Best of 2008: 10 best DS games

by David Hinkle { Dec 29th 2008 at 1:00PM }

With 2008 coming to an end, we figured we'd look back at the best games available on the DS. As you can imagine, that was an extremely hard thing to do, considering the DS constantly receives great games. So, join us for this look back at the best 2008 had to offer, and be sure to offer your own games in the comments below!

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Tags: best-of-2008, joystiqfeatures

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Roto13 @ Dec 29th 2008 1:45PM

Needs more Final Fantasy Tactics A2.

Dummy00001 @ Dec 29th 2008 4:54PM

Disgaea is better.

FFTA2 becomes overly boring after 40 hours or so. Quest system and skill system (and how they ruin the watered down story) sucked big time.

FFTA2's Airport was smallest yet biggest annoyance of the year to me.

Roto13 @ Dec 29th 2008 5:01PM

Nonsense to everything except the airport.

Mert @ Dec 30th 2008 8:22AM

I have over 180 hours of playtime right now, I still haven't finished all the quests and I'm still not bored. #1 for me.

aj @ Dec 30th 2008 8:37AM

Disgaea is a port of a PSP game which was a port of a PS2 game. While awesome, it was actually the best PS2 game of the year a while back, and probably one of the best PSP games as well.

There were a lot of good SRPGs on the DS, though. FFTA2 being the most often mentioned, but I think Luminous Arc doesn't get the love it deserves. (This is probably because it's an Atlus game and they only made 5 copies of the game anyway because Atlus loves making eBayers rich.)

Joe S @ Dec 29th 2008 2:01PM

How did the Chrono Trigger port make this list but not the FF4 remake?

Nigeria @ Dec 29th 2008 2:23PM

Replace Chrono Trigger with Sonic Chronicles and then you've got a pretty solid list.

Covarr @ Dec 29th 2008 2:53PM

How did Apollo Justice make the list? Sure the series started out cute enough, but the writing has gotten progressively worse with characters actually becoming LESS developed over time, and the solutions becoming more and more obtuse.

Then again, AJ:AA didn't have Maya, which arguably makes it the best game in the series.

HMDX @ Dec 29th 2008 3:43PM

Chrono Trigger being there does stink. Especially, as Joe said, this year also saw Square release an actual remake (not a port, mind) of an equally-good SNES-era RPG in Final Fantasy IV.

I mean geez, if ports are eligible for GOTY things like this, then why wasn't Ocarina of Time on anybody's "Top 10 Wii Games of 2007" lists?

Blargh.

Also wtf Ninja Town LOCK'S QUEST WAS SO MUCH BETTER!!

soundpaint @ Dec 29th 2008 4:19PM

Honestly, I rolled my eyes when I saw Chrono Trigger. Obligatory mention is obligatory. Come on...

Dummy00001 @ Dec 29th 2008 4:59PM

"Professor Layton" is overrated. I'm sucker for puzzles, but the Laytons forced-on story ruined it all. After spending 2 or so hours with the game, I probably played out of the whole time 15 minutes or so.

Also your list doesn't have any SRPG. What is very strange.

Very Metal @ Dec 29th 2008 6:04PM

No Shiren, eh?

aber @ Dec 29th 2008 9:23PM

Outside off the Apollo (Not a fan of the series myself...) & Ninja Gaiden (I'm 33 years old...action games with the stylus just feel wrong after so many years using the old trusty D-pad) picks, I can't argue much with the list. Here would be my choices for top 10. Great year of the DS, based on these 10 games alone...

10. N+
9. Dragon Quest IV
8. Legend of Kage 2
7. Bangai-O Spirits
6. Ninjatown
5. Kirby Super Star Ultra
4. Chrono Trigger DS
3. Speed Racer (Yes, you read right...)
2. Castlevania: Ecclesia
1. Space Invaders Extreme

Just missed: Metal Slug 7, Soul Bubbles, Lock's Quest, Professor Layton, Advance Wars: DOR, & Tecmo Bowl Kickoff

BlackDS @ Dec 29th 2008 9:25PM

My Top Ten Games of 2008

1. Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword
2. Kirby Super Star Ultra
3. Densetsu no Stafy Taiketsu! Daiiru Kaizokudan
4. The World Ends With You
5. Nanostray 2
6. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
7. Crosswords DS
8. Space Invaders Extreme
9. Castlevania Order of Ecclesia
10. Apollo Justice Ace Attorney

Turbo @ Dec 30th 2008 1:22AM

Seriously? No mario?

