Originally Posted By avatar_58 (16 JUN 2008 5:07pm)
Hotel Dusk drones on and on about stuff no one cares about. A shame considering how interesting some puzzles are and the overall art design. However I really don't care about these characters or their backstories - it's just not interesting. I still haven't finished it because it feels so overwhelmingly dull every time I pick it up.

Originally Posted By Jenny100 (16 JUN 2008 7:46pm)

I'm glad I'm not the only one.
I enjoyed Trace Memory, but Hotel Dusk I just can't get into.

Needless to say, Ghost Trick should be high up on any Nintendo DS gamer's list.

This is simply huge. Now if Ghost Trick had only been nominated - I would have been very pleased.

THE HANDHELD GAME OF THE YEAR is an adventure game. A darn good one too. This an amazing achievement: 

http://www.gamespot.com/best-of-2011...ex.html?page=5

Ok, I don't own a DS..but i've considered it.  It has always seemed to me that the contols must be a bit clunky.  Is this so?  And how much does a DS game generally cost?

"It has always seemed to me that the contols must be a bit clunky.  Is this so?  And how much does a DS game generally cost?"

The control is a touch screen. Which i love to play adventure games with. You touch the screen with a stylus - there is nothing clunky about this at all. Games are 14.95 to 34.95 when first released. Systems are 59.95 (refurbished origonal DS) to 169.95 (Dsi XL, 3DS).

I went to the DS from the PC for many reasons - one is collectability. DS adventure games can be quite fun to collect - as opposed to downloading a game which is where the PC is at now - at least in my area, no retailers carry PC games any longer. 

Thanks.

Next question: what is the difference between the Dsi XL, and 3DS, and can all of the games be played on either?

Also, I noticed that the DS/DSx whatever, has quite a small storage, even with memory cards.  This makes me wonder if one can keep multiple saves per game?

The 3DS is the newest system - it has advanced graphics capabilities including 3D graphics. The 3DS can play all DS games. The Dsi XL can only play DS games but has very large (4.2 inch) screens - larger than the 3DS screens.

Many games feature multiple save game slots, but many only have one save game slot - depends on the game completely. 

Thanks Mike!   I guess I'll be keeping an eye out for a 3DS going at a good price then. 

Aww, I'm happy for Ghost Trick! I played it a few months ago and it was so fun and unique. I wasn't 100% satisfied with the ending, but it's really nothing compared to 15-20 hours of amazingness.

Trav, don't worry about controls, they may sound clunky, but they are not! NDS is a nearly flawless platform for adventure games, in my opinion. If you purchase a flash cart, you can use homebrew software (music/video players, drawing programs, eBook readers, games etc.) - it's one of the most useful gadgets I own.

Originally Posted By Dona

 

Trav, don't worry about controls, they may sound clunky, but they are not! NDS is a nearly flawless platform for adventure games, in my opinion. If you purchase a flash cart, you can use homebrew software (music/video players, drawing programs, eBook readers, games etc.) - it's one of the most useful gadgets I own.

E-book readers?  Hey that might just solve my E-reader problem then!  Thanks Dona!

EDIT:  Ugh, my local game store don't know if you can get sperate flashcards for the latest DS (they only have the 3DS in stock) or of any apps that will allow you to do additional stuff like e-readers.

EDIT 2:  ..but I might be able to get these online, I see.  Bah.  I kinda needed an e-reader in a hurry..

Hm. I can also get this:MSI Wind Pad Enjoy

Features & Specifications:

..for the same price, and I know you get some games for the Android OS, but, all in all if I can only get a card for the DS, I truly think the 3DS would be a better buy.

@Dona:  Originally I thought you were talking about just a memory card, but now I see that what you may have been talking about, is a little flash cart thingie thats like a USb flash device?  Perhaps that's why the stores are not too sure what I'm talking about?  I guess most ppl these days simply use tablets for their 'other stuff' and not many ppl have thought of converting their DS's in this way. 

