If you're a DS-owning shooter fan, Nanostray 2 is a must buy. Not only is it a perfectly able shmup, it's also the only game in town. It's not inventive enough to catch the attention of the rest of the world, though. What it does it does well, but it's all been done before. Of course, in games, being fun is more important than being new, and Nanostray 2 is definitely fun. While the visuals are flashy, it's a shame the developers couldn't give the vehicles more character. The audio department helps to make up for the dull character design, though. Let's hope Shin'en's next DS shooter won't take another three years.
Jim Avery writes:
"Being a game reviewer for a couple of different sites, I occasionally have to put up with, and play through, complete pieces of crap. You've probably played one of them before; you know, the kind of game that is offensively bad, that your soul rebels against being near, where every part of it is not fun, but an ordeal (see jackass: the game for Nintendo DS or Igor for Wii). At least you guys can stop playing them; reviewers are obligated to continue until they know exactly how bad the game is.
On the other hand, I occasionally run into a game that I couldn't put down even if I wanted to; the kind of game that sucks you in with atmosphere or charm or addictive gameplay until you're finished. Thrilled, I head over to Wikipedia or some other site to see how other people liked it, only to discover that these games floundered at retail.
Thus, I present you with The Five Best Nintendo DS Games You Probably Didn't Play."
Meteos and Hotel Dusk should be on this list. Meteos is my favorite puzzle game of all time and Hotel Dusk has an incredible story.
Oh, and EVERYONE played Elite Beat Agents. Otherwise, a decent list.
Tech.yahoo.com writes: "A few weeks back I outlined some of the top titles for grown-up (read: blood-spewing) gaming this holiday season. Now it's the kids' turn. Check out these child-appropriate titles, available for a variety of platforms (but mostly handhelds). All are well reviewed and carry a maximum ESRB rating of E10+ (suitable for everyone 10 and older)."
The DS isn't exactly inundated with shoot-'em-up titles and after the encouraging first game we had high hopes that this sequel would be an essential purchase. While it undoubtedly represents a definite improvement over its predecessor, Pocket Gamer still can't help but hanker for something a little more original. Most should find it relatively engaging but if you're a hardcore shooter fan that has experienced this kind of caper a million times before then Nanostray 2 is unlikely to hold your interest for long.
Audio/Visual - 9
Gameplay - 7
Value - 6
Innovation - 4
Overall -
