Played with DS at Best Buy last night

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ArthurDigbySellers

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Does anyone else's BB have a DS unit set up yet? I was at BB last night returning a controller and was wandering around the videogame area as I normally do when I saw an SP sitting at a Pause screen and thought I would see what game it was playing.

Much to my surprise, I realized it was actually a Nintendo DS with the Metroid Hunters Demo playing on it! I spent the next 10 minutes or so playing with it and I was impressed.

It took me a minute or two to realize that I had to use the touchscreen to turn Samus around, but once I got used to it, it worked surprisingly well. As you guys probably already know, the touchscreen shows your current position on the map and also lets you turn Samus, select weapons (there were 3 "buttons" on the demo, one was for regular blaster, the other for missles, the third wasn't used), and roll into the morph ball. You control forward, back, strafe left, and strafe right with the D-pad OR the X,Y,A,B buttons, making it usable for both righties and lefties. You fire with either shoulder button. The screen was bright and clear and the game itself looked pretty good. Seeing a true 3D game on a handheld was strange.

The unit didn't have a thumbstrap so I was using my actual thumb on the touchscreen which worked well but as IGN reported, the thumbstrap works much better than your actual fingers, and keeps the touchscreen from getting all smudged up.

Speaking of the touchscreen, it looks just as good as the main screen. There is a glossy coating on the screen that keeps it from getting scratched and also allows your finger (or stylus, or thumbstrap) to slide easily across the surface.

If course the DS was locked into a security arm type thing so I couldn't get a good judge on the weight but it "feels" pretty light. That being said, it also feels sturdy enough. I gave it a good squeeze with my hands and didn't feel the unit give at all. It looks like a solid piece of hardware.

It also looks damn cool. Of course I've seen tons of pictures of it but seeing it in person and actually using the touchscreen is a whole other experience. It's also smaller than I thought it was - a good thing.

I did notice when I quit the game that there was a multiplayer option at the main menu. Once you "clicked" on that, it asked if you wanted to start a game or join an existing game. I'm assuming that the demo will utilize the WiFi features and allow you to play against other DS'ers out there.

Anyway, sorry to ramble but getting some hands-on time with this unit is making me seriously consider a purchase. I have never owned a portable before, but this could be the unit that changes that.
 
I tried it out yesterday. I was impressed as well with how suprisingly well Metroid controlled. It seemed complicated at first, but it really was smooth and easy to look around using the touchscreen. I was actually expecting the graphics to be a little bit better though. It basically looked like the PSX to me on a handheld ... but hey, even that really isn't bad.
 
Coming soon to a store near you.....scratched up DS touch screens from people using who knows what to try to touch the screen...

I await the day I walk into (insert retail store here) and see ballpoint pen marks all over the screen.
 
[quote name='mtxbass1']Coming soon to a store near you.....scratched up DS touch screens from people using who knows what to try to touch the screen...

I await the day I walk into (insert retail store here) and see ballpoint pen marks all over the screen.[/quote]

I hate it when people want to mess shit up just because they can.
 
[quote name='Grave_Addiction'][quote name='mtxbass1']Coming soon to a store near you.....scratched up DS touch screens from people using who knows what to try to touch the screen...

I await the day I walk into (insert retail store here) and see ballpoint pen marks all over the screen.[/quote]

I hate it when people want to mess shit up just because they can.[/quote]

I know, it's probably only a matter of time before someone jacks this thing up. I'm glad I got a chance to give it a spin before some turd breaks it.
 
[quote name='mtxbass1']Coming soon to a store near you.....scratched up DS touch screens from people using who knows what to try to touch the screen...

I await the day I walk into (insert retail store here) and see ballpoint pen marks all over the screen.[/quote]

That's why they make whiteout, isn't it?
 
