Nintendo DS First Look

"You can touch me if you want. Down there."

'Nintendo DS First Look' Screenshot 1

New hardware is always fun. More than half of our lives spent as aficionados of gaming technology can't erode the fact that we love unwrapping new toys almost as much as we love playing with them. The carefully designed packaging builds the anticipation; the smell of a freshly manufactured piece of kit is as exciting as the smell of money to a gambler. The feel of a device in our hands for the first time, as all our expectations and misconceptions materialise or evaporate in the blink of an eyelid.

The Nintendo DS is a little bigger than you might expect.

Yes, we have our hands on them now, courtesy of a Nintendo event last night in London which handed out toys like confetti at a wedding but failed to inform us of an exact launch date or price point for the console. No matter; if you're a hardcore fan, you're probably already pondering a US import, and if not, you won't mind waiting.

We'll bring you detailed coverage of the console next week - how it works, how it plays, reviews of the games. For now, though, we'll say this; it's a little bigger than you might expect.

Okay, we'll qualify that. The Game Boy Advance SP has spoiled us. It's quite clearly the product of a long line of refinements to a basic concept, and it's the pinnacle of over a decade of the Game Boy. The Nintendo DS, on the other hand, is something new. It doesn't feel or look like an evolution of the Game Boy - it's a bit chunkier, perhaps a shade more modern, and distinctly not as fully evolved as the GBA SP was. It's first-generation hardware, but made by a master craftsman of handheld consoles, if you take our meaning. Flawed, but not with the kind of huge screaming flaws that Nintendo's handheld competitors make.

'Nintendo DS First Look' Screenshot 2

So, it's chunky, but not too chunky that it doesn't fit nicely into the pocket of your jeans; the game cartridges feel a little flimsy after the rugged GBA cartridges, but are actually very robust compared to the flash cards that you find in cameras and phones. These are minor flaws, and they pale in comparison to the things Nintendo has got right. The battery life is excellent - although we haven't had ours for long enough to really test this aspect (it says "First Look" up there for a reason), the screens are bright, vibrant and properly backlit, the D-pad is a joy to use, there's a proper headphone socket, and the speakers in the unit are surprisingly excellent.

As you might be guessing by now, this is the single best platform ever to play Game Boy Advance games on. They look far better on this screen than they've ever looked on a GBA SP or through a Game Boy Advance Player, and the size of the unit is just right for extended play without developing the cramp that those of us with large, ape-like hands often get from squashing our outsized digits around a GBA SP. You can choose whether you want to play them on the top or bottom screen, which is nice.

Of course, we're not here to talk about Game Boy Advance games, now are we?

The unique features of the Nintendo DS are threefold - you've got a touchscreen, you've got two screens, and you've got a microphone. We can't talk about the latter, because nothing we've got our hands on takes advantage of it right now. We can't talk much about either of the others, really, since we haven't had more than a couple of hours playtime, but if only slightly educated off the cuff comments tickle your fancy in places that don't make it feel uncomfortable, then here are some to be getting on with.

'Nintendo DS First Look' Screenshot 3

Firstly, we now understand why so many games use the second screen for a map and not a lot else. When you're controlling something like Mario 64 DS or Metroid Prime Hunters with the stylus or thumb-nub (which rapidly became forefinger-nub for us, as using it on your thumb is a rapid way to end up with the kind of hand-cramp that usually gets associated with frantic onanists), the second screen is largely obscured by your hand - using it for information critical to the action would just be awkward.

Secondly, the stylus input works remarkably well. Experience with playing FPS games on a laptop with a trackpad didn't exactly make us slaver in anticipation of Metroid Prime with a stylus, but it works a treat - pinpoint accuracy and intuitive movement are the order of the day. Even better are the mini-games like those found in Mario 64 DS, where the stylus is used in genuinely clever and innovative ways - and we're drooling at the prospect of Wario Ware DS already as a result.

The impressions we take away from our first few hours of messing around with the DS are mixed. On the one hand, it really does feel like a console which has the potential to play host to gameplay that we've never seen anywhere else. Playing with games that properly utilise the stylus and dual screen layout is a real pleasure, and if developers can get their heads around how to use them properly, the DS is going to be a fantastic little machine.

