Black Sigil: Blade of the Exiled

Have you heard of this new game? It came out on the 9th, not too long ago. From a new and unknown company, Graffiti Entertainment, it is a game made in the style of NES games. More specifically, it is a lot like Chrono Trigger. Unlike Chrono Trigger however, this game has an incredibly high random battle encounter rate, meaning you will constantly be fighting monsters, or running away from them. Normally, in games, you don't want to run away much, but in this game, running away from monsters is a good option because the game is horribly easy. The game freezes at times, which can get really annoying after the first few times it freezes. Apparently, the game also has an absent-minded editor, unable to catch a few mistakes, in the manual as well as the credits. For example, in the credits:

Spell Graphics:
Maya Anderson
Daniel-David Guertin
Mark Florestant

Opening Graphics:
David-Daniel Guertin

Thanks to QuietlyInsane from the GameFAQs Black Sigil board for finding this mistake.

Despite all these problems, it's not a bad idea to check it out, while it can still be found. It's a reasonably decent game, if you don't mind the freezing.

Golden Sun, for the DS!

Everybody remembers when this game was all the rage for the GameBoy, right? Well, now it's gonna come out for the DS! The graphics are updated, but it still is Golden Sun. If you don't know what Golden Sun is already, then here's a quick summary. Isaac and his friends have psi powers, and which can be used in battle, as well as on the map. These powers, combined with their some of their own physical strengths, have set out on a journey to save the world from total destruction! Although this sounds pretty generic, if you've played the game, you know it doesn't feel that way. It twists itself up, in a unique way. If you haven't played the original Golden Sun yet, you should give it a try. Golden Sun DS is about the story of the descendents of the great heroes, and is set to come out some time in 2010. If it is as good as Golden Sun has always been, then it's a sure hit.

Suikoden Tierkreis

I've been playing this game quite a lot lately, and I find the story very interesting. It's enjoyable, and it does have lengthy in-game cinematics, as well as a few anime-style ones, with several characters, each with their own personality. The game also has really good looking graphics, I really love the look of the terrain when you're walking around in between monster fights! While the fights aren't difficult, they are still enjoyable to do. Certain attacks work better than others, and different skills will be needed to use against different monsters. The fights are fought on a 3x4 grid, where one half of the grid is where your characters are placed, and the other half is where the enemies are. The fights are turn based, although each character's speed affects how quickly they act. At times,
monsters and characters will attack at the same time, and sometimes the characters combine their powers to make a combo attack on an enemy! This all adds to the enjoyability of watching the fight. As the story continues, more characters join your group, although some characters have to be "recruited" at certain points by doing certain events to ensure they join your group. Overall, the game is an enjoyable experience, although if you are looking for a game that is more about the fights than the story, you may want to check out some other games.

Magician's Quest: Mysterious Times

This game is kind of like Animal Crossing, although it does have more unique dialogue than Animal Crossing. Like Animal Crossing, in this game you can buy furniture for your dorm, collect things off the ground, catch fish and insects, and make friends with the residents. However, it does have added features, like having dates with one of the residents, attend magic classes, reading notes that are thrown at you during class, answer questions asked by the teacher, do extracurricular classes, and a few other things. The jobs you are asked to do have variety, and the dialogue varies around, feeling more realistic in this game than Animal Crossing. If you liked Animal Crossing, then you will be sure to like this game!

Top 10 List of Upcoming North American DS Games

So, as today is the grand opening of The DS Gamer blog, I will start it off with a top 10 list of the currently unreleased but upcoming North American DS games!

#10. Overlord Minions

In this Overlord game, which is scheduled for release on the 23rd of this month, you control the top four of the Overlord's minions. This elite crew of minions consists of Giblet, Stench, Zap, and Blaze, and their mission is to hunt down the Kindred, a group of evilness who want to replace the Overlord with the Dragon Kin! Of course, the evil Overlord won't allow it, and so this minion crew must journey out and solve puzzles, battle enemies, and combine their powers to bust out powerful moves! As usual, the game has great humor, and will definitely make you laugh from their antics.