In the meantime, I've done quite a bit of research on the 3DS.  I know now that it's similar in price to the XL, but you can turn the 3-D off, even in 3-D games, since the 3-D gives people headaches and so on (I'm personally not a lover of 3-D myself)  my biggest problem will be to get that little flashcart, since i'd rather buy a tablet if i can't modufy the DS into an e-reader (which i know i can do with the correct tools).

I'm very seriously shopping for a portable reading device before Friday the 30th, on which date I'll be leaving to visit a place for almost a week, where I'll be offline and PC-less, and will want to have a reader at the very least with me.

Both the Dsi and 3DS come with flash cards already installed. These add storage capability to the units and allow you to download software onto them. You can also buy additional ones as these are the same cards used by digital cameras, etc. All you need to do is pull the card out and show it to a clerk at Best Buy and they will sell you one identical to it. The card is under a trap door on the side.

At 169.95 new and 149.95 used the 3DS is a great buy - plays lots of great games and has a huge library of software.

Nope, not that kind of flash card. I mean the one that is like a regular cartridge, only with a microSD card and goes into the cartridge slot. They are kind of in the 'gray area' because a lot of people use them to run backed up copies of games - you can take your guess what this means, although having a backup copy of a game you own is perfectly legal. And so is homebrew software since it's not for profit.

Here's a photo of Alice in Wonderland loaded into the reader program, so you can see whether you like it or not. You can change font, letter size and thickness, colour (both background and text), line/letter spacing and so on. It doesn't display pictures, but then again, most basic eBook readers don't. The text can be flipped around so you hold the console like you would hold a real book.

If you do decide to get a NDS and cart, keep in mind that 3DS and DSi firmware get updated via Wi-Fi occasionally and cart firmware needs to be updated as well - and if your console fw is newer than the cart fw, the cart won't work. In that case, the only way to update the cart is through DS/DS Lite. Erm, it gets confusing, you can PM me if you need more info on that.

Yep, it's not worth it as reader alone. I like it because old games look better on small screen and I can play those that I wouldn't have the nerve to play on my computer. My #1 reason for buying a DSi was a portable digital painting device, games and whatever else come second. The reader is something I discovered just a few weeks ago

I've had a handheld game machine of one or the other since 1993. The Dsi XL became my main system for adventure games by default. I have about 150 adventure games on the PC, but retailers stopped carrying them at all and compatability was always a problem - and retailers stopped taking them back if they didn't work. The PS3 didn't get the large amount of adventure games the Ps2 got so I didn't even upgrade it.

I'm currently playing Syberia on my Dsi XL and despite the games many faults I'm enjoying it. The backgrounds and animations are beautiful. 

My 3DS gets a good amount of play too - there are some quality games coming out for it that I'm really looking forward to.

Originally Posted By Mikekelly
I'm currently playing Syberia on my Dsi XL and despite the games many faults I'm enjoying it. The backgrounds and animations are beautiful.

That is one of the worst ports I have ever seen. I got it because I love Syberia and I like the idea of having it in my pocket at all times, but the port is awful gameplay-wise. It really put me off from giving Amerzone a shot on NDS.

This port - Syberia for the DS is TERRIBLE! It is so bad. The Myst port is awful too. Could you imagine getting these two games as the start of your DS adventure game collection? Scary thought. I got both for $6.99 each - so I did struggle through them to completion. 

I'm playing "Trace Memeory" now - it made the top 100 all time adventure game list and I loved it on my Ds lite - so I'm sure on my Dsi XL it will be even better! Ghost Trigger will get a replay this year too - along with 999.

Here's the list of top 100 all time adventures unique to the DS:

#65 – Hotel Dusk: Room 215  
#60 – Another Code (aka Trace Memory)  
#47 – Professor Layton and the Curious Village  
#41 – Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective  
#39 – Last Window: The Secret of Cape West  
#29 – Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney  

Not bad for a handheld. This list does not include ports to the DS or games released on the PC at the same time as the DS release.