'Nintendo DS First Look' Screenshot 4

We also liked the setup of the system, which stores things like your name, date of birth, favourite colour (eh?) and a host of other information in its memory, and hopefully we'll see that used in some of the games as well. PictoChat, the built-in wireless messenger app, is also a hit around these parts - it works extremely well even with poor wireless signal, as does the multiplayer component of Metroid Prime: Hunters, so that's definitely one aspect of the system that Nintendo has got right.

On the other hand, the graphics on the system are going to be eclipsed by what the PSP is capable of. They're quite clear and crisp for the most part, around N64 quality, but lacking the trademark blur that games for that platform had, but certainly nowhere close to the near-PS2 quality we're expecting from PSP titles. We're also keenly aware that so far, we've only seen three pieces of software - PictoChat, which is great fun but isn't a game, Metroid Prime Hunters, which is only a demo, and Mario 64 DS, which is the only full game in our hands. A console lives or dies by the strength of its software line-up, and we simply can't gauge that just yet.

So there you go: Day One of the Nintendo DS, and we're feeling positive about the system overall, but with some reservations in our minds. Keep an eye out next week for our full-sized impressions of the console, its launch titles, and its prospects for the future. In the meanwhile, enjoy some hi-res shots of the Nintendo DS next to random items from our office - including the almost entirely useless revelation that the console is smaller than Sephiroth.

Comments (98) Latest comment 7 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Killerbee #1 7 years ago

    Sounds like an 8/10 to me.

    As good as Halo?

    ;)
  • Merefield #2 7 years ago

    That's quite big for a portable console. I think I'll skip

    Yeah, just look at it compared to that person in the last picture!
  • Sko #3 7 years ago

    Aye, going on the size of it in relation to one of you stood next to it (nice sword, by the way), it's bloody huge!!!
  • Sko #4 7 years ago

    "Yeah, just look at it compared to that person in the last picture!"

    Aw, crap. :)
  • Eldritch #5 7 years ago

    "frantic onanists"

    Don't worry, they're still playing DOA volleyball.

    /considers posting that Turkish word again to get more traffic
  • Razz #6 7 years ago

    It's about bloody time!
    Edited by 1 at 25/11/04 @ 18:02
  • AmpH #7 7 years ago

    I love it! Can't wait for my preorder to arrive from Hong Kong.
  • Razz #8 7 years ago

  • kalel #9 7 years ago

    Don't suppose we can get a quick 'yay' or 'nay' on Mario DS can we?
  • Pirotic #10 7 years ago

    Anybody notice the rather bad pop-up in Mario64? why bother making all the sprites 3D (coins, chomps etc) if its then going to do a wipeout on me and make them only appear when im 10 pixels away from them.
  • Singularity #11 7 years ago

    frantic onanists

    Snigger.

    : )
    Edited by 1 at 25/11/04 @ 18:16
  • gamingdave #12 7 years ago

    WOPR, I think its the same size (aprox) as the original GBA, id hardly call it huge.
  • Shinji #13 7 years ago

    I can't believe you guys chipped it already!! :o

    Eh? What do you mean?
  • Eldritch #14 7 years ago

    Yeah, but didn't the Game & Watch things look like shit, too?
  • El_MUERkO #15 7 years ago

    Please stop with the "First" crap in the comments threads!!!
  • IronGiant #16 7 years ago

  • PinkSpider #17 7 years ago

    Its funny, just like the 'as good as halo' and the battery life stuff.

    I want a DS, just looks a little big. Might just wait for a second generation (they better bloody do this) PSP.
  • caligari #18 7 years ago

    Jah jah jah, I want one. My toilet hours have been so empty and lonely since I sold my GBA. A new Advance Wars on the DS, and I won't be leaving the toilet for months...
  • tengu #19 7 years ago

    Still reminds me of Captain Kirk's communicator for some odd reason.

