Gamertell

Everyone is beginning to prepare their gift lists now that the holiday season is approaching and Black Friday behind us. That means it is time for the first ever Gamertell Nintendo DS gift guide. Hopefully this guide will help you figure out the best gifts for the hard-to-buy-for DS owner you know.

These are just suggestions, mind you. By the end of this year there will have been over 400 titles released for the system. Hopefully this small list will help you pick out a gift for someone, or maybe even something for yourself. (Games which can be played over the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection will be noted as such.)

Classics

Recent DS owners might have missed out on some really great games that were released. After all, a lot of great games have come out since the system was first released in November 2004. These classic games are ones that might not be as new, but they’re great games that are not only lots of fun, but also will keep players occupied well into the new year.

Animal Crossing: Wild World - $34.99, Rated E. Simulation. Nintendo WFC
New Super Mario Bros. - $34.99, Rated E. Action.
Pokemon Diamond/Pearl - $34.99 (each), Rated E. RPG. Nintendo WFC

General

There are some games which go beyond their respective genres and target groups. These are titles that everyone can enjoy and get into. In fact, each entry in this category is the latest entry in that particular game series. These are tried and true entries which continue, or in the case of Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations finish, the story and gameplay found in the originals.

Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass - $34.99, Rated E. Action/Adventure. Nintendo WFC
Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations - $29.99, Rated T. Strategy.
Cooking Mama 2: Dinner with Friends - $29.99, Rated E. Simulation.

For Kids

One thing that always bugs me about typical gift recommendations for kids is that it assumes they only play games based on popular movies, tv shows, or toys. They don’t. They’re more intelligent and capable than you think, and they deserve games which won’t dumb things down for them. And little girls don’t need to be playing some mundane Bratz game, they deserve to be playing games that are just as defined and exciting as the ones for boys. The following games aren’t ‘typical’ children’s games, but they’re ones that every kid should play. They’re intelligent, engaging, creative and feature great gameplay.

Chibi Robo: Park Patrol (Wal-Mart Exclusive) - $29.92, Rated E. Adventure.

Looney Tunes: Duck Amuck - $29.99, Rated E. Action.

Touch Detective 2 1/2 - $29.99,R ated E. Adventure

For Role-Playing Game Fans

It has been a good year for DS owners who happen to be RPG fans. A lot of titles have been released recently for the system, and most of them have been quality endeavors. That being said, it was hard to narrow down the list to just three for this guide. I picked out just a few of the best and brightest stars this season, and each one is a different kind of RPG. These three games will definitely suck fans in.

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings - $39.99, Rated E 10+. Strategy.
Luminous Arc - $34.99, Rated T. RPG. Nintendo WFC
Rune Factory - $29.99, Rated E. RPG. Nintendo WFC

For Action Fans

There have also been a lot of great action games recently released. The key to a great action game is one that is challenging, has intuitive controls, and provides an adventure that makes you want to keep playing. Replay value is always a plus in a title as well. The following games all fit that profile. Admittedly, Bleach: The Blade of Fate is a fighting game, but the story modes have some action elements and it can still slip in here.

Bleach: The Blade of Fate - $29.99, Rated T. Fighting. Nintendo WFC
Contra 4 - $29.99, Rated T. Action.
Mega Man ZX Advent - $29.99, Rated E. Action. Nintendo WFC

For Adults Only

People tend to gloss over the fact that the DS is not just a family-friendly system. Many adults own this handheld and sometimes a more mature player will want a more mature game. The following games were all created with an adult audience in mind. Two of the three are rated Mature. The one that isn’t rated Mature is on here because it is challenging, possesses adult themes and requires a lot of patience.

Dementium: The Ward - $29.99, Rated M. Adventure.
Ultimate Mortal Kombat - $29.99, Rated M. Fighting. Nintendo WFC
Lifesigns: Surgical Unit - $29.99, Rated T. Simulation.

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