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DS Lite Buyer's Guide

So you finally broke down and bought a DS, eh? Welcome to the fold. Check inside to see which of the hyped-up games deserved the hype, and which you should pass on. We've prepared the perfect DS library for you...

...Continued From Page 3

Buy

Mario Kart DS
If you're a new DS owner and haven't yet played Mario Kart DS, all you really need to know is that the game lives up to the hype surrounding it. It's a great single player title in its own right, but truly shines when you get eight DS players in one room. Eight-player matches were possible in Double Dash, but only in a total of four karts. This time around gamers finally have access to true eight-player races, and its glorious. A limited eight-player single cart multiplayer option is even available. Similar to Super Smash Bros. Melee, in any given multiplayer session, so much cool and hilarious stuff happens that in a lesser game any one of those experiences would have made a good story. In these games they just come with the territory. Unleashing a lightning bolt and hearing eight friends all exclaim in unison is an experience I'll never forget.

Bomberman
A Disclaimer: Bomberman's single player is bad. Like, really bad. You'll play it once, see how bad it is, and never go back. If you're looking for multiplayer goodness on the other hand, it's extremely tough to beat. Eight-player single card multi ensures that if only one of your buddies breaks down and picks up the game, everyone can get in on the action. The sheer number of multiplayer options, modes, and variables is what earns the game a spot on this list. We count 29 unique multiplayer modes. Some are more compelling than others (makes sure you try 'blocks'), but none of them seem throwaway. Bomberman is probably the best multiplayer value available on the DS, if you have DS-owning friends.

Consider

Metroid Prime: Hunters
Thanks to the MP:H's well-publicized stylus control, the game is the best portable FPS ever released, but that isn't really saying too much. Control is smooth and accurate after the initial learning curve, and a wide variety of characters with varying powers, and a large selection of maps helps boost the multiplayer longevity. The game doesn't seem to have much (or any) soul, however. Big FPS nuts are unlikely to get too into Hunters because as good as it is, PC FPS's are superior. More casual FPS fans on the other hand are likely to be turned off by how hardcore the deathmatch is. Hunters offers a robust four-player multiplayer experience but it isn't a must-own.

Skip

Worms: Open Warfare
You'd think that Worms DS would almost be a must-purchase. Worms on the PC always faired much better than its console counterparts because of how important mouse control was. Now with the stylus, all console control issues should no longer be a problem, creating a perfect portable worms experience, right? Not quite. It's true that the stylus control works well, but that's unfortunately about the best thing Worms DS has going for it. The games reeks of being a cash-in. It uses the same voice samples Worms games have used for years, and features no new weapons or game mechanics of any kind. It isn't a bad game per se, and the singe cart multi is commendable, but there's a lot better multiplayer titles to pick up before considering a Worms DS purchase.