Top 10 Ports the DS Needs

Okay, I'm gonna get off my high horse for a little bit and talk about the Nintendo DS. I'll ignore the fact I think the second screen is a gimmick, and I'll even ignore the fact that the system isnt very fun to look at style-wise and grapics-wise. Let's talk about game ports.

Because it seems like Nintendo does nothing but port old games to new systems, I suppose they should do it right. In that sense, they need to make games for the DS that someone would actually play. So, here's my top 10 list of games that have been made (Primarily on the N64) and need to be made on the DS.

10. Lemmings

Sure, Lemmings is not technically a game that's found exclusively on Nintendo consoles. But, d***it, the DS was made for Lemmings. How about sticking the actual gameplay on the bottom, and allowing you to pick up and move lemmings with the pen? Then, you could control like water or something on the top screen (You know, 3D effects that effect the bottom). The possibilities are endless.

9. Castlevania 64 (or any Castlevania game)

This would be lower on my list, but I'm trying to be fair and un-fanboy-ish. The reason the Castlevania series would do so good (Other than being one of the most kickass game series in the world) is the whip: the stylus would RULE with it. The action would have to be on the bottom screen (2D is okay for a portable system, I don't care), and you could tap around your character to throw the whip. Of course, where you tapped is where you hit, but length would be an issue, so you'd have to get longer whips, etc...

8. Shadowgate 64

I doubt anyone reading this has ever played a Shadowgate game. Shadowgate 64 tried (and failed) to have a first-person driven adventure game where you looked around and interacted with things around you. The problem simply was that the N64 controls didn't foster healthy ease of movement, but it still was good. Now, obviously, with item-driven gameplay and a first person mode, the DS would be made for this. The stylus would control where you looked on the top screen, whereas items would be on the bottom screen allowing you to mix and match, just like the old Shadowgate for the Mac. Good, no?

7. Goldeneye 007

I'm not even really going to explain how badly the DS needs a killer-app shooter game. Just hopefully they don't mess it up as bad as they did the Bond game for DS that's out already.

6. Donkey Kong 64

Donkey Kong 64 was one hell of a lot like Super Mario 64: Go around completing challenges to get stuff. Obviously, with the DK system (For example, how you shot things from your character, or how you move) is completely geared toward a touchpad system. It isnt very revolutionary of me to come up with this, but I will say it does deserve a nice spot in the list, because it would make an awesome DS port.

5. The Illusion of Gaia

The SNES game everyone loved but no-one talked about, The Illusion of Gaia is purely a masterpiece of adventure gaming. I would venture to say it was the only SNES game that truely competed against the best SNES game ever, Zelda 3, and possibly beat it outright. Storyline, Gameplay, Music, Graphics, EVERYTHING is perfect in this game, and it just needs a port because it freaking rules. Screw the touchscreen, maybe put items down there or somes***, just let me play it on a portable system.

4. Final Fantasy 6

Just like The Illusion of Gaia, FF6 needs a port. Obviously the RPG style battle system could benifit from the touchscreen, as well as item menus, etc. Of course, this would be pretty hardcore for the newbies, purely because I'm not sure if I want to play an RPG as extensive as FF6 with a touchscreen.... but who knows.

3. Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon

One of the hidden gems of the Nintendo 64, Goemon is a fun game to play. Sure, they're making a Goemon game for the DS, but I want my 64 game back. Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon had a lot of platforming, as well as weaponry (Like the Chain Pipe, which would obviously benifit from the DS touchscreen) which would make this an obvious pick for a DS port. The only issue I can think of is the same one that hits basically every full-3D game on the DS: The touchscreen might not be a good moving facility. However, we'll see.

2. Super Smash Brothers

DUH. The DS's WiFi ability, as well as two screens (Game and score?), make this an obvious multiplayer choice for the DS. The graphics would be fine, and the DS has enough power to get those 4 player slamfests going easily. Honestly, I'm amazed no-one has come up with this before. Go do it, NOW.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

This is the game that would make me take a PSP, piss on it, throw it in a dumpster, and forget about it. But, then again, this will probably never happen. Ocarina of Time might be THE MOST acclaimed videogame ever, and putting it on the DS would be a slam toward any PSP attempts, ever. The top screen would of course serve as the game screen, and the bottom would serve as movement/items. Hell, the original Ocarina had 4 menu screens, so the DS would OF COURSE profit from putting the menu screens somewhere other than the main screen. Then, you have to think of arrows (Increased aiming!) as well as all the abilities that the game would benifit from the touchscreen. The only problem I can think of is simply the fact that the DS has fewer buttons than the 64, which is easily remidied: the only buttons missing are really the C buttons, and those can be replaced by double-tapping an item in the touchscreen to use it. Win!


I assume a lot of you are wondering why I've spent time actually ranting about the DS, one of my most hated systems. I honestly don't hate the DS as much as I say: I will admit, it has potential. My issue is simply that Nintendo keeps skirting around the subject of making DECENT games and always opts for cheap tech-demo ish games instead. So, if they would at least put out ONE of these games, I guarantee you they would be bounds ahead of the PSP.

However, I plan to make a "Top 10 Ports" list for the PSP soon. INSERT DRAMATIC MUSIC!