    Still, as far as I can see, the only thing this baby doesn't have is a slot for you to shag the arse off it. And I'm not even discounting the possiblility of THAT until I have one and see it for myself!
  • Razz #20 7 years ago

    "I can't believe you guys chipped it already!! :o

    Eh? What do you mean? "

    sorry it says "mic" init, I thought it was a chip. Soz.
  • caligari #21 7 years ago

    No really. All I have in there at the moment is the latest Gameplay catalogue...
  • volb #22 7 years ago

    I hereby elect the Sephiroth as the official measurement unit for cool stuff.
  • tengu #23 7 years ago

    God, Sephiroth is such a gaylord. Why include him in the photo of what is essentially a gadget for REAL men? Made me lose the wood I built up from the other pics that did!
  • O-Fox #24 7 years ago

    "I hereby elect the Sephiroth as the official measurement unit for cool stuff."
    Seconded.
    Edited by 1 at 25/11/04 @ 19:10
  • otto #25 7 years ago

    The favourite colour thing is simply to customise the colour of the menu screens, as far as I can tell. Other than that, I pretty much agree with everything you said there, Rob, with the one proviso that I'm not quite so enamoured of the stylus control system - because when you're holding a stylus, you can't use the buttons (or the d-pad if you're left-handed), and vice-versa. Also, having two screens is really going to take some getting used to, and makes it much more difficult to follow what's happening.
  • otto #26 7 years ago

    WOPR, I think its the same size (aprox) as the original GBA, id hardly call it huge.

    It's not, it's substantially bigger than the original GBA.
  • bungalooBunny #27 7 years ago

    If the battery life is great as they're saying I might get this instead of a PSP, but N better come up with more varied games than endless Mario games or spin-offs.

    I'd like to see some Ghost'n'Goblins and Metal Slugs...
  • Scimarad #28 7 years ago

    That thing really is hideous...
  • Nemesis #29 7 years ago

    New hardware is always fun. More than half of our lives spent as aficionados of gaming technology can't erode the fact that we love unwrapping new toys almost as much as we love playing with them. The carefully designed packaging builds the anticipation; the smell of a freshly manufactured piece of kit is as exciting as the smell of money to a gambler. The feel of a device in our hands for the first time, as all our expectations and misconceptions materialise or evaporate in the blink of an eyelid.

    You can always spot a Mac user .

    /salutes
  • WoodenSpoon #30 7 years ago

    By Rob Fahey?

    Shinji?
  • #31 7 years ago

    it's substantially bigger than the original GBA.

    /geek mode on

    DS measures 148mm across
    the original GBA measures 144mm across,
    PSP measures 170mm across

    /geek mode off
  • Nemesis #32 7 years ago

    Aye Wood', and there's the sub of my ol' Soundsticks look. Awwwww.

    /affectionate wave

    Bless 'em.
  • Derblington #33 7 years ago

    How many of you guys at EG got hold of them? And as you got them for nothing who wants to sell one?
  • krudster #34 7 years ago

    Tom, Rob and I all got one. There's not a snowflake in hell's chance of any of us parting with it!
  • otto #35 7 years ago

    DS measures 148mm across
    the original GBA measures 144mm across,
    PSP measures 170mm across


    I'd call 4mm substantial. ;p

    No seriously, I'd be interested in seeing HxWxD of the GBA and the DS compared, because the DS feels a lot bigger. Not that I find that a problem, though, frankly. Not sure what the point of the comparison with the PSP is though as that's irrelevant.
  • Derblington #36 7 years ago

    Tight, lucky b*st*rds.
  • #37 7 years ago

    Not sure what the point of the comparison with the PSP is though as that's irrelevant.

    The EG guys were comparing the graphics of the DS to PSP so I thought I'd just throw that in there (compare and contrast as they say). I didn't mean that as a bad reflection on the PSP.

    I'd be interested in seeing HxWxD of the GBA and the DS compared

    I think the DS is just slightly bigger than the original GBA otto.
  • Tiger_Walts #38 7 years ago

    The favourite colour thing is probably for multiplayer gaming, it will be your default. Should yo meet anyone with the same colour, there's only way to settle it...

    FIGHT!!!!
  • Shinji #39 7 years ago

    By Rob Fahey?

    Shinji?


    Mum?!!
  • Alastair #40 7 years ago

    Not sure what the point of the comparison with the PSP is though as that's irrelevant.


