Pretty compelling review

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp7Be1qs … Baby%20Arm

That's actually part one of a 3-part series, if you didn't see the others. The other 2 are great (and humorous) as well.

Yes, very well done.  I had no idea the lite was THAT much brighter, though I don't think I'd even want to run it on the brightest setting there.

I generally stick to the second level of brightness for most games, but NSMB demands it be played on third level or higher.  So beautifully radiant, it becomes.

The higher brightness settings are best reserved for outdoor play, though, where sunlight glare is cut down considerably.

That makes sense.  I usually skip these sorts of double dips, but given how much I play the DS, I may just have to invest in a lite after all.  It looks quite sweet.

So I got my Lite today. My choice of reservation was actually breaking street date on Friday, but couldn't contact me because my phone number was transcribed incorrectly. Blargh.
Anyway, I also picked up Brain Age, New SMB, and Super Princess Peach. Add to that the Phoenix Wright I bought a while back, and I've had a great day.
The brightness is a wonderful thing; I usually keep it on 3, the preset. Playing PW brought to my attention a lone dead pixel (red, if you're curious) in the top-left quarter of the normal screen, however, I'm deciding whether it bothers me enough to act upon. Any advice? Recommendations for the future? Warnings? Musings? Hell, let's just talk DS.

As if I need an excuse.  I'm with you on the brightness setting - I keep mine at level 3; that's a lot brighter than the original DS but not the blinding blaze of level 4.  I know quite a few people who keep theirs at level 2, though.  Level 1 is about equivalent to the original model.

How about colors?  Anyone Euro posters planning on getting the black unit?  One of the advantages of the white that Americans are getting stuck with is that it probably doesn't show off the THOUSANDS OF HORRIBLE FINGERPRINTS my Enamel Navy one does.  That said, I prefer my portable systems to be darker in color, generally... it seems to make the screens stand out more.

As for games, there's so much goodness to be had on the system.  I just finished The Rub Rabbits, and while it's good, it lacks the freshness that made the original Feel the Magic so awesome in my eyes.  It feels really strange to have a sequel at all... there are a lot of Sega games that are weird and quirky and work well just as a single title, like Chu Chu Rocket, I guess.  That's just my own personal opinion, though.

"Hell, let's just talk DS."

Sounds good.

DS Lite has two things working against it for me:

1. D-pad looks too small. The one on the original is probably the best one I've handled.

2. It doesn't come in blue (yet), like my original DS does.

Anyway, it's bright enough and the size is JUST perfect, so I don't foresee an upgrade in the future.

Anyway, I've had the system for about 2 months now and I've ballooned to 10 games already...Probably a record for me, but all are ones I was planning on getting at one point or another, so I figured what the hell. And only one of which I can say didn't work out (Lost Magic...Sounded great in theory, but falls flat in practice, once the feature of using the touch screen to cast spells wears thin and you discover how vulnerable your main character is) Plenty more I want (Phoenix Wright, Castlevania, Mario and Luigi 2, that Monopoly/Yahtzee/Boggle compilation), but that'll hold for now. Level 5 Touch Mode and Level 5 Push Mode in Tetris DS is more than enough...That's actually my favorite game at the moment (with New SMB running a mega-close second)

If I had to rank what I own:

1. Tetris DS
2. New SMB
3. Peach
4. Mario Kart
5. Feel the Magic (a must buy for the $9.99 used it goes for...Great intro to Touchscreen 101...Well, this and the New SMB minigames)
6. Pac Pix (Woot! This was actually the first game to interest me in the system. I want a gamerip of the music.)
7. Kirby Canvas Curse (need to get used to it...VERY awkward at first)
8. Mario 64 DS (my first time playing it...not thrilled about the controls, but already better than Mario Sunshine...makes me wonder if it would be possible to make a DS-nunchuck attachment with an analog stick, ala Wii)
9. Lost Magic (see above)

Incomplete: Meteos (got it last week as part of a buy 2, get 1 free deal...LOOKS good, but I've spent too much time on Suikoden V, Pac Pix and Tetris to get to it).

Joe, how does Rub Rabbits compare to the original FtM? The only minigames I didn't get into were the ones where you blow into the system and the shopping cart one, with the junk in the street...Everything else ranged from 'fun' to 'awesome' to 'WTF!?...In a good way'. I enjoyed the unicycle and painting ones the most.

