Nintendo DS - Seriously, What Am I Missing Out On?

[Weekend_Warrior]

Ok, so I've been a gamer ever since the release of the NES. I own many different systems, among these include almost all of the Nintendo consoles - NES, SNES, N64, Gamecube.. all except the Wii.

The only handheld system that I ever owned up till now has been a Sega Game Gear. Mainly for the Shinobi games and the Master System converter for on the go SMS portability.

Last weekend, I finally bought a Sony PSP (a modded 1000 series) because I've wanted one for a long time. At least three years now. And I was long overdue for a new portable.

But it seems that all everyone still talks about is the Nintendo DS, and quite frankly.. I don't get it.

Without starting any kind of system or flame war.. I just think that the PSP is a MUCH better portable system than the DS and all its incarnations. It has a better screen, better audio, vastly superior graphics, PS3-interconnectivity, and a TON of good games featuring most of Sony's biggest franchise games (God of War, Gran Turismo, Resistance, Killzone, Socom, Wipeout, etc).. as well as many multiplatform titles (Assassins Creed, Burnout, Grand Theft Auto, Guilty Gear, Final Fantasy, Soul Calibur, Tekken, etc).

So what is it exactly about the Nintendo DS that is so great? Because I personally don't look at the DS and it's long line of games and see any impressive titles that clearly stand out. Of course, this is all subjective and it comes down to personal taste in games. But I'm just having a difficult time understanding why so many people rave about the DS and then turn around and bash the PSP. I mean, I know that the PSP battery life doesn't hold a candle to the DS's alleged battery life.. but what else - what am I missing?

[Golgo 14]

Probably nothing. It sounds like you've researched them both and the PSP is the right portable for you.

I love the DS because it has a bunch of fun, inventive games that I can play for a few minutes and then put away. I know the games you listed for the PSP are popular, but I don't have any desire to play them. It all comes down to what system has the most games you like to play.

One big advantage of the DS worth mentioning is its ability to play GBA games (as long as it's not a DSi). The GBA's catalog is even better than the DS's, so that is one hell of a bonus.

[Weekend_Warrior]

Probably nothing. It sounds like you've researched them both and the PSP is the right portable for you.

I love the DS because it has a bunch of fun, inventive games that I can play for a few minutes and then put away. I know the games you listed for the PSP are popular, but I don't have any desire to play them. It all comes down to what system has the most games you like to play.

One big advantage of the DS worth mentioning is its ability to play GBA games (as long as it's not a DSi). The GBA's catalog is even better than the DS's, so that is one hell of a bonus.

Ok. But I can also play Game Boy Advance games via an emulator on my PSP

[Golgo 14]

Yeah, the PSP's superior emulating ability is its one strong selling point to me, but I think I'll stick with the DS. As I said before, I think you've found the portable that is right for you.

[msimplay]

Without starting any kind of system or flame war.. I just think that the PSP is a MUCH better portable system than the DS and all its incarnations. It has a better screen, better audio, vastly superior graphics, PS3-interconnectivity, and a TON of good games featuring most of Sony's biggest franchise games (God of War, Gran Turismo, Resistance, Killzone, Socom, Wipeout, etc).. as well as many multiplatform titles (Assassins Creed, Burnout, Grand Theft Auto, Guilty Gear, Final Fantasy, Soul Calibur, Tekken, etc).

So what is it exactly about the Nintendo DS that is so great? Because I personally don't look at the DS and it's long line of games and see any impressive titles that clearly stand out. Of course, this is all subjective and it comes down to personal taste in games. But I'm just having a difficult time understanding why so many people rave about the DS and then turn around and bash the PSP. I mean, I know that the PSP battery life doesn't hold a candle to the DS's alleged battery life.. but what else - what am I missing?

Well it seems that the kind of games you want to play are on the PSP which is fine.
However for me when I think of a hand held

1. Vastly different gaming library compared to any other console where PSP offers big screen gaming on the go. I already played God of war / Gran Turismo , Soul Calibur etc on my PS2.
2. It has the exclusive games that Nintendo makes
3. The games based on touch screen technology would not translate well to any other console such as Meteos one of the best puzzlers around but feels completely lost without touch screen controls and up until recently with the Iphone games based on touch screen were near enough exclusive.
   When it first came out I knew the gaming experience on the DS would be completely different to what games I used to play with traditional controls.
4. More portable since it's smaller and better battery life
5. Everyone has a DS coz it's cheaper which makes multiplayer much easier since not many people I know have a PSP.
   A 4 player Mario Kart Game is genuinely very fun
6. Oh and when I first bought the DS the backwards compatibility was a big thing because I already had a massive catalog of GBA cartridges

[zipper]

For me the PSP is a portable, scaled down PS. Which is certainly amazing, but essentially you're playing scaled down Playstation games. Sometimes there's PSP exclusives, but if they sell well then it's not going to be a stretch to upscale to HD and release it on PSN / PS3 (like Lumines), or release on PS2 like Wipeout Pulse (or again, like Lumines).

I prefer the DS because the games are different. In contrast to the PSP, the worst games on the DS are direct ports of home console games.. Ridge Racer on the DS is terrible for instance. When playing games built for the system like Elite Beat Agents, Zoo Keeper, Spirit Tracks, Chinatown Wars etc. you get gameplay you simply can't get on other systems (including iphone).

[Ivo]

As the above posters already noted, there are different kind of games (touch scren), many high-quality exclusive games (notoriously including the 1st party Nintendo games, but also stuff like Castlevania - the PSP also has a bunch of very nice exclusives of course).

Importantly, the DS is cheaper, and more portable. I think it should be emphasized that the clamshell design is great for a handheld (with the PSP I'm much more concerned with the screen - which is huge and gorgeous, but much more exposed than the DS despite one of them being an actual touch screen).

Ivo.

[lisalover1]

You're missing out on Phoenix Wright, Ouendan, Animal Crossing: Wild World, Mario Kart DS, a bunch of Castlevania games, Contra 4, New Super Mario Bros., Pokemon, Professor Layton, Scribblenauts, Legend of Zelda, and Yoshi's Island DS. Also tons of other great games/series that I haven't listed.

[MrHealthy]

This is what your missing out on:

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=222049

If you ever can get a DS on the cheap Id say do it and then grab a cheap flash card to go along with it.

[Reverend]

I'm a big fan of 2d gaming and generally dislike 3d, so the DS works great for me.

Games I have for it that I would recommend are:
Racing
Mario Kart DS

Sidescroller
Sonic Rush
New Super Mario Bros.
Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow
Castlevania Portrait of Ruin
Castlevania Order of Ecclesia

Fighter
Jump Ultimate Stars (import)
Bleach: Dark Souls

RPG
Pokémon Platinum Version
Pokémon HeartGold Version

Puzzle
Tetris DS
Geometry Wars Galaxies
Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2 March Of The Minis
Scribblenauts

Other
Little Red Riding Hood's Zombie BBQ

I own a bit more titles, but these are what I recommend. There are a number of other great games that have been and will be mentioned in this thread.