Nintendo DS

Introduction

Nintendo DS
Developer: Nintendo (web site)
MSRP: US$149 (shop for this item)

I love the launch of a new system. I really do. It's always fun to open it up for the first time, and to see how the games are packaged and how the controller feels. Even after the industry shows, the demos, the pitches, and the marketing I never really know how I feel about a system until I can sit down with it in my apartment and give it a whirl myself.

So I didn't know what to think when I hit the town looking for a Nintendo DS. Like most of us I was skeptical of the unit at first, the idea of a handheld with two screens and touch capabilities seemed too gimmicky, almost as if Nintendo was getting into the PDA market. Sony seemed ready to take the handheld crown from Nintendo with specs that were more initially impressive.

The tune was changed when we were able to get a closer look at the system. The screens were a good size, and had a clear picture. What was even better was the tech demos, the touch sensitive screen was being used in so many interesting ways. We saw people drawing images on the screen only to have them enter the game world as an item, we heard Nintendo talk about wireless play, and unlike Sony Nintendo seemed to be stressing the games. Then they released the price at a very attractive $150 and people began to really take it seriously as a console.

So for you, my readers, I ventured out this Sunday and tried to buy a unit. This proved a lot harder in practice than it was in theory. It seems as if Nintendo was barely able to stock preorders, and many of the major video game chains claimed to be sold out through the holidays. I finally tracked down a unit at a Circuit City (I got the second to last one) and bought some software to go with it. After calling around and asking a few questions it seems as if finding one of these before Christmas may be a chore. Several sites are reporting that the DS is selling a lot higher than expected in Japan, and that Nintendo is considering opening a new factory to pump up production. Before that happens though, good luck and happy hunting.

I had mine in hand though, and I sped home to spend some time with it and my two software purchases: Nintendo's Mario 64 DS and Sonic Team's Feel the Magic. How does it stack up? Is it worth upgrading from the Game Boy Advance? Are you better off waiting for the PSP? Well, dear reader, grab a stylus and let's find out.

Is there makeup in here?

The box is in the classic Nintendo style, with a large graphic assuring us it does in fact come with a Metroid Hunters demo inside. To be honest, this is a pretty good spread for a system. While most console manufacturers try to cut every corner to get the cost of systems down Nintendo went the extra mile here to give us a good initial package. In the box you get the Nintendo DS system itself, the AC adaptor so you can charge up the battery, a wrist strap/stylus (more on that later), one regular stylus in the unit along with a backup stylus in the packaging, and the Metroid Hunter demo in a nice cardboard case.

It's a really slick little bundle of stuff, and I love the fact that you have a playable demo right out of the gate. It helps also that the Metroid demo shows off so many of the features of the DS. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

The system is large for a handheld, but it fits easily into my coat pocket. It's larger than the SP but not so large as to be unwieldy. The exact dimensions are 3.3in x 5.8in x 1.1in, and it weighs in at 9.7 oz. The system is powered by two processors, an Arm9 and an Arm7. The developers can choose which processor powers which screen, although the obvious choice is to use the weaker processor for the touch screen.

It feels solid and well put together in your hand, even if it does bare a striking resemblance to a woman's compact. The system has good tension on the hinges and can click open at two angles.

There's actually a lengthy set-up process upon first power up. You have to give it your name, your favorite color, your birthday, set the date and the time. The name is used to identify you in multiplayer games and in chat. The date and time are shown every time you turn on the unit, before you pick your game. The interface is actually stylish, and while I normally hate not having a system go straight into the game upon power on it makes sense in this case.

The DS has a slot for both DS games and GBA games. You put the DS games on the top, the GBA game goes on the bottom. When you turn on the system you get a clean, easy-to-read screen that has a clock, a calendar, and it lists the games you have in the side. You can either tap the name of either game to play it, or choose to enter PictoChat or a multiplayer game. Easy to use, and very functional. It would have been interesting if they had added a date book function in there as well, since the calendar is already displayed. I'd be surprised if we don't see a third party PDA app soon.

I found out later that if you want to go directly to your game you can adjust that setting in the options menu, so that's a nonissue. I still prefer the menu upon startup though.