Animal Crossing Yoshi Article

Unfortunately, the DS software library isn’t looking much better during these first few months of ’05. As usual, it’s a sprinkling of Nintendo-made games (such as the recently released WarioWare: Touched! and Yoshi Touch & Go, due in March), and that’s about it. This as Sony’s PlayStation Portable arrives in game stores on March 24.

Looking Ahead

Like a distant traveler with his destination in sight, DS owners will definitely see a boatload of titles this fall that take advantage of the machine’s capabilities (touch pad, microphone, and Wi-Fi). Nintendo will do its part with showstoppers like Mario Kart DS, a portable Animal Crossing, and a new Super Mario Bros. DS also has a spark of solid third-party support, including a new Castlevania from Konami and two Final Fantasy installments (FF: Crystal Chronicles and FFIII) from Square Enix.

Notable Games

Advance Wars DS • Fall ’05 — Thanks to the machine’s two screens, you can keep an eye on both air and ground attacks in this strategy war game.

Animal Crossing DS • Fall ’05 — Use the DS’s wireless feature to visit your bud’s village and trade decorating secrets.

Castlevania DS • Fall ’05 — Konami’s acclaimed adventure series uses the DS’s lower touch screen to cast magic spells on the undead.

New Super Mario Bros. • Fall ’05

This one looks more old than new, as the plumbers return to a life in 2D.

Mario Kart DS • Fall ’05 — Not much changes as Mario and co. race to DS, which is just fine by us.

Metroid Prime Hunters • Spring ’05

Rather than a solo adventure like the two console installments, this Prime is all about the multiplayer component.