I played the DS at EBGames this morning - wow, this machine is nice! Metroid actually controls pretty well, although I guess it's more of a FPS rather than a 3D adventure game like Prime. The FMV intro is impressive-looking and the sound is good too. What's cool about the demo area is that two systems are hooked up so you can try the PictoChat. Since the systems are locked into place, you can't change the games, but I'm reallly curious as to how GBA games look - the screens are backlit so I'd imagine they look a bit better, but who knows? I'm glad that Super Mario 64 DS wasn't playable or I'm afraid I would have put down the $150 right then and there.
 
i talked to the nintendo rep when he came in to fix our gamecube display at target, and he told me that he'd be installing a DS at our store too. he also mentioned that he would be installing one at the best buy next door to us, and that the person using the DS at target could play against the person using the one at best buy. this thing better get some fighting games.
 
I WANTED to get the DS, but then I reaized it has no original launch games, all remakes, I'm more than likely going to pass.
 
[quote name='Romeo']I WANTED to get the DS, but then I reaized it has no original launch games, all remakes, I'm more than likely going to pass.[/quote]

um???

ok.
 
I'm so jealous! I went to Best Buy yesterday in hopes of finding a display but was severely let down. I can't wait for a store near me to get one
 
If possible could someone explain how the touchscreen movement of Samus worked? Was it like you touch the right and she promptly does a 90degree turn or do you hold your finger there for a bit to get her to turn at all? I just can't imagine the touch screen being a very conveinient/comfortable way to control a game.
 
I played it last night at BB as well. The touch pad almost feels like a PC mouse when playing MP:H. Move the stylus across the pad to the left, and you aim left. The crosshair also moves in the direction, depending on how fast you move it across, and when you stop moving, it will center itself. The stylus control makes it feel more like standard FPS than the lock-on style of the GCN Metroids.

I don't know if this helps, I strongly recommend that you experience it for yourself.

Touching is good.
 
[quote name='crystalklear64']If possible could someone explain how the touchscreen movement of Samus worked? Was it like you touch the right and she promptly does a 90degree turn or do you hold your finger there for a bit to get her to turn at all? I just can't imagine the touch screen being a very conveinient/comfortable way to control a game.[/quote]

This IGN article should help you out:

http://ds.ign.com/articles/564/564977p1.html?fromint=1
 
[quote name='Romeo']I WANTED to get the DS, but then I reaized it has no original launch games, all remakes, I'm more than likely going to pass.[/quote]

You, uh, haven't checked out the launch-day lineup lately, have you?

Man, I hope they have one of these hooked up at my TRU. I'll be playing it all day at work.
 
[quote name='kristianator']the person using the DS at target could play against the person using the one at best buy. [/quote]

that quote alone single handedly reminded me of how much freaking fun the DS is...

:bouncy: :bouncy:
 
Just got done playing it at the BB in Puyallup WA.
The thing that stood out the most was how easy it was to play(metroid) & it's smaller than what i thought. The Graphics were very impressive imo.

Nintendo is back!!!
 
I think these people HAVE looked at the launch titles, which really aren't that great. Only twelve games are to be released before the year's end, and the only one that appeals to be is Super Mario. I do think that there will be a lot of titles next year, though.
 
[quote name='Romeo']I WANTED to get the DS, but then I reaized it has no original launch games, all remakes, I'm more than likely going to pass.[/quote]

Welcome back asshat!

I suppose that you are going to pass on the PSP also, since they will have a much higher ratio of rehashed games from the already obsolete PS2
 
I think 12 games will be enough to tide me over until Jan, when more games are currently set to come out. Plus it will play my GBA games.
 
Played a demo of MP at eB on the DS today. Not impressed. Primarily due to the dark settings. I couldn't see ANYTHING while doing multi-player. What's up with that? AM I missing somehting? Is it just me?
 
hey lebowski what Best buy was it I live in va beach also(well rather 30 seconds from it walking, but hey whop counts, anywho is it the best buy on independence by pembroke mall?
 
I need to check my BB tomorrow anyway to see if they're going to get DS's in early, and since I work down the street from a TRU, I might check to see if they have any DS displays on my lunch break.
 
my manager is lucky. he gets one of these for free like he got his ps2, xbox, and gamecube.
 
[quote name='Death2Sanity'][quote name='Romeo']I WANTED to get the DS, but then I reaized it has no original launch games, all remakes, I'm more than likely going to pass.[/quote]

You, uh, haven't checked out the launch-day lineup lately, have you?

