The BIG DS Voting Thread, Coming to You Weekly: Thanks For Voting!

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin - 10 points (1st places - 2)



You say: "Initially I didn't get on with it but after probing a bit deeper a very full and clever game emerged. A true gem; if the purpose of this thread is to get people to explore games that didn't get the attention they deserved at the time, this is a top recommendation."

I say: I echo that completely, as I was one of the two who gave this their first place. Probably my favourite Castlevania - the dual partner system worked well, combat was enjoyable and fluid and it was a completionist's wet dream as there was so much to do. Colourful art too, and the music was great as per Castlevania standards. This only just made it to the top 5, edging out fellow Castlevania game Dawn of Sorrow, which is a shame as Dawn of Sorrow is a similarly cracking title.

Solatorobo: Red the Hunter - 13 points



You say: "Er, it was nice and colourful?  And had some interesting minigames?  And I'm told that the story gets better later on?"

"Picked up on a random whim and was quite the surprise package. Fairly underrated little gem."

"Strange story that isn't usually my type of thing but it gripped me."

"It was pretty fun going around and fighting and stuff. Not something I can say too much about but it was fun!"

I say: Surprised this placed considering you guys were only just lukewarm in describing it, but it seemed to crop up on a fair few lists, so there you are. Can't say I can pretend to know anything about it, considering this is the first of me hearing of it, but it seems colourful in screenshots!

Okamiden - 23 points (1st places - 2)



You say: "They tried so hard to make a sequel to one of the most epic games on the Wii for the DS, a console that really wasn't up to the job.  The result was that Okami's gorgeous open world was butchered up into slow-loading chunks.  However, this was more than compensated for by maintaining the impressive art style, a great story, and a sequence of genuinely likeable, character-full companions (Yoshi's Island DS take note).  Not to mention CHIBITERASU AWWWW LOOKIT THE TINY ICKLE DOGGYKINS."

"Nobody is gonna tell you Okami wasn't a great game, but did it star a cute little puppy? D'aaaw..."

"Obviously not quite as beautiful as its Wii counterpart but a fine game anyway. There were enough differences to keep me wanting to return to it."

"A wonderful game and a great sequel to Okami. I much preferred the touch screen to the pointer or analogue stick controls, though this proved once again I cannot draw a circle. The partner system was great fun and I prefer this to the original."

I say: N'AWW LOOK AT THE PUPPY. One I've not played, but from what I've heard it seems to represent the epic scope of Okami quite well for a DS title. The art is gorgeous as to be expected, and it's one I probably should play, considering how much I enjoyed Okami!

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks - 24 points (1st places - 2)



You say: "The forum could argue all day over which DS Zelda is worse (or better, I suppose).  For me, it's simple: the train is less cumbersome than the boat.  Plus it has great music.  Plus, choo choo!"

"A game that must be said I only played because a friend said "It's ever so good" which normally gets my heart pumping in preparation for a good game. This being my first foray into zelda I must say, I was impressed.The gameplay seemed to make use of every tool the DS had, including the spirit flute which is probably the only instrument I can play above averagely. The only way to fault this game is in the graphics but then again playing a game for the graphics is like watching porn for the story. ;)It really is ever so good."

"Not having to return to the same dungeon again and again and the interesting relationship between Link and Zelda worked in it's favour, the horrible train sections to move around the overworld did not."

"The Link and Zelda dynamic made this a Zelda game like no other, but trains just aren't as adventurous as sailing the seven seas and the impact of the perfect gameplay wasn't the surprise out was the first time."

"A brilliant way to make the stylus work coherently in a Zelda game. As good as Phantom Hourglass, except without the bloody repetitive stupid bloody dungeon in the middle."

I say: ALL ABOARD! The image of Link's concerned looking face seems to sum up the forum's response to this - it's Marmite in Zelda form, either you love it to bits for the Zelda/Link relationship and DS Zelda gameplay or you hate it for its overworld and the train. Its second place success was almost derailed (Heh) by Okamiden, but its quest for first place went completely off the tracks (Hahahaha) by the next game, which steamed ahead (HOHOHOHOHOHHOHOHO) to victory.

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass - 36 points (1st places - 3)



You say: "The right way to do handheld Zelda and being a sequel to my favourite in the series made it even more enjoyable."

"An amazing conversion of the Zelda template into a touch screen game. Nintendo nailed it."

"Beating out Spirit Tracks because a) it reminded me of Wind Waker and b) it had Linebeck, for my money the most memorable NPC in the series."

"A brilliant way to make the stylus work coherently in a Zelda game. Mostly better than Spirit Tracks, except with the bloody repetitive stupid bloody dungeon in the middle."

"It did great things with the touch screen, and looked pretty, and had some good bosses, but... I'm afraid the rest goes into a dishonourable.  Sorry Linebeck: it's not your fault.  You were great."

"A great use of the DS's features and unlike the shoddy ST the overworld actually had a couple of islands to find and the dungeons were better. None of that Phantom possessing nonsense too."

I say: I was initially concerned when this first came out, as I was unsure if Ninty would do a DS Zelda properly. Five minutes with the game and my fears were set at ease. It just worked so damn well, the controls were intuitive and how they utilised the stylus for your items was great. The Grand Central Dungeon can bog right off though.

Solatorobo: Red the Hunter: "No amount of cheer and colour can hide this title's unimaginative, one-note combat and rubbish environments.  And even if they could, the dialogue is tedious and not skippable enough, while Red's one of the most annoying heroes in Christendom.  One of the worst titles I've played on the DS."

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks: "Plenty of good ideas but somehow far less than the sum of its parts."

"The train was horrible, the phantom possessing was lame and the dungeons weren't that good or as new as PH. Naff."

One forumite didn't include a comment for their dishonourable mention, but let it be noted that it was indeed Spirit Tracks that drew the ire of this particular forumite.

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass: "Three word: "Grand", "Central", and "Dungeon".  Also plotting the boat's route was tedious, and there was a distinct lack of enemy variety, but it's mostly the dungeon's fault."

Harry Potter 4: "I got it because it sounded like it was co-op. It would've made sense as a co-op game but in fact the only multiplayer part was playing a lame spell casting minigame. Nowhere near as good as the previous 3 games."

Balladeer: "He really should have played some of the DS Castlevania games.  He'd probably have really enjoyed them.  But nooooooo, they weren't colourful and cutesy enough for him.  So he gets 35%, and that's being generous."

Seconded. Balladeer really ought to have played at least Portrait of Ruin and Dawn of Sorrow, but instead he elected to be a massive turd instead. He gets 20% for me and the Doki Doki Majo Shinpan award for Shiter of the Week.