NDS | Procrastinating in the Heat

Posts Tagged ‘ NDS ’

Trauma Team

Atlus USA Trailer: Trauma Team

I did not go to medical school and for those who dream of being a surgeon, this is probably the closest thing most of us will ever get next to the classic game “Operation”

Operation Commercial from 1989

Trauma Team is the latest incarnation from Atlus. Currently the 5th in the series, two Nintendo DS games and two Wii games. I’ve played them all and this is the most polished one of them all. The first game came out for the DS on 2005 and it was hell to finish. At the easiest level, the game difficulty was set pretty high that once you reached a certain level, your patient will die. Frustration just came over me and I wanted to throw the DS right out the window. I gave up on the game until the Wii version was released.

The Wii version is a direct port of the DS game with some minor changes such an additional playable character and surgeries. The best part about is game is the lowered difficulty. Though it’s still challenging, it now allows you to reach until the last stage. The games focus on a terrorist organization using biochemical warfare to further their means. The first half of these trauma games is pretty straightforward with the usual tumors, gunshot wounds or pacemaker replacement. The second half is where the game starts to pull on reality. The terrorist pathogen does weird things to the patient with scenarios that doesn’t seem plausible. Add to the fact that you are gifted with the “healing touch”, this uncanny gift which slows down time and gives you extra time to work on the patient. But even with these unbelievable scenarios it’s still an enjoyable game.

Trauma Center: Healing Touch

Now comes Trauma Team. You don’t just play 2 characters. You now get to play five different characters with different specialties and brings a new angle to the world of videogame surgery. You get to work on different environments such as diagnostics, emergency, orthopedic surgery, endoscopy, investigation and of course general surgery. All the storylines will eventually unlock the final phase of the game and reveal the dark secret of the story. The wii remote is great especially for the endoscopic surgery due to the mapping of the controls. Orthopedics seems a bit too easy and the ER scenes are absolutely heart pounding where every second counts and patients keep coming. My favorite has to be the Dr. House situation in diagnosing the patients or the CSI situation where I find out what really happened as a forensic doctor. Come to think of it, it’s more Bones than CSI.

My diagnosis? This is the best Trauma Center game Atlus has every made. The story is believable. The surgical procedures is doable. I actually wish that the game was longer. Or at least could be extended with downloadable content. But since the Wii doesn’t have that. Maybe we can expect a port coming to the PlayStation Move? We can always wish for these things.

2010: 07/02
POSTED BY: mdelamerced
CATEGORY: videogames
TAGS: atlus
NDS
nintendo
team
trauma
traumateam
Wii
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Super sized Nintendo DSi

Nintendo announced a few days ago a new extra large DSi. It will be first released in Japan with other regions to follow in 2010. It is originally meant for “older” gamers who want a bigger screen to read and more space to use the stylus.

The DSi LL is about and inch larger than the current DSi. I guess the bigger screen also does not help with the battery life either as the the DS Lite still has the longest playtime for the handheld. Notice the bigger stylus. Now it really looks like a pen.

Judging from the screenshots, the bigger screen seem to have better graphics than it’s predecessor.

But I also know that the graphics are originally made for a specific resolution. Thus any graphical improvement if any is limited to the size of the displayed image and not from the image itself. In short, the bigger screen will not improve the quality of the graphics. Think of it like you just zoomed in an image and you’re seeing the bigger pixels.

Will I get one? I think not. If you already own the previous incarnations of the DS then there is no need to pick this one up. Unless you want to get your parents or grandparents a DS then this should be the right thing. But then there’s the issue of the cost. In Japan, the DSi LL will set you back ¥ 20,000 ($220 USD, or Php 10,000++). This practically puts it in the same price range as the PSP Go which retails at ¥ 26,800. Unless Nintendo phases out and drops the price on this thing I may even consider a purchase. But still, I’m still very happy with my battered DS Lite which I got a while back and the DSi doesn’t have anything that interests me right now.

