15 used and new from $64.99
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Review & Description
The Nintendo DS is going to transform the portable gaming world. It's a complete portable entertainment and communications unit that lets you see the game action from a new perspective. The two screens offer touchscreen control for a groundbreaking control style that sets it apart from other systems. Access items, move characters or navigate menus by touching a stylus to a screen. The built-in voice recognition lets you command your game by voice, while the wireless options let you send text messages, drawings and IMs. This combination of new gaming features and portable communications will shock and impress you. Comes with Rechargeable Battery Pack, AC Adapter, Stylus, Screen Cover, Wrist Strap and playable demo of Metroid Prime: Hunters - First Hunt. Create a local wireless network with up 16 players, with a 30-foot range 1GB of built-in memory for faster gaming and shorter load times Dual slots support both GBA and DS gamesIn a surprising number of ways, the Nintendo DS is quite unlike any video game system that's come before. First, there's the two screens, one above and one below. The idea might seem like a gimmick -- the screens are far enough apart that you won't be able to see them as one long screen -- but the format works in a complementary way. Depending on the game, the DS serves action in one screen and details, maps, stats, or alternate views in the other. Switching your eyes between screens takes a little getting used to, but quickly becomes automatic, like checking a rear-view mirror while driving. Both screens are back-lit and a little larger than that of the Game Boy Advance SP, so they'll be easy to see in most conditions.
Players can control games using the touch-sensitive bottom screen of the DS. |
The good news is that Nintendo has stressed a lot of comfort options, both in the operating system and in their games. Want to play Metroid without the touch-pad? Select a different control scheme in the game's option menu, which also includes configurations for lefties. You can even customize your DS to automatically play the inserted title or to start with the main menu, choose which screen to display your GBA games, to add a nickname for wireless play, and more.
Up to 16 players can connect wirelessly within a 100-foot radius. |
Also, unlike all but the earliest video game systems, the DS comes with a built-in application. It's called PictoChat, and it allows people to write and draw pictures in a chat-room format. Since it's built in to the DS operating system, you'll always be able to interact with other DS users.
The built-in program PictoChat lets you write and draw with others. |
Overall, the Nintendo DS represents a rather large leap in portable gaming. With some mystery shrouding the future abilities of its internal microphone (voice recognition) and its IEEE 802.11 wireless network, the DS may have left some surprises up its sleeve. --Porter B. Hall
Pros:
- Great design marries innovative new features with great features of old systems and lots of customizable options
- Wireless up to 100 feet
- Built-in PictoChat lets you write and draw pictures with up to 15 other DS users
Cons:
- Sometimes hard to see and use the touch screen at the same time
- Wireless multiplayer feature won't work with GBA games
- Can't connect to other wireless devices...yet
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