The DS Weekend Warrior: games, games, and more games
It’s the first issue of the Weekend Warrior for the DS, and what do we have in store for you guys? Sure, the DS handheld isn’t too busy nowadays, but we still have something in the form of a bunch of funny homebrew creations, and some good new game releases. Read all about it in the full Weekend Warrior report!
It’s been a relatively quiet week for the DS, but that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing to report on Nintendo’s tiny little powerhouse of gaming – not when it has a prolific homebrew community backing it up. From silly musical homebrew competitions to nifty Game Makers, our ever-dependable ‘brew developers already have us covered.
Of course, there’s also something in store for us from the big-named game developers and publishers. One of these is the release of Square Enix’s much-awaited sequel to the Final Fantasy Tactics franchise, and don’t forget about our review about the Squeenix-published Space Invaders Extreme for both the DS and PSP.
There’s also a lot of things to talk about, so let’s get into the meat of things and get a taste of the most recent gaming offerings for the Nintendo DS!
A smorgasbord of gaming
It’s been a relatively quiet period for the Nintendo DS homebrew community, but that doesn’t that there’s nothing going on in the scene. While not widely publicized, the folks at Dev-fr managed to organize a ‘brew competition that showcases the lighter side of homebrew gaming, Compo Debile Dev-fr. Roughly translated as “compose silly,” this competition rounded up the silliest musical/rhythm games that the Dev-fr community has to offer.
Some of the more memorable entries include Decjo’s Pianout, which at first glance looks like your usual virtual piano application until you touch the keys with your stylus (really, we recommend it for certain…pranks). Another is Guitar Hero: Roadie Edition by EvilSpoon, a mini-parody of the popular rhythm game franchise where players tune the guitars of the rockstars-to-be. It’s nice, getting a taste of what it’s actually like working in the backstage.
Link: Compo Debile Dev-fr contest entries: Pianout, Xylophono, Roque Bande
Link: Compo Debile Dev-fr contest entries: Meumeuh DS, Mad Wrestler Beat Box, Guitar Hero – Roadie Edition
If you’re itching to be in Simon Cowell’s shoes and find out that its like to be an unforgiving judge in a talent show, then you’d find Kram‘s Audition Shooter to your taste. No, you don’t get to disqualify an aspiring performer AND shoot them, you just have to critique their performance. Yes, we know you’re disappointed. It’s a nice way of whiling away your time, so do check it out.
Link: Compo Debile Dev-fr contest entries: Audition Shooter, VP_ANIS, DeadJey
You can still sate your desire to do some homebrew shooting with cquake, the DS port of id Software’s Quake courtesy of Eric Hobbs. You can already try out the single and multiplayer modes in this release. Don’t be fooled by the small size of the actual download, however, since you’ll also need the PAK files taken from the actual Quake game to work.
Link: cquake 062008 release build
If you prefer to create your own adventure, you can actually do so with the DS Game Maker. It also allows you to add special functions to your game such as Wi-Fi connectivity, Rumble, and sounds. Do take note that the download we provided for you is just the free trial version; if you want to full app you’ll have to shell out US$10 to get your hands on it.
Link: DS Game Maker release 6/24/2008
On the commercial gaming side of things, Square Enix finally released its much awaited Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift – and it’s just about time that we get our latest Final Fantasy Tactics fix. It’s the embodiment of every boy’s dream: getting warped into a magical world, away from the petty cares of schoolwork and annoying teachers.
Link: On Shelves This Week: June 23 to June 29, 2008
Squeenix has also recently published Space Invaders Extreme in the US for both the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP handhelds. The iconic invaders are back, and it’s more than just a rehash of a franchise that has been remade more that six ways ’til Sunday.
The quest to wipe out waves upon waves of alien invaders has never been such a treat to the eyes and ears, and aside from the cosmetic revamp of the game (the ‘vaders are still looking their 2D best), the gameplay is also beefed up with optional weapons, bonus stages, and more. Check out QJ.NET’s review of the game for more Space Invader Extreme love.
Link: Space Invaders Extreme QJ.NET review
More games, more games
The Nintendo DS scene seems to be a bit quiet at this point, but what we know is that Europe will be having a load of new titles for both the DS and the Wii. According to the press release that Nintendo of Europe sent out a few days ago, European gamers will be getting a load of DS titles the coming months, including sleeper hits such as Bangai-O Spirits, and some way overdue titles such as Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword, Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon.
Yes, we also know that some of the titles in this list are a bit late, but at least they’re going to be released – and that’s what matters, yes?
Koei has also announced their lineup for the second half of 2008, and this includes the quirky Prey the Stars (Gabu Gabu Planet in Japan), that gastronomic adventure where you play as a creature in a quest to eat several things in one go. Yes, it sounds like a Katamari Damacy-ish game, and we’re excited to hear more about this in the near future.
Well, that’s about it for the first issue of Weekend Warrior for the DS by QJ.NET’s DS team. Until then, keep on gaming!