DS - Does any game need the dual screen?

[farley2k]

I am still waiting for a game which really needs the dual screen.  A few games have come out which really take advantage of the touch screen - games like Kirby, Ouendan, etc. but nothing has really used the second screen in a meaningful way.

The new Castlevania uses it for a map, and that actually seems to be about the most common use.  Well that is fine, but hardly necessary.  


I was hoping that the unique things about the DS would bring out some unique game development and I guess half of it has with the touch screen use but from what I see they should have made that screen bigger and dumped the second screen altogether.

[JayG]

You could be right. I'm still waiting for Kirby to come out here, it's due in November, but it looks like the second screen is always used as a map.

[WinoMcCougarstein]

Sonic rush uses both screens as the actual gameplay area.  You can go up to the top screen and back down to the bottom one, looks kind of neat.  It is old school Sonic all the way!

[warning]

Trace Memory uses it.  As you walk around in a top-down 3D view on the bottom screen the top screen changes to give you views of what you're seeing.  You can then zoom into that view and it shows up on the bottom screen.

[Devil]

XX/YY or whatever it's called ued it.

[farley2k]

Now with those games would you say it significantly changed the gameplay such that the game could't be pulled off without the second screen or is it just neat and maybe helpful?

It seems to me that all the game so far could be pulled off without the second screen but it is a gimick to use it.

[Knightshade Dragon]

Ultimate Spider-Man used the second screen heavily.  You controlled Venom entirely with the bottom screen.

[Dimmona]

Warioware Twisted and Yoshi's Touch-N-Go use both screens for normal play....

[Harpua3]

Nintendogs, meteos, and wario ware all use it pretty nicely.

[stiffler]

I think the new Castlevania game was originally developed for GBA and then switched to the DS.  Having the map up top will certainly shave some time off my playtime, but using the touch screen to capture souls seems like they kinda desperate to find some way to utilize it.

I'm still bitter that I have to buy a DS to continue my Castlevania quest...

[Dimmona]

I think the new Castlevania game was originally developed for GBA and then switched to the DS.  Having the map up top will certainly shave some time off my playtime, but using the touch screen to capture souls seems like they kinda desperate to find some way to utilize it.
.

Just to be clear, you don't use the touch screen to capture souls.  At the end of each boss fight there is a little 'symbol' you have to draw with your finger/stylus that takes all of 1-2 seconds to do - not intrusive at all.  In addition there's quite a few areas where you have to carve out your own path by breaking blocks - and depending on how you carve it up you can open up new paths.  

About the only other use of the touch screen is ordering your minion to attach a specific enemy - other than that, there's not really all that much touch stuff going on.  Overall you are right - the map/status screen/touch elements aren't anything critical and could have been skipped altogether; however, I don't think there's any way they could have fit all of that gorgeous soundtrack or a lot of the graphical goodness on the GBA.

[stiffler]

Just to be clear, you don't use the touch screen to capture souls.  At the end of each boss fight there is a little 'symbol' you have to draw with your finger/stylus that takes all of 1-2 seconds to do - not intrusive at all.  In addition there's quite a few areas where you have to carve out your own path by breaking blocks - and depending on how you carve it up you can open up new paths.

Thanks for the heads-up.  It has been awhile since I read about it.  I am then assuming capturing souls is the same as it was in Aria of Sorrow (getting all the souls in that game took forever!).

Perhaps my initial impressions of the upgrades and whether it was originally started as a GBA title are a bit off due to the fact it is a direct sequel to Aria of Sorrow (unless that changed too!).

I need this game!

[Purge]

losing screen real estate to status bars, heads-up displays and maps (or worse yet, having to hit a button to go to another screen to check) is a pain. Since your eyes can only focus on one place at a time, i think it would be a pain in the ass to have full-on action coming on two screens at once.

it'd be neat to have the top screen used for rear-view mirror and both side mirrors, as well as speed, tach, etc, and the bottom screen used exclusively for driving. IRL all of those visual elements are "glance only" ... that would be ideal.

[The Grue]

Thanks for the heads-up.  It has been awhile since I read about it.  I am then assuming capturing souls is the same as it was in Aria of Sorrow (getting all the souls in that game took forever!).

Perhaps my initial impressions of the upgrades and whether it was originally started as a GBA title are a bit off due to the fact it is a direct sequel to Aria of Sorrow (unless that changed too!).

I need this game!

All the real Castlevania fans have a DS and are playing it right now.

[stiffler]

All the real Castlevania fans have a DS and are playing it right now.

You bastard! :lol:

Maybe next week...