Man, I hope they have one of these hooked up at my TRU. I'll be playing it all day at work.[/quote]

Mario 64? Old
Madden 05? Old
Spiderman 2? Old
Urbz? already out
I don't even remember the other two launch games. :(
 
Spiderman 2 is old? Its a 2D/3D version that hasn't been released on any other system. If you're faulting the concept of a spiderman game for being old, I doubt you'll find too many new games out there, period.
As for Madden, how is it any different than the yearly re-release on every other system?

If you want something new, try Feel the Magic XX/XY. It looks completely original and fun to boot.
 
Well I finally played it today at Best Buy and wow was I impressed. At first I stood in line waiting to play and was afraid that it was WAY too dark because of the angle I was looking at it. As soon as it was my turn and played it at the angle it is supposed to be played it looked great. Though I hope the bottom screen was darkened from grease or something because it was a little darker than the top one.
 
[quote name='CaptainObviousXl']also mario 64 is revamped and i think its a totaly new game. So realy Madden and Urbz are the olny ones you can argue about.[/quote]


It's supposed to be the same game the only differeance being the extra characters and a few minor sidequest additions.

The spiderman game on the other hand looked different on the game discription, useing the lower screen to select yout moves worries me though. I was never worries about MP:Hs control set up but the Spidey2 setup looks like there may be trouble unless it's a totally different style of game from the console versions.
 
I managed to get to a Wal-Mart, and while getting my oil changed and getting some stuff, I spent a few minutes with the DS that they had on display. The top screen was kind of dark and hard to see, and the face buttons were really small. They're smaller than the GBA buttons, which is really small. The whole thing was a little bit smaller than what I thought it would be, maybe it's just my big hands. The touchscreen was kind of cool, it was easy to use, but it would depend on the game.

I was playing the MP Hunters demo and it looked good, but it probably takes a good 10-20 minutes of playing to get used to it. I've played MP on GC and while it similar, they do play a little bit differently, so it was a little bit disappointing. The dark screen made it hard to see enemies that weren't brightly colored, so I took a few hits from enemies I couldn't see. The L and R buttons shoot, which is a lot different than it's console version, with the touchscreen used for aiming and double tapping the screen makes you jump. I much prefer it's console version, since this seems a little harder to control with a stylus and d-pad.

The lighting didn't really help anything, hopefully it's better in the final model, if this was the final model, than I'm not impressed. If it was just how it was set, than I can understand since it didn't look like I could reposition it. Overall, it seems a little too small for what it has, but that's the Nintendo-ness of the device. I'll get it eventually, but I'll wait until there's quite a few games to get that are worth getting. I'd need to get my hands on a PSP to make a good comparison, but neither gets my money right now. That's my impressions of what I played and saw, hopefully it changes.
 
I got my hands on one at my local target today, and the thing that impressed me most was the wonderful controls for Metroid. Like someone said, it's just as good as a PC keyboard mouse combo. The other thing that pleasently surprised me was that i didn't have any problem seeing both screens simultaneously, regardless of the angle. I was rather worried about that.
 
I also played it at WalMart. The darkness problem mentioned in previous posts is actually remedied by making the DS "flat". Overall, I was impressed by Metroid Prime. The controls took a little getting used to, but to be completly honest... using a touchscreen to play a videogame is what got me excited. Simply "clicking" on menu items, and using it to control Samus made me excited. I'm excited about the possibilities more than what I saw in Metroid. Overall, the unit seemed pretty solid. The buttons ARE pretty small. But they only look small, they don't feel small (i.e. they don't seem to impede on gameplay). The unit looks amazingly mature, and I really think that this thing may hit dead center for the mature market they are looking for.

/Excited!
 
[quote name='pumbaa']I also played it at WalMart. The darkness problem mentioned in previous posts is actually remedied by making the DS "flat". Overall, I was impressed by Metroid Prime. The controls took a little getting used to, but to be completly honest... using a touchscreen to play a videogame is what got me excited. Simply "clicking" on menu items, and using it to control Samus made me excited.[/quote]

I feel the same way. The one thing that has made the DS so appealing to me is the touch screen and its potential to add a new layer of depth to our gaming.
 
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