, Pokemon, Super Mario and many more, the 2-screened DS was a great place for games, both new and existing, to try new things on unique hardware. The console also saw ports of classic games such as Super Mario 64, Chrono Trigger, among others. Super Mario 64 DS was my first introduction to the game on any platform, adding content such as mini games, as well as using the bottom touch screen for the game’s map. Small tweaks like this made to classic games — as well as the ability to play them handheld for the first time — makes them feel right at home on the DS. Whether being new to a game or playing it for the 50th time, the DS can be enjoyed by everybody with its game selection.
In addition to a large library of original games as well as enhanced ports, the Nintendo DS also has a Gameboy slot on the console’s lower half, granting the ability to play any Gameboy Advance game. This turns the DS into two different consoles and makes the amount of available games to play significantly more robust. Not only this, but the DS is fully backlit, making it one of the best places to play these games outside of the backlit Gameboy Advance SP. Whether that means playing through multiple generations of Pokemon games, or revisiting WarioWare for the GBA, the ability to pop these old games into the DS and simply play them with no additional hardware or fuss is a great feature to have built-in and not found on most modern consoles.
While an array of games is fantastic, a handheld console isn’t as fun if it can’t withstand wear — and luckily the Nintendo DS was (and still is) a tank. With a chunky clamshell design, the Nintendo DS was an absolute unit of a handheld, later to be significantly slimmed down with the DS Lite (picured above). Whichever of the two you choose, both iterations can be thrown in a bag or tossed around (to an extent) without taking a hit to the inside screens or worrying about it breaking as much as a Nintendo Switch or Gameboy with exposed screens. I recently purchased a secondhand DS Lite, and despite some scrapes to the outer shell, the console plays as good as new with many potential years left of use.
Video games are fantastic as a medium and should be accessible for anyone who wants to give them a shot. Luckily a used DS or DS Lite can be picked up for less than $100, making it a great time to jump in for the first time, revisit, or even use as a backlit gameboy. Whatever your reason is for grabbing a Nintendo DS in 2021, it’s never been a better time to explore this little handheld with huge dreams.