    Not to some people.
  • cubbymoore #41 7 years ago

    Caligari, you into silent films?
  • Pirotic #42 7 years ago

    It's just an upper range ARM processor, so apart from the basic 3D optimisations it doesn't offer any sort of texture filtering. on the flip side it means the machine can throw around 2D with ease and it can also handle larger textures than the N64, so while it cannot blur them out - they look better to begin with, so when your not close up Mario64 DS actually looks better than its N64 counterpart.
    Edited by 1 at 25/11/04 @ 21:40
  • andrewfromdoncaster #43 7 years ago

    I think the characters and enemies look much more lush on the DS than the N64; don't you think. I think Mario 64DS looks better overall the Mario 64
  • urban #44 7 years ago

  • Sko #45 7 years ago

    "I'd call 4mm substantial. ;p"

    I know they say size doesn't matter, but I don't think they meant quite that small when they said it, otto. Still, good to see you're proud of what you've got. Fair play. ;)
  • CunningLinguist #46 7 years ago

    Doesn't anyone see the "so not obvious" jab at the DS? Sepiroth which will be in Advent Children for PSP points his sword down at the DS. Eurogamer is trying to say the PSP will decapitate the DS. Come on people that's so obvious! ...I mean ...you know... ahhh forget about it.
  • APR #47 7 years ago

    Compared to the rest of the unit, I do think those screens are a little small. Too much 'frame' around them, if you understand.
    I don't rate the aesthetics either. But regardless, I will get one when they are available here.
  • discoMishap #48 7 years ago

    okay, being the ecstatic fanboy-type when new nintendo hardware skips gaily onto the scene, i ended up preordering one of these. first impression: the thing's pig ugly, straight out of the box. oddly, it has it's own kind of serene logical beauty when you open it up. i like. as for the games, mario 64 DS with a stylus still hasn't quite made my heart sing with joy yet, and secretly i harbour suspicions that we'll be seeing the DS SP - complete with analogue stick - in the next 18 months. HOWEVER, i absolutely implore anyone getting one of these things on import to pick up Sonic Team's Feel the Magic: XX/XY. truly, it's a bite-sized chunk of gaming genius. and more than anything i've seen so far, including minimetroidprime, indicates just how wonderfully unique nintendo's baby has the potential to be. i gave a pixel-bird mouth-to-mouth by breathing onto my handheld earlier today. if only that was a euphemism...
  • crofty13 #49 7 years ago

    It looks like the ugly chick the always seems to fancy you,

    Good features and nice personality but still ohh so ugly ;-)
  • deepmenace #50 7 years ago

    the thing for me in the DS vs PSP war is the fact that the PSP seems like it might be more of a "device" than a handheld.

    They are barely comparable - give the PSP a 1gb MS-DUO and the possibility that some starts writing to UMD ( you never know! ) and u have the next walkman
  • pjmaybe #51 7 years ago

    Sounds cute but to quote Skywalker..."Look at the SIZE of that thing!"

    Peej
  • APR #52 7 years ago

    Shame you didn't put a Master Chief figure in that shot. Then you would have had a bit more article consistancy, i.e comparing stuff to Halo... :)
  • Blerk #53 7 years ago

    Jesus, it looks HUGE in those pictures! Please tell me that's a trick of the camera. Anyone got a picture of one next to an SP so I can get some idea of scale? I've no idea how big Sephiroth is.

    Bizarre that the thing is designed in such a way that you obscure the screen with your hand while using the stylus. Surely that takes away most of the point of having the second screen? Kinda makes me think they added the 'touch screen' idea later on, long after they'd already decided on the dual-screen thingy.

    Anyway... looks alright. I shall wait to see the software.
  • pjmaybe #54 7 years ago

    Size-wise I was going by the size of it compared to the Laptop in one of the shots. That's the biggest fucking handheld I've seen since...hmm...probably the Game Gear!

    Peej
  • gizmo #55 7 years ago

    Wow, thats MUCH bigger than I expected. Ok, the PSP is big but so is its screen. And the PSP looks desirable. Sorry, but that thing is just plain ugly. It looks like one of those VTEC kiddy laptops.
  • deepmenace #56 7 years ago

    the plastic has an almost "out of a xmas cracker" lack of sheen look to it
  • Domstercool #57 7 years ago

  • sir_tripod #58 7 years ago

    "You can touch me if you want. Down there."

    LOL!!!