I’ll wait until my current DS (knocks on wood) to die before I even think about picking this one up or if they release something so earthshaking on the DSi platform that I really must have. I think this is a safe step up for Nintendo by giving more of the same features as the original DS but incrementally adding features to keep a new crowd interested. Much like what Apple does with the iPod.

The Nintendo DS LL will be released on November 21 in Japan and early 2010 in North America and other territories.

2009: 11/01
POSTED BY: mdelamerced
CATEGORY: gadgets
videogames
TAGS: apple
japan
NDS
NDSi
nintendo
psp
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DSi software will be locked to region

DSi-Only Software Will Be Region Locked

Say goodbye to the region free handheld gaming of before. Nintendo had always been region free when it came to their handhelds and now they will implement the lock due to its “internet features”. Huh?! I thought them internets were all the same wherever we went?

Let’s just hope they don’t release something cool in Japan that we can’t get on the North American version of the DSi. I also hope that the physical games will still be region free.

One thing I don’t get with the region locks in any console is the fact that the language barrier alone is already a turn off from buying let’s say the latest Bleach game. But I’m a fan and has a basic knowledge of gaming hiragana and katakan. Wouldn’t me purchasing the game be of any help to the game? If the developer would like it to be restricted to region, they can always build that in. But as for me I prefer region free gaming so I’m not always stuck with North American games.

2008: 10/07
POSTED BY: mdelamerced
CATEGORY: Uncategorized
TAGS: ds
DSi
NDS
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Nintendo DSi

Nintendo Announce New DS: The Nintendo DSi

My post may be a little late in the making but let’s face it. There’s a new Nintendo DS on the block and it’s the DSi. Say goodbye to the GBA slot and say hello to the SD card slot. Smile for the 3MP camera and get ready to buy games via WiFi at the DSi shop.

My surprise was the SD card slot. For the uninformed, piracy on the handheld is done primarily through these portable storage devices and usually requires the user to purchase an add on to install on the DS to be able to use SD cards on it. Wouldn’t this make it easier. Nintendo gets plus points on the built in browser and the camera but it had a shorter battery life than the current version. The screen is bigger by 17% which is a significant improvement but does it warrant the $180 price tag?

I would just get it because I’m a gadget freak but it’s not enough for current buyers in my opinion. The camera comes in a little late in the game unless they can think of something else to do with it. Hint hint, a portable eye toy maybe? It might make me think twice if it was at the same price point as the DS lite. But Nintendo has announced that there is no plan of removing the DS lite from store shelves anytime soon.

But I was hoping for something a little more exciting than this.

2008: 10/06
POSTED BY: mdelamerced
CATEGORY: Uncategorized
TAGS: DSi
NDS
nintendo
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Would you buy a Nintendo D$ for the 3rd time?

Nintendo issues a non-denial DS denial – Engadget

Rumors abound in the internet regarding a new DS SKU being announced in a press conference on Wednesday. Nintendo has neither confirmed nor denied the claim.

Why I think there really is a new DS coming out.

Everyone already has one. Why buy one more? Unless of course there’s something in there.
The DS lite design is a couple of years old and will need a refit other than colors.
They need something to keep the excitement about the DS alive when there’s a resurgence of the PSP.

Why I think there will not be another DS coming out.

The old one still works.
People will still buy a new DS just change the color.
They’re actually announcing the next generation hand held device.

Note that I have used the word device instead of handheld gaming console. Which means could they be adding something new?

2008: 09/30
POSTED BY: mdelamerced
CATEGORY: Uncategorized
TAGS: ds
NDS
nintendo
rumor
rumors
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Some games only work on certain consoles

Atlus: Who Wants Trauma Center On Other Platforms?

Kotaku posts the question whether or not Atlus’ Trauma Center franchise should be expanded to other consoles.

After having finished all the games with the exception of the first DS game where I’m stuck a little past half way, the Wii controllers and the DS stylus is the way to go. The way the game is controlled really gives that feeling that you’re a wannabe doctor trying to save fake lives.

Bottom line, I don’t see this game playable on any other console other than Nintendo’s.