So I got mine too...yeah, seems like they came a bit early to Gamestop (and presumably everywhere else).  I got the digital recording voicemail this Saturday evening, and knew full well what I'd be doing early Sunday after I rolled out of bed.  To the town that is 20 minutes away I drove....pretty funny, for me, it was a throw back to my younger years as a gamer-holic...the store was packed, many people in line to pick up their "reserved" DS Lite...I had already bought a week earlier (along with the DS reservation) NSMB, and Castlevania DS...today I also picked up Brain Age, because I had the opportunity to check it out briefly, and found it to be pretty cool concept (The DS looks cool sideways...lol)

My initial impressions: a MUCH better system than the original...it fits fantastic in my hands, and I did not get any sense of pending carple tunnel during my near 3 hour investment.  I've been digging, thoroughly, NSMB, and Castlevania (GoldfishX, the latter is not in your top 10?? what up with that?!?)  The sound is terribly quiet...a friend of mine joked the next model will be called "DS Audible"...I have to think this is Nintendo's reaction for all the people who are losing their hearing with their ear-buds / iPod combinations...My Bose headphones though seem to pick up all the necessary sound. 

A wierd side note - the clerk at the store accidently cut his hand and got blood on my new DS box...didn't realize until I was half way home.  When I realized it, I immediately went back and got another one.  A humble apology ensued...

In any event, it is all about the games now, and, not having purchased the original DS, am very pleased with the new toy.  Now if I can just find some more time to play...***Sigh***

- Brandonk

p.s. there is nothing quite like the smell of new Nintendo game/system manuals...how do they do that?

I got mine today... and it had a lovely bright blue stuck pixel in the middle of the bottom screen. -_- Callin' tomorrow to see if they have any left in stock for exchange.  If not, it's gonna be a few days.  Argh.

Amusingly enough, my first PSP was dead/lit/stuck pixel-free.  Both of my DSes have had at least one bad pixel.

Simple...I haven't beaten Harmony of Dissonance or Aria of Sorrow yet, so I haven't bought it yet. Something about Metrovanias doesn't excite me anymore...Like, I know I'm going to do well while playing and the sense of challenge is absent from the series. Finding items and navigating the castle doesn't interest me the way old-school Castlevania does, I've learned.

Mind you, it's an eventual purchase...It just it has lower priority at the moment.

It's pretty much more of the same, which is the thing I found disappointing about it.  Yes, there are a few blowing minigames again, and there are a number of minigames that are just rehashes with a fresh coat of paint.  Some of the new ones are quite good, though.  Also it might be a hair easier, as I never remember wanting to chuck my DS out the window with Rub Rabbits like I did with the final boss in Feel the Magic!

Same here. I preordered, waited patiently for a couple of months, brought it home and charged it. I tossed New SMB in, booted it up, configured the DS to my liking (my favorite color is pink) and... BAM! Bright-ass neon green dead pixel right near the center of the touch screen.

I called the nearest Gamestop where I know the manager and he told me to just bring it in for an even exchange (I picked it up at a different Gamestop). New one looks and works fine... but, damnit, I hate dead pixels. Such a bummer.

More specifically, perhaps we can talk DS screen protectors.  Hori's Screen Protectors are most certainly the way to go; it goes on clear, is virtually unnoticeable if applied correctly, and will ensure that your screens remain scratch-free and healthy even under the most strenuous stylus activities.  Seriously, it's cheap but effective insurance worth investing in. 

It was covered in brief in the other related topic, but the long and short of it was the comparison between the original DS Hori Screen Protectors versus the Lite brand.  I'm not sure if they've rectified the gunky residue that the Lite's brand leaves with the new pressings, but I wouldn't take a chance and would just go with the original DS protectors.

The original DS protectors, however, are becoming increasingly more difficult to find, at least here in the States.  If you're fortunate, you might be able to pick them up at your local EB or Gamestop.  If not, I'd suggest eStarland, which although is temporarily out of stock, is expected to get some more in soon.  This is the U.S. version of the product, which is exactly the same as the Japanese brand, but with the added benefit of English instructions. 

Wanna chew some more DS fat, eh?  Well, everyone who hasn't should -- nay, MUST -- pick up Ouendan and Phoenix Wright the first chance they get.  Ouendan's first year anniversary is coming up, and it still reigns as my all-time personal favorite DS game.... at  least, until Elite Beat Agents debuts.

I'd love to hear some of your impressions of Phoenix Wright once you get some more playtime in, SonicPanda.  Although if you get hooked into it, you might wanna pace yourself; waiting out for the sequel next year is killer!

That NYC Lite launch party looked pretty cool.  It's been ages since I've visited the Nintendo World Store.

