THE NintendoDS remains one of Nintendo’s greatest achievements to this day. Since its launch in 2004, the DS has enjoyed unbelievable success that has seen the device become Nintendo’s best-selling console of all time. Its reception further cemented Nintendo’s status as a champion of the handheld gaming industry, at a time when its main handheld competitor, Sony’s PlayStation Portable, was struggling to make big waves.
20 years after its debut, the DS remains as relevant as ever. The console was not only a huge success at the time, but also the DS was the catalyst that resulted in a seismic shift both for Nintendo and for games in general. The DS stood out as a revolutionary console completely different from what other consoles offered at the time, while also heavily influencing Nintendo’s approach to hardware and software development in the future.
The DS was unlike any console at the time
New features changed the way players approached the game
Before the DS was introduced to the world, it’s safe to say that the market became accustomed to a certain style of gaming. Consoles at the time, such as PlayStation 2, GameCube and Xbox, had a very similar approach to controls. with relatively standardized button layouts. The result meant that it was very easy for players to move easily between each console, although none of them prioritized anything especially different or unique to stand out from the competition.
The DS innovated by completely changing the way the player should interact with the game. The implementation of dual screens may initially seem daunting, as it means that too much can happen to a game at any given time for the player to focus on. Yet the use of two screens for more immersive experiences on the DSas the player becomes more aware of their surroundings, managing the various elements in play without them becoming too overwhelming.
Meanwhile, the DS’s touchscreen completely changed the type of games players expected. The touchscreen added another level of interaction between the player and the game thanks to the fluid and multifaceted actions it provided. This implementation only allowed for more diverse and unique experiences on the DS, as there were almost limitless possibilities for how each game on the system could be played, making the console the most versatile and revolutionary product on the market at the time.
It’s clear that Nintendo wasn’t satisfied with the DS simply being an updated version of an earlier console. like the Game Boy Advance. The company wanted to change the fundamental understanding at the time of what a video game console was capable of and the type of gaming experience a player could enjoy. This unique approach to the DS would certainly have increased its appeal at the time of release, contributing to the console’s massive success.
The best DS games made the most of the system
The library of titles appealed to a huge demographic
While these additions potentially complicate control for players, the DS was an intuitive and adaptable console. The touchscreen made the console more accessible, as it proved incredibly simple and easy to get used to, meaning anyone was able to pick up and play with virtually no problems. In fact, the DS’s most successful games took advantage of this simplicity, providing experiences that can be enjoyed by people who don’t normally play video games, broadening the system’s appeal.
The big success Nintendogsfor example, it had the player use the touchscreen to perform a multitude of tasks, including training and washing their dogs regularly. About that, Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day! offered a series of challenging puzzles that required minimal input from the player, whether writing your response on the touchscreen or speaking into the DS’s built-in microphone. Both games were hugely successful due to their simple, easy-to-learn control scheme that made each title accessible, further boosting the DS’s success as a console for everyone.
It’s clear that Nintendo made sure its exclusive franchises appeared and made the most of the DS’s new features. The most notable example comes The Legend of Zeldawhich made intense use of the new controls with their two inputs to the system, Phantom Hourglass and Spiritual Trails. Similar to Nintendogs and Brain Age, both Zelda inputs on the DS had the player focus primarily on the touchscreen to control Link in both traversal and combatwhile using both screens to navigate the seas or traverse an elaborate railway system.
This unique control scheme created adventures that differed from previous entries in the Zelda series while also being simplistic enough to make either game a perfect entry point into the franchise for more casual players. The DS was not only revolutionary in its accessibility and appeal, but also in offering well-known franchises like Zelda the ability to reinvent yourselfresulting in more satisfying games.
The DS would shape Nintendo consoles in the future
Nintendo continues to push boundaries with each console
It’s no wonder the DS was a success during its lifetime. The console’s deviation from the norm and push for a new and innovative gaming experience saw the DS become a product that went beyond the typical gaming sphere, offering consumers an affordable way to begin their own gaming journey. However, One of the DS’s greatest achievements is how it shaped Nintendo’s futureas later consoles would continue to push the limits of what was possible in gaming.
The Wii’s motion controls essentially served a similar purpose to the DS’s touchscreen, offering a different yet fun and easy-to-learn control scheme that encouraged much more active player action. The use of stereoscopic 3D imaging on the 3DS gave developers more freedom in how perspective was used in their games, as the peripheral gave the player the ability to see much more than they could see in 2D. The Switch’s huge success is due to its versatility and ability to be played in multiple ways, similar to what the DS allowed with its own features.
The DS isn’t just the most popular handheld console of all time. It marks a pivotal moment in Nintendo’s history, when the company worked to make gamers reconsider how games should be played and enjoyed. Nintendo has spent the last 20 years releasing innovative consoles and games that have revolutionized the gaming industry as a whole, and it all started with the NintendoDS.