Nintendo DS Games That Mattered in 2011

With the launch of the Nintendo 3DS early this year, it’s predecessor, the Nintendo DS saw a sharp decline in terms of sales and recognition. While it’s pretty much understandable to happen that way, Nintendo DS games live on since the 3DS can support it.

Though there were fewer games released these year, some still got attention. There were these mediocre titles yes, but there were also those games that push the system’s limits and prove to everyone else why the Nintendo DS has become the most successful handheld console in its lifetime.

As such, before the year 2011 and the curtain finally close for the defining handheld, let’s look back at the Nintendo DS games that mattered this year.

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

I bet no Nintendo DS gamer cannot recognize Phoenix Wright and the Ace Attorney series whose success in the Nintendo DS cannot be compared. I myself bought the handheld to play Ace Attorney games. And the man behind it – Shu Takumi delivered another fantastic game – Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective.

You are  Sissel, a ghost with a power to possess objects. He only has one night before he gets to see the white light, and the whole story focuses on how Sissel tries to unravel the reason why he got killed.

Though the subject of the game is murder, the cartoonish graphics can totally hide this fact and will just let you enjoy it. I have a friend who finished Ghost Trick in one night; I bet hundreds of others did too. There’s something in mystery games that made them have a cult following – and with Shu Takumi’s storytelling, I doubt people can ask for more - except for more games of this caliber.

Pokemon Black and White

Some may argue that Pokemon games may have become repetitive in the past. But when people thought that this will be just another game in the franchise, Gamefreak proved them wrong.

Pokemon Black and White put Pokemon back in the spotlight – with new Pokemon and a new region, and the fact that you can’t encounter previous generation Pokemon until a certain point, Black and White have become a reboot of the series – perfect for people who have not played Pokemon, and for people who gave up on playing due to the previous generations’ inter-winding Pokemon encounter and evolution. It is also the first Pokemon games to deliver a fresh story, with a plot that seemed intertwined, this became the first time that your actual goal of stopping N's organization felt more important that defeating the gym leaders in the Unova region.

Radiant Historia

With a very intuitive concept of time-travel, Radiant Historia succeeds in delivering a plot-driven game while making it sure that the player experiences the emotion that it tries to convey. One of the most enjoyable RPGs on a handheld, Radiant Historia proves to be another critical success for Atlus. This is actually my favorite RPG of the year.

Kingdom Hearts Re:coded

Kingdom Hearts Coded was a mobile game in Japan, us outsiders got a piece of that game with Kingdom Hearts Re:coded.

While people may say that it has actually no point in the entire Kingdom Hearts plot – there’s something in the game that charms on its own. Yeah, one could say that there is actually no competition this year with other rpgs, yet Re:coded delivers with graphics and familiar characters.

Okamiden

Capcom's biggest decision for Okamiden was to release it a week after Pokemon Black and White and before the Nintendo 3DS launch. And it proved to be a perfect marketing strategy for the game. Okami was hailed by GamesMaster as Capcom's Zelda, and while Okamiden delivered a portable fun for the series, it also provided a breather and proved to everyone that the Nintendo DS was capable of such loveable graphics.

Plants Vs. Zombies

One cannot underestimate what Plants Vs. Zombies has done to casual games. There's no understatement as  to it becoming one of Popcap's biggest games.While there are people who say that the Nintendo DS version is just average when it comes to graphics, the fact remains that it is the strongest tower defense title for the handheld.

Professor Layton and the Last Specter

The game that serves as a prequel to the previous games, Professor Layton and the Last Specter puts Layton back in the spotlight. As one of the most successful series in the handheld, the Last Specter may be a fitting game to end the series' run on the handheld.

Solatorobo: Red the Hunter

One of the games that created buzz in an already 3DS-filled world, Solatorobo: Red the Hunter features stylish graphics and fun controls which actually prove enjoyable. There are more the 70 quests to complete, and before you know it, you just finished one of the finest Nintendo DS games (well it's not like there are others to consider since releases are scarce these days.)

Dragon Quest VI - Realms of Revelation - The final saga in the Zenithia Trilogy, Dragon Quest has become a part of pop culture in Japan and has developed a cult following elsewhere.

Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2: It's like Pokemon, but don't call it that way because it has strengths of its own.

What about you? What is your favorite Nintendo DS game released this year? Hit up on the comments below. ^_^