I just picked up Big Brain Academy, which I'm liking a fair bit.  It's more accessible than Brain Age, I think, and the exercises are more enjoyable.  I was thinking of picking up Magnetica next; I had some decent fun with Zuma.  Anyone try it yet?

I wonder if the original DS will begin phasing out anytime soon?  My local Target, at least, completely took their stocks off the shelves, and now only carries the Lite.

Anyways, glad you guys are enjoying your systems!  The dead pixels thing sucks, so I do hope you're all taking the necessary actions to correct them.

And by the way:

Phoenix Wright reprint, again in stock:
http://www.ncsxshop.com/cgi-bin/shop/NTR-P-AGYE.html

If you're hesitating even now, it just means you're not really interested in the game.  Which would be a crying shame.

I played Phoenix Wright and it just didn't work for me.  Perhaps someone that posts here bought it from me.

I played the demo for Brain Age and didn't care for it either.  What you said of BAA has me slightly curious, but I am more interested in Magnetica.  I really enjoy Zuma (still got the 9th level to do) and am curious how well it would play using a stylus.

Angie, just picked that up. Finally.

Man, oh man. Thanks times a million for the link!

/buys you a cocktail

Re-ordered it in late may after selling my to the store. XP

Hmmm.... I have Elite Beat on pre-order already.  How much Japanese is in Ouendan?  I'm toying with the idea of getting it, but last time I checked, NCSX wanted nearly $50 for it.  As for Phoenix Wright, I still need to finish that...

Gonna have to disagree there.  Big Brain is sort of like a Wario Ware title with only 15 minigames intead of 200.  With the exception of a few golds I still need to get, I nearly finished the whole thing in one evening.  It's fun and addictive for sure, but it doesn't track your progress over time the way Brain Age does, and that pretty much ruins the "brain training" aspect.

Rumors out of Japan seem to agree.

Ok, I finally tried the DS lite.  I must say, it's quite sexy and the screens are gorgeous.  My only issue is with the new d-pad and buttons.  Do they need to be so soft?  I like the clickly buttons on the regular DS because they require less pressure to activate and that reduces fatigue over lengthy play sessions.  Has anyone played their lite long enough to be able to testify as to how your thumbs hold up on those soft buttons?

Good karma to ya, Zane.  Would love to hear your impressions on PW, too!

Yes, $50 is the retail import price.  But c'mon, look past the fact that a DS title is priced as such, and simply treat it as if it were a new console game.  Its worth is equal, if not moreso, in my opinion.

The game itself is about as import-friendly as they come.  Gameplay is self-explanatory, and the opening menus are very easy to get around.  There's a fair amount of Japanese in the manga-like story sequences, yes, though a lot of it is onomatopoeic fare, so the visual presentation is quite comprehendible.

My younger bro just bought a DS Lite, so I went bargain hunting and found him a used Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney for only $20 = Score!!   

Played a little of New SMB and Brain Age and both are great, so my next system purchase just might be a portable instead of a console... 

Never really been big on portablesin the past, so that'd be a big shift for me, but the notion of paying such huge prices on home console hardwares just isn't appealing at all.

FYI: Nintendo is emailing out Circuit City coupons for the DS lite + Brain Age for $129.99 (basically you get Brain Age for free).

At least you were able to find a copy of The Rub Rabbits. I haven't even seen it yet.

Saw that yesterday when I was out shopping, You want me to pick it up for you?
Offhand I don't remember if it was a New or Used one though...

Well just send a PM if you want me to check price/grab it.

Update: SOLD OUT as of June 19, 2006 at 3:58PM EST
«©NCSX» Please note our entire allocation of Phoenix Wright is now SOLD OUT. Gone. Vamoose. Buh Bye. Although we stocked the same quantity as the first reproduction which lasted us for about a month, we're sold out in a week this time around. There were days when we sold 100+ copies in an afternoon and another 50+ copies during the evening hours. There's good news however - Capcom will publish a THIRD REPRODUCTION of Phoenix Wright in mid-August. We'll restock by then for any backorders that are submitted. If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Phoenix Wright from the next batch, please wait until August before placing your order since our shop will process transactions automatically upon checkout. We don't want to charge you for a game that won't ship for another 6 weeks.

---

I'm extremely pleased that the game is selling so well.  Still, maybe Capcom should deem it a safe bet that upping the number for their reproduction copies can't hurt at this point?

Of course, the Japanese version is still readily in stock:

http://www.ncsxshop.com/cgi-bin/shop/NTR-P-AGYJ-N.html

play-asia.com has the Japanese version for US$10 less (not taking shipping into account tho).