The Nintendo DS library is ripe with games worth giving a second look to!
I’ve already talked about what five games I’d like to see most on the Nintendo 64 Wii U Virtual Console. But now I would like to take a look at the other new system that’s getting all the Virtual Console attention, the Nintendo DS! It feels like only a few years ago I put my Nintendo DS Lite into my closet, along with all of my other systems of years before, just to sit and collect dust until I feel like playing it again. That’s because in fact, it was only a few years ago. But the Nintendo DS has one of the most diverse libraries of any Nintendo system out there. Choosing five games is hard, and the logistics of all of these games actually being released on the Virtual Console are slim. But it doesn’t hurt to make a list and imagine! Here are the five games I’d like to see re-released for the Wii U.
Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon
I've played a ton of Fire Emblem and its sequel on the Game Boy Advance. But for whatever reason, I never got into Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon, the lone DS entry in North America. I'm not sure why I never played this as often as the two Game Boy Advance games, or even the Gamecube and Wii iterations. I feel like I’m missing out by not having beaten this game, and I want to snag it for a decent price (it’s going for at least in the $40 range right now on eBay) so I can play it once again, with the goal being this time to beat it.
Chances of it coming out: Good. Nintendo has released both Fire Emblem GBA games on the Virtual Console already, so it seems like there's a fine chance of the DS version coming out soon as well.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
I've always wanted to sell drugs and kill people with guns on the Nintendo DS while spouting every bad word imaginable when hotwiring cars. But for some reason, I never got to playing this game when it came out. I think it might have been that this game channels more of the original GTA games as opposed to Grand Theft Auto III and beyond, and that may have been a turnoff for me. But gosh darn it, I just want a motherflippin' game that pushes the boundaries of normal Nintendo DS fare, and Chinatown Wars was definitely that.
Chances of it coming out: Unlikely. Nintendo seems to be the one requesting the Virtual Console releases, and I don't think this is a title that's on the top of their list.
Dragon Quest IX
I didn't have too high hopes when playing Dragon Quest IX because I never really bothered with the series much until this entry. But when I played it, to my surprise, it easily became one of my favorite games on the Nintendo DS. Not only was the character customization fun and the gameplay easy to master, the overall theme and presentation of the game was a throwback to JRPGs of yore, which I absolutely loved. Everything about this game screamed old school Super Nintendo RPG fun, and in 2009 where the JRPG genre felt stagnant with its usual boring ideas and concepts repeated over and over, this felt like a really fun, refreshing change. I would have no problems going back to this game again.
Chances of it coming out: I don't know, to be honest. I think there's a good chance of it coming out in Japan. North America and Europe seems less likely. Dragon Quest is super popular in Japan, but it's popularity here is pretty much nonexistent, which is a shame, but I guess that’s how it goes.
Final Fantasy Tactics A2
I loved the original Final Fantasy Tactics on the Game Boy Advance. But again, I'm late to the party as I didn't play the sequel until a few years after it came out. I greatly enjoyed the follow up, as it took what made Tactics Advance fun (the law system, deep job branches and abilities) and built upon it. I think it's a good time as any to dig this title out and give it another go, especially since it doesn't look like SquareEnix has any interest in continuing the series.
Chances of it coming out: I think this is a Nintendo choice. And to be honest, they'd probably go with Dragon Quest IX before this title- in other words, I don’t see this happening. But anything's possible!
Pokemon Diamond/Pearl
This is a fantastic entry in the Pokemon series. I loved all the new evolutions to previous Pokemon (which I think future Pokemon games need to take note of...when is Farfetch'd getting his evolution, damn it!), the varied settings, the excellent soundtrack and the story is pretty interesting to boot. Everyone was waiting and hoping that Hoenn would be revisited, so now that it has...I'm ready for a remake of Diamond and Pearl! A re-release on the Wii U, however, wouldn't be so bad either.
Chances of it coming out: None. Nintendo hasn't released any of the Pokemon games because the main focal point of the games are to trade, which you can't do on a Virtual Console title. I think that's kind of depressing as I believe people would be fine playing the RPG aspect of the title without collecting all Pokemon, but I guess Nintendo feels differently.
Those are my five games I’d like to see on the Nintendo DS Virtual Console. What games would you like to see on there? Do they have a shot? Discuss it below!
