Most Overlooked DS Games - Part Four

Join me for another installment of Most Overlooked. The DS library is one of this generation's best-- if not the best. If there's a genre you like, it probably has some representation on Nintendo's dual-screened dominator. This is part four of our continuing series of overlooked DS games, so if you've missed a previous episode, feel free to catch up.

DS - Part One
DS - Part Two
DS - Part Three

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

What is to blame for the lackluster sales of GTA: Chinatown Wars? Is it the DS fanbase? Perhaps it's the portable fanbase as the game bombed even worse on the PSP. Maybe people don't enjoy top-down Grand Theft Auto games anymore. They certainly aren't as popular as the fully 3D ones. Regardless, this game is very enjoyable with plenty to do and see. The stylus-driven mini-games are a fun distraction, the missions are varied, and there's little in the way of frustration to worry about.


Phantasy Star Zero

Phantasy Star Universe was an unfortunate misstep in the Phantasy Star series. The game was clunky and the story was piss-poor. Phantasy Star Zero, on the other hand, fixes all of these problems and then some. Creating your own character is a breeze, and you can send your same character through either local or online multiplier or through the interesting enough story mode. Grinding levels, grinding for new weapons, and taking down massive creatures is a blast in Phantasy Star Zero. This is without a doubt the best Phantasy Star since the original Online.


Retro Game Challenge

Nostalgia can be a pretty powerful thing. It can make otherwise bad games seem good just for the sake of playing them when one was a child. Retro Game Challenge touches upon this with several retro themed games. These aren't ports or remakes of old games-- these are entirely brand-new titles made specifically for Retro Game Challenge. There's your standard Final Fantasy-styled game, a Mega Man homage, plus game cheats and articles from a made-up video game magazine. It's a great deal for a cheap price!


Bangai-O Spirits

Bangai-O Spirits gives gamers crazy cool shooter fun combining devastating supermoves with enough eye candy, explosions, and fireworks to make your eyes orgasm with delight. This game was made by the great Treasure development team who have worked in the past on games such as Sin and Punishment, Gunstar Heroes, and Mischief Makers. There's cooperative as well as competitive multiplayer, a level editor/creator tool, and much, much more. Those looking for a fun shmup to blast their way through should not hesitate to pick up Bangai-O Spirits.


Picross DS

Picross originally came out on the Game Boy under the moniker of Mario's Picross. I never was able to try that game out, so I was very interested in looking into the original DS installment (I just recently picked up Picross 3D). The game plays on a grid. Let's say 10x10 for example. There's a series of numbers one each side showing how many boxes need to be filled to solve the puzzle. There's never any guesswork to be done. All of the puzzles are solved with logical thinking. Picross DS is a terrific and cheap puzzler for anyone who is a fan of the genre.


Have I missed one of your favorite overlooked DS games? Don't just sit there-- let everyone-- including myself-- know what game or games I'm missing. You'll hate yourself if you don't!