Team Fremont.com-Nintendo DS: Hardware Review Review

Nintendo DS: Hardware Review

The Nintendo DS has been possibly the single most controversial piece of gaming hardware since I can remember. Formally announced less than a year ago, Nintendo pulled this one totally out of seemingly thin air. Initially announced as being a portable gaming device with two-screens, some gamers and journalists the world over labelled the device as a gimmick whilst others realised that Nintendo were trying to break the mould of current game design. At the time most of the functionality of the DS was unannounced and Nintendo were adamant that the handheld was not to replace the Gameboy brand but was a ‘third pillar’ to compliment the Gamecube and Gameboy consoles. Not long after some specs were released indicating the rough design of the console and its current project name: Nitro. With 2 ARM processors the machine would be able to produce graphics similar in quality to an N64 game and in some areas surpassing them.

E3 came and in a huge blaze Reggie (I’ll have your arse then take your name) Fils Aime showed the DS to the world for the first time. Explaining that the DS was a way for gamers to experience new ways of playing, he revealed the true functions of this innovative console. Dual Screens and Touch Screen were the first to be mentioned followed swiftly by the new microphone input. Of course the real ‘biggie’ was still to come, dual wireless multiplayer linkup. Wireless LAN up to 20 meters and WiFi that can will make it possible to play games with people in different time zones/countries. As the Regginator likes to put it “it’s better than online it is no-line”. I couldn’t argue with someone who is fully capable of kicking my arse and taking my name could I?

Showing demos of Mario 64 and Metroid Prime Hunters running smoothly on the console it was obvious from the start that Nintendo were onto a hit with the DS. Developers are excited to make new types of games and I for one am glad to have the opportunity to play them. Other tech demos shown at the event showed huge promise for the DS and the announcement of a brand new 2D Super Mario Bros game sends me over the edge. One of the great things about this console is the multiplayer aspect and the possible impact on social gaming. With the ability to alert the user to any nearby DS consoles and the stunning download function it will make multiplayer games with random people on the bus or at work/school so much easier. Only one cartridge is needed as a host and then every other DS unit can simply download the game from the host. Nintendo have also expressed an interest in allowing gamers to use this function to download limit demos of upcoming games from shops or WiFi hotspots.

So were does the DS come from? Many people in the media and games buying public believe that the DS is Nintendo’s answer to Sony’s recently announced PSP. I personally disagree with that assumption totally as there is no way that Nintendo could have come up with such a unique console with all of these features in 1 year. Seriously, the research and development for a console like this would take years and I believe that the DS has been around since before the GBA was released. Going back many years ago there was a rumour that a new handheld was in development at Nintendo code-named Atlantis. It was rumoured to contain a Strong Arm RISC based processor and be able to reproduce Mario 64 on the small screen. When the GBA was announced most people had already forgotten about Atlantis and those that hadn’t assumed that the Strong Arm equipped GBA must be it. I’m certain that the DS is infact what project Atlantis eventually evolved into over the years with input from various people in Nintendo including the great Yamauchi-san.

OK so the DS is now released in the USA with a very persuasive price point of $150. It comes packaged with a demo of Metroid Prime Hunters aptly titled First Hunt. You also get 2 styli in the box just in case you accidentally lose one, the thumb strap and the nifty AC adapter/charger. The DS comes partially charged up and will give you about 3 hours play out of the box but you will need to start charging soon (remember you can still play it whilst it is charging). The first charge will take around 3-4 hours but after that seems to be less. I can tell you that both times I managed to run the battery down fully it took between 10 and 12 hours although Nintendo say between 7 and 10 hours as there guidelines. Either way you won’t find it running down faster than your GBA would.

Upon turning the console on for the first time it will ask you to configure several settings such as the date and time. You can enter your birthday in (I’m not sure if this does anything but it’s nice that your DS is so considerate), calibrate the touch screen name the DS and more. After all this the DS will reboot itself and save the settings you have just chosen. All these options can be changed from the options screen at any time afterwards. You can also set how you want to boot the system up there. (Auto which boots the DS game immediately, or Manual which always boots up the menu first). From the menu you can also access Picto Chat, the built in software package that allows you to char with other people on their DS consoles in an Instant Messenger type environment. Picto Chat allows you to draw pictures and write/type messages. It’s a nice freebie but being honest I doubt many people would have bought it.