Turbo @ Dec 30th 2008 1:22AM

Oh wait, nevermind. There was no Mario :(

Environ @ Dec 30th 2008 1:44AM

Since when is Ninjatown Wi-Fi enabled???

*runs to compare actual boxart with submitted picture on Top 10 list*

Nuts. That got my hopes up. The multiplayer (single and multi-card) is actually pretty fun. I'm sure that wi-fi battles with experienced players would be pretty fun too.

BTW, I noticed that the Ninjatown demo is back up on the Nintendo Channel DS Download Service until 1/4/09. It's worth checking out if you've got a Wii.

aj @ Dec 30th 2008 8:41AM

How many roguelike games came out this year? Shiren, Izuna 2, Pokemon. That's ridiculously awesome.

Matias @ Dec 30th 2008 11:49AM

For me it goes like this:

1. Castlevania order of eclessia (at last, it's hard!)
2. Rune Factory 2 (rpg + harvest moon= win)
3. Etrian odyssey 2 (simply awesome)
4. Apollo justice (Haven't finished it yet, but I love it)
5. Trauma center 2 (fast paced and fun gameplay)
6. Luminous arc 2 (I loved this and the 1st one)
7. FFTA2 (not as good as the other 2 though)
8. FFIV DS (I want V though, IV isn't my favourite)
9. DQIV (Another remake, though this one really needed it, and an official translation)
10. Chrono trigger DS (It lacked new stuff)

eight @ Dec 30th 2008 2:11PM

I bought 7 games for my DS this year. 5 of them are in your top 11 games list. I feel prety good about that. The other two were Trauma Center 2 and Freshly Picked. I'm happy with all of my purchases and i think you guys have assembled a solid list.

J.C @ Dec 30th 2008 2:57PM

How did N+ get in there? Why not some of the imports like Ouendan 2 or Jump Superstars or even stafy? This list is completely bogus and does not compare to the awesomeness of Ouendan 2. Who dosen't like monkey magic? :p

aber @ Dec 30th 2008 9:32PM

Perhaps because Ouendan 2 and Jump Super Stars didn't come out in 2008 (Ouendan 2 was released in '07, and the 2 iterations of Jump were released in '05 & '06). While Densetsu no Stafy Taiketsu! Daiiru Kaizokudan did come out in '08, it hasn't received nearly the attention of other import titles (i.e. Daigasso Band Brothers, Jump, Ouendan series, etc), and doesn't make sense for a top 10 list when very few readers of this blog (especially those who did NOT pirate the game) have actually played the game.

Common sense, really

paddy @ Jan 10th 2009 10:25AM

if chrono trigger made this list then how didnt final fantasy IV. it has alot better graphics than chrono trigger and in my opinion is alot more fun to play

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Roto13 @ Dec 29th 2008 1:45PM

Dummy00001 @ Dec 29th 2008 4:54PM

Roto13 @ Dec 29th 2008 5:01PM

Mert @ Dec 30th 2008 8:22AM

aj @ Dec 30th 2008 8:37AM

Joe S @ Dec 29th 2008 2:01PM

Nigeria @ Dec 29th 2008 2:23PM

Covarr @ Dec 29th 2008 2:53PM

HMDX @ Dec 29th 2008 3:43PM

soundpaint @ Dec 29th 2008 4:19PM

Dummy00001 @ Dec 29th 2008 4:59PM

Very Metal @ Dec 29th 2008 6:04PM

aber @ Dec 29th 2008 9:23PM

BlackDS @ Dec 29th 2008 9:25PM

Turbo @ Dec 30th 2008 1:22AM

Turbo @ Dec 30th 2008 1:22AM

Environ @ Dec 30th 2008 1:44AM

aj @ Dec 30th 2008 8:41AM

Matias @ Dec 30th 2008 11:49AM

eight @ Dec 30th 2008 2:11PM

J.C @ Dec 30th 2008 2:57PM

aber @ Dec 30th 2008 9:32PM

paddy @ Jan 10th 2009 10:25AM

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