    No wonder they got a big fella like Reggie (name-taking aside) to model it. In the hands of a giant the unit looks averagely sized!
  • bionutz #59 7 years ago

    Well, I think I'll sell my playstation and buy instead NDS and PSP, I like things that don't take up too much place
  • bionutz #60 7 years ago

  • drumbaby #61 7 years ago

    Can't wait to play some Rolf Harris toons on this baby.
  • UncleLou #62 7 years ago

    Heh, nice. Great animations.
  • HairyArse #63 7 years ago

    Wow that Nintendogs video looks very cool. Not sure what the game involves or if it would appeal to me, but the animation is really well done and it also shows what is possible with they stylus :)
  • Blerk #64 7 years ago

    It's not that big

    Christ, I beg to differ! I've obviously been spoiled by the SP, but look at the size of that thing! How am I going to sneak off to the bog for some uninterrupted gaming with one of those stashed in my jeans pocket, eh? I'm not. She's going to take one look at the 'stiff-legged' walk and bulging groin and think the worst.
  • Shinji #65 7 years ago

    It's probably worth pointing out that the laptop it's next to is the baby, dinky, Powerbook 12" - so the scale may seem a litttle odd.

    OTOH, it IS a fairly chunky piece of kit regardless. I would have taken a pic next to a GBA SP if, er, I could find my GBA SP. I was sure it was here a minute ago, dammit...
  • Blerk #66 7 years ago

    See? It's so small you lost it!

    /trips over DS
  • Royal Fool #67 7 years ago

    Well, it's obvious that a lot of people care. Otherwise the comments section would be much more deserted. :)
  • gamingdave #68 7 years ago

    Size comparison next to GBA SP 1 2

    DS, GBA, GBA SP together

    Really, its not THAT big.
  • pjmaybe #69 7 years ago

    Ahhh it's no wider than a GBA then, but a bit thicker...

    Looks good though, I'm slowly coming round to the idea of getting one but I can keep my ants in my pants for a bit longer and wait till it's released here (unlike the rest of yous!)

    Peej
  • jiroczech #70 7 years ago

    But if it's really going to be £120 over here you're better off importing one - £108 inc. courier shipping from VG+. Which is stupid. Stupid Nintendo.
  • Blerk #71 7 years ago

    Hmm.. compared to a normal GBA it doesn't look so bad. But... SP! Teenie-tiny. Spoiled. Bah.
  • gamingdave #72 7 years ago

    I think most of the general public would rather buy something for £120 from a shop in their town, than £108 for something online from outside the country. The £12 saving could be swallowed by import duty, and if something goes wrong its a lot easier to take it back.

    Still id hope Nintendo price it fairly (not that they have a good history on that one)
  • deepmenace #73 7 years ago

    i bet that Nintendogs app has got japanese business men slavering over the possibilty of some kind of manga/dating/woo the ladies right thing they love so much.

    The mind boggles.
  • Sko #74 7 years ago

    "Bizarre that the thing is designed in such a way that you obscure the screen with your hand while using the stylus."

    Do you have this problem while writing, Blerk? Your schoolwork must have been all over the page...

    I think most people can handle the concept of holding a stylus/pen without covering what we're doing, right?
  • Blerk #75 7 years ago

    Not the screen you're writing on, the other screen! And EG obviously had a problem with it, given that it's mentioned above.
  • Shinji #76 7 years ago

    Um... Er... No. The screen you're writing on is the one that's obscured (not usually by the stylus, but by the thumb nub thing, definitely). So in action games, where you use the nub rather than the stylus, you do end up thankful that it's only a map on the control screen - if it was "mission critical" stuff it'd be a nightmare.
  • Blerk #77 7 years ago

    Oh, right. That's not so bad then. My bad - I misunderstood. I thought you meant the other screen got obscured.
  • jiroczech #78 7 years ago

    I wasn't addressing that to the general public, but to folk on here who are thinking about getting one now or in the future.

    Often, even if hardware is cheaper in the US, importing it brings the cost up to near enough the same as it is locally. But the DS is so much cheaper in the states that importing may even save you money. Place I've ordered from mark it as a $20 electronic toy, so you don't get import duties.