The console itself is about one and a half times the length of the GBA SP and the same depth it is roughly the same dimensions as the standard GBA with the top screen folded shut. The screens are slightly bigger and are backlit rather than front lit which provides much more even lighting. If you play the console in the dark you’ll find the light to be far brighter than that of the GBA SP. The actual screens themselves are far higher quality and playing GBA games on the console really does highlight this although because the GBA games are lower resolution there will be a small black border on screen. The DS is heavier than the GBA SP but not by much, it certainly won’t feel weighty as many people may expect. DS games slot into the console at the rear and can be released by pushing in slightly and then popping out. GBA games plug into the front underneath the Touch Screen. The Stylus also slots into the back of the DS and nicely clicks into place reassuring you that it isn’t going to fall out any time soon.

The DS sports a pair of high quality speakers that are capable of simulating surround sound to good effect and can be turned up much louder than the GBA. Thankfully, Nintendo have seen fit to include a headphone socket on the DS as well as a headset input which is rumoured to allow voice over IP chat functions. The D-Pad is slightly larger than the one used on the GBA and I find it much more accurate and comfortable. The face buttons, B, A, Y and X are slightly smaller than on the GBA but again feel more comfortable with satisfying click action. The L and R buttons are much larger and placed more comfortably and after a few hours racing on F-Zero Climax I can truly say that the standard controls on the DS are fantastic in comparison with the GBA SP.

Whilst on the subject of input I have to mention just how great the Touch Screen is. Within a few minutes you’ll find it natural to use and it appears to be incredibly durable with any apparent scratches merely wiping off. Included with the console is a thumb strap which can be used to simulate an analog stick by using the touch screen. I freely admit that this takes some getting used to and for hours any sane person will be swearing at this bastard of a device. Once you get past that stage though this thing will become your best friend offering us all a fantastic way to control our games. Trust me you will find this awkward at first, you will no doubt find your thumb reaching the edge of the screen and then you will scream at this thing repeatedly. That goes after a couple of hours trust me. After getting some serious time on both Mario 64DS and Metroid Prime First Hunt I now love this little ‘nubbin’ and the freedom of control it gives.

I imagine by now that you are all wondering about the greatness of the Metroid demo right? OK first things first it is short, but then it IS a demo after all. Upon booting the game up we are treated to a lovely CGI scene with Samus doing her funky stuff across 2 screens. You will most likely salivate at Samus standing proud spanning 2 screens – I know I did! After the lovely CGI you get the choice of which type of game you want to play and the control method. There are 5 different control setups in the demo which should provide enough options for any rational gamer left or right handed. After playing around with each you’ll find your favourite, I personally opt for the first option as it allows me to use the ‘nubbin’ to look around offering a nice mouse style setup and unrivalled precision. There are 3 single player training missions to choose from and the LAN multiplayer option. The single player modes are great, there is Regulator which is the mission, Survivor which has you trying to kill as many Metroids as possible until you die and there is the Morph Ball mode. Regulator is a 10 minute mission to reach the end and defeat Dark Samus. You’ll get to blast hordes of Metroids, use the morph ball cannon, test your jumping skills and learn to conserve ammo. Yes that’s right Samus now has limited ammo. There are of course several pickups for missiles and power beam available in the demo and you’ll need to learn to conserve these for the battle with Dark Samus at the end. The Morph Ball mode is slightly different in that you are navigating a course picking up energy balls against a time limit. Using the touch screen will give you unrivalled speed and control with the Morph Ball and in no time you’ll become an expert. I haven’t been able to try out the Multiplayer just yet (being as I live in the UK and the chances of me finding someone who owns the console remote) but I can tell you that there are 3 different maps to choose from; Trooper Module, Assault Cradle and Ancient Vestige. Graphically the game looks gorgeous, running smoothly throughout with great artistic design. There are some transparent textures and other nice effects and the character models look great. It really does look like a trimmed down version of Gamecube Metroids, it doesn’t have the frills but is still one hell of a looker. The audio is for me the strongest point using the virtual surround option so you can hear where an enemy is located. The quality of the audio is really high and the soundtrack is based on remixes of various tracks from Prime and the older 2D Metroids.

My final verdict on the Nintendo DS? I just love this console. It feels just right, has a vast array of new functions, all of which work great and provides new gameplay. Even the mini games on Mario 64DS had me hooked in a Tetris way and I haven’t experienced that in years. The console itself is of a high build quality and looks great. The screens are fantastic, the speakers and audio capabilities are out of this world and there are so many great games in the pipeline. I haven’t been able to try out the wireless features yet but I’m sure that this is going to redefine multiplayer gaming the world over. It is also worth noting to importers in the UK that the GBA SP adapter does work on the DS no problems at all so get importing so I have someone to play Metroid against ;)

I simply cannot stress how much I love this console. DS is the future and Touching is good!

Article By: Phil Haymes