2008: 09/05
POSTED BY: mdelamerced
CATEGORY: Uncategorized
TAGS: Kotaku
NDS
nintendo
Wii
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The Pikmin are coming

Pikmin Trailer

Yes! Miyamoto said it! They are working on a new Pikmin game. When it will come out is still anybody’s guess but at least they haven’t forgotten Olimar and the Pikmin entirely! Can I hope earliest Holiday 2009 – Spring 2010? On the Wii? With a DS add on? Or another game entirely for it? I can’t wait.

2008: 07/17
POSTED BY: mdelamerced
CATEGORY: Uncategorized
TAGS: E3
NDS
nintendo
Pikmin
Wii
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Things that probably got overlooked at E3

Cooking Navi (DS)

This game was released in Japan 2 years ago and I’ve been wishing forever that it would be translated to English. And it has! It’s not really a game but a cooking guide where a chef will teach you how to prepare and cook various dishes. It even comes with a timer. I’m definitely getting this.

Where on E3 is Bandai Namco?

Last year, Bandai Namco released Ace Combat 6 and Beautiful Katamari for the Xbox 360 exclusively.

This year apparently, they only released a Tales of Vesperia demo on Xbox Live Marketplace and that Eternal Sonata will be making its way to the PS3 later this year.

After just releasing Soul Calibur IV, what’s next?

Microsoft has no answer yet to the handhelds of Nintendo and Sony

With device and game sales outselling that of consoles shouldn’t the handheld market be something of interest for Microsoft?

There must be something there M$. There’s always next years E3.

Well the week is not over yet so there maybe more to say this weekend.

2008: 07/16
POSTED BY: mdelamerced
CATEGORY: videogames
TAGS: E3
NDS
nintendo
portable gaming
xbox
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Guitar Hero: On Tour – my take

It’s finally here! Fans of the popular rhythm game can now play wherever they are on the Nintendo DS. But is it worth it? Is it worth aggravating your hand and wrist just to play ZZ Top on the bus?

As a fan of the series I decided to give it a shot. The package comes with the game and the fret bar which attaches to the GBA slot of the DS.

Unlike it’s console counterpart, it only has four buttons. So technically it should be easier, right?

Don’t worry if you have the DS phat, there’s an attachment which extends the connector. You’ll need a screwdriver to remove and attach the two screws that keep it in place.

I have smallish hands. But it felt like my hand was still too big for the device. My brother suggested to use the DS phat instead so there’s more to hold on to. But that adds weight to the already hefty keypad.

But since the DS is marketed towards kids, then it shouldn’t be a problem for young rockers.

The game itself is fun. There are no custom characters. But you can dress up the ones they give you. Some of the different modes of gameplay are career, guitar duel, practice and quickplay. Guitar duel brings the feature first introduced in GH3: Legends of Rock where you must face off with an opponent. Unlike the console, you cannot see what your opponent is doing with the exception of small status bar to tell you if your winning or losing.

The top screen has the colored fret bar while the touch screen is where the guitar is and use in included pick in strumming your tunes away.

Other than that it’s pretty much the same Guitar Hero in every way but smaller. The graphics is nothing to write home about and is pretty much really bad. But we’re not talking about graphics here, we’re talking about Guitar Hero.

The game has 25 songs in it. I’m not too sure if there’s anything left to unlock. It might be a bit too pricey for the limited number of songs. It’s great for kids (due to the size). But marathon gaming is not recommended. You spend your time looking down at your hand strumming on the tiny guitar while looking at the button sequences on a similiarly small screen. This gets very dizzying andwaters my eyes at the hard and expert level.

So final verdict?! If you’re a big fan of the series, then this is great which allows you to play on the go. But if you don’t own a DS right now, this is not the reason to buy it. Casual gamers are better of playing this on the console than on the DS. Hopefully Activision will release more tracks for this game. Unfortunately, the DS doesn’t have a storage device which means this can only be possible through another game cartridge or another version of the franchise.