Don’t you think that modern video game consoles have become somewhat stale and uninspiring? I do. Without the quirky charm that once defined their identity, they’ve lost their distinctive flair, with the exception of the Nintendo Switch, whose unique hybrid design remains a standout feature. While this addition may seem superficial, it fundamentally alters the gaming experience, shifting focus from the gameplay itself to the environment in which it unfolds.
“That’s all well and good, but sometimes Nintendo can be unusually innovative – and yet, incredibly influential. Still, I find myself yearning for something more.”
Twenty years ago today, Nintendo cleverly anticipated my exact need with the release of the DS, a handheld gaming powerhouse that effortlessly balanced precision and humor. Man, what a console! As soon as I first set eyes on that system as a youngster, I knew it was something special; come the end of its lifespan, it had become the second-best-selling console in history, and it’s clear many others shared my sentiment.
Technically talking, the twin screens that make up the DS (sure, that is what DS stands for when you did not realise) wasn’t a brand new factor for Nintendo, it had already performed such a factor with the Recreation & Watch, as soon as once more proving that the developer and {hardware} maker had at all times been forward of the instances. The DS was clearly way more highly effective than any Recreation & Watch, and naturally extra so than the Recreation Boy Advance, too, permitting for some a lot larger titles. The real showstopper is undoubtedly the expansive secondary screen, prompting an intrigued “What’s the big deal about this?”
From the outset, the secondary screen unlocks an entirely novel dimension of gameplay, further amplified by its intuitive touchscreen functionality. Several iconic video game titles showcased the Nintendo DS’s versatility, including notable examples from Nintendo itself. Mario & Luigi: Companions in Time, for instance, was a ridiculously sturdy follow-up to its GBA predecessor, the place the grownup and child variations of Mario and Luigi could possibly be on two separate screens, letting you turn forwards and backwards between them to resolve completely different puzzles – easy, however oh so intelligent.
In The World Ends With You, a critically acclaimed game, players engage in real-time battles across both the touchscreen and the Nintendo DS’s top screen, controlling two distinct characters that must be synchronized to triumph over adversaries. In Resort Nightfall, the innovative use of the DS’s portrait mode allowed for a book-like presentation, perfectly suiting the game’s text-heavy nature. Even more thrilling action unfolds when you dedicate the top screen of your Pokémon to free-roaming space by relegating key UI elements to the bottom screen, allowing for a more immersive experience.
As I explored some video games later in life, I think the cumulative impact of those experiences profoundly shaped my perspective on what video games can be. We explore ways that technology enables us to engage more intimately with these creatures. With an additional interface to interact, you feel an intensified connection to the game, surpassing what consoles have achieved thus far. The PS2’s vast game library and online connectivity truly revolutionized the gaming experience, making it feel exponentially larger than its predecessors, with a wealth of new worlds and secrets to uncover.
The Nintendo DS allowed me to regard video games as dedicated spaces, domains that could be consistently designed with playfulness in mind, a characteristic often associated with handheld gaming. As I look back on my childhood, I’m struck by how playing video games helped me develop a sense of cooperation, a trait that has only grown more valuable as they’ve become increasingly homogenized – all controllers resembling identical twins with slight cosmetic variations today, and consoles prioritizing swift access over innovative menus.
Although I don’t play my original Nintendo DS as frequently as I once did, my 3DS has become my primary gaming console. Despite this, I still find myself drawn to the same sense of playfulness that initially drew me into the world of video games and continues to shape my preferences today. It’s still astonishing to think that even after 20 years, I remain enthusiastic about this pioneering console that was far ahead of its time; perhaps that’s simply the mark of being one of the greatest handhelds ever created?