    But I don't think the official price has been confirmed yet for the UK anyway so who knows, maybe Nintendo will see sense and release it at under £100.
  • gamingdave #79 7 years ago

    jiroczech, I agree, which is why im getting mine on import. Actually thats a lie, im getting an import one because I want it NOW, damn you postman where are you!
  • kincaide #80 7 years ago

    You didn't order it from ImportMadness then? OTHERWISE YOU WOULD BE STILL BE WAITING LIKE ME!!
  • Mr Richard #81 7 years ago

    Where did you pre-order dudes order it from then?
  • Blerk #82 7 years ago

    So where's the rest of the news today, eh? All too busy playing with your freebies?
  • dr_zoidthrob #83 7 years ago

    How does it work for us left-handed people? Do the A,B,X,Y buttons take the place of the d-pad? Using the stylus and the d-pad at the same time could be tricky.

    Or have Nintendo stuffed us completely? (are lefties the new Europe?)
    Edited by 1 at 26/11/04 @ 11:48
  • Shinji #84 7 years ago

    The games we've tried let you mirror the controls to either side of the screen, so you can use the stylus left or right handed.
  • dr_zoidthrob #85 7 years ago

    Splendid news, thanks :)
  • Sko #86 7 years ago

    And still the world turns...
  • Blerk #87 7 years ago

    Heh heh - you made a little error in your last point, Razz. Do you see what you did there?
  • BradlayLaw #88 7 years ago

    I got mine last night and it is lovely. Mario on the touchscreen takes a wee while to get used to, but now it's much better than the digital control. Can't wait for the bus ride home tonight so I can play some more.

    Also, Feel the Magic is...weird.
  • Zero Beat #89 7 years ago

    I hope that microphone is built to last and both screens have a good anti scratch coating.
  • Nikanoru #90 7 years ago

    That Nintendogs game is going to be a chick magnet. I can just hear their squeals now. "Awwww look at the doggies, they're so cute! ^_^ "

    I'm getting one.
  • Blerk #91 7 years ago

  • otto #92 7 years ago

    P.S. I will print this in any thread when people get there facts wrong or regurgitate the same tired slander.

    Is that a threat?

    Please don't.
  • Daryoon #93 7 years ago

    Should he not be called ShigeruMiyamotoIsEvil?
  • Razz #94 7 years ago

    Cheers Loki, that's the best piece of sense, concerning the DS, I've read for a long time
  • Razz #95 7 years ago

  • Syn #96 7 years ago

    People are complaining about size. meh. PSP will only have around 2 hours battery life. Now thats a killer. The look of the DS could have been nicer though.
  • ChocNut #97 7 years ago

    Ahh - I got my hands on one of these yesterday.
    I KNEW IT. From the very instance I saw the original DS images I knew the case design was pathetic. I voiced my disgust - at the old DS I might add - and was criticized for this 'outrageous' opinion. I used the final version myself yesterday and my original suspicions where confirmed.

    Its a kids 'first computer' with a toilet seat. A pencil case. Whatever. The Virtual Boy looked more attractive and I cant believe that Nintendo accepted this case design. There have been many, many fantastic Nintendo creations but this thing is hideous.

    I grant you that Metroid looks sweet as hell on it - most Nintendo games are fantastic quality, but there is no way I would be seen outdoors or anywhere else for that matter with one of these beasts.

    Some gamers will argue that aesthetics and case design aren't important in the grand scheme of things but this is a handheld console - not something you will be hiding under your TV or in your bedroom.

    Thank God for my SP and thank God the PSP is on the way. The guy who showed me the DS (his father brought it home from America) actually seemed to prefer my SP when I showed it to him and even asked how much they currently cost.
  • ChocNut #98 7 years ago

    Why shouldnt I be thankful for the SP design? I think its fair to say that the general consensus is that it is easily the best handheld design so far.
    "Throwing a hissy-fit at 2.19am on a Saturday night / Sunday morning about the percived design of some games machine." Is that supposed to be a sentence?
    Whats wrong with me making such comments considering the subject of the article or the content of this website? Would you also care to explain what's wrong with commenting at 2.19 on a Sunday morning/ Sat night?
    Maybe you should think before you post stranger? Remember that in order to 'Speak your brain', a brain is generally prerequisite.
  • #99 7 years ago

    If you mean games from the lower cartridge socket, then yes.