#9. Mega Man Star Force 3: Black Ace/Red Joker

Mega Man Star Force 3: Black Ace/Red Joker is expected to come out this month on the 30th. They are Capcom games, and in the third series of the games, a new addition has been made, called "Noise Changes". Each game has unique Noise Types, aiding in your battles on 3x5 grids, along with your Battle Card deck. Another new feature is "Rezon", which will allow you to fill out a profile about your battles and your team.

#8. Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth

This game developed by Capcom is scheduled for Q4 2009, and is a great adventure game. This game takes you out of the courtroom and into the crime scene. As Miles Edgeworth, you must collect information and evidence, and using the logic mode, you can discover new information. Instead of the Court Battle of the Ace Attorney series, this game has a different battle, which goes Testimony->Pursuit->Press->Confront. The graphics in this game are decent, and the music is nice. Check it out when it comes out if you're into mystery games.


#7. Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story

This game is TBA 2009, and is by Nintendo of course, as you should probably know. This time, you not only control Mario and Luigi, you also control Bowser! The microbe sized Mario and Luigi travel around inside of Bowser, and control his actions without him even realizing it! You can switch between the stories of Bowser and the Mario Bros. at will, but sometimes Mario and Luigi will have to help Bowser overcome obstacles. It's got the same colorful art, along with hilarious dialogue like the previous two Mario & Luigi games. If you haven't already, check out the other two games as well, as I'm sure you will thoroughly enjoy them if you are interested in this.

#6. Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming

Harvest Moon: Frantic Farming isn't like the other Harvest Moon games. This is a Natsume game, and is expected to come out this month on the 30th. Unlike all the other Harvest Moon games, this game is a puzzle game. You don't go around growing crops and animals, but instead you try to stop an avalanche of crops growing! This game has a story mode, mission mode, score attack mode, free play mode, and can also be played with family and friends with a multiplayer mode! It's got 12 characters, each with their own story, which all help unfold the mystery in their own perspective. The artwork is very colorful and cute, and easy on the eyes.

#5. Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box

Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box is a game which involves a lot of thinking, and it has many unique puzzles which will tease your brain. Coming out this year on August 24th, it is a game by the company Level 5. It is the second Professor Layton game, and the graphics are still looking good. This is a puzzle game that actually has a story, and is comparable to Sherlock Holmes. If you like puzzles, then this is the game for you.

#4. A Witch's Tale

A Witch's Tale is a NIS game, and if you don't know the company, you better start finding their games and playing them! Nippon Ichi Software is the company behind the Disgaea series, the Atelier Iris series, the Ar Tonelico series, the Mana Khemia series, as well as many other games! They are the best company if you are looking for a unique strategy game, as they usually have a very cool twist to them! This game is going to be no different, and is a must get if you enjoy NIS games. In this game, you are a witch, and you fight alongside dolls, but don't let the dolls and witches make you turn away from this game, because the story will keep you hooked forever! Don't miss this great release when it does come out!

#3. Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor

A part of the Shin Megami Tensei series, known as the Persona series in English, it is a game that is based in Tokyo. It is an Atlus game, and is expected to be released this month on the 23rd. It has a unique battle system, with many many demons which you can summon, along with interesting dialogue, and not the boring text found in many games. It has multiple paths to many different endings to the game, allowing multiple playthroughs which don't bore you because you feel you're doing the same thing over again.


#2. The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

Sorry everybody, no box shot available here. The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is TBA 2009, and is a game by Nintendo. Instead of traveling by boat, this time Link travels by train! Solving puzzles, firing cannons, and blowing the whistle is all a part of conducting the train. Another new twist is that Link has a partner! His companion is a Phantom, a suit of armor which Link can command. The Phantom can walk across lava and through fire, block attacks from harming Link, and even becoming a platform that Link can use to safely travel through dangers! It is in the same art style as The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, and just like Phantom Hourglass, notes can be drawn on the map to help aid you. Make sure to check out this great game!

#1. Kingdom Hearts - 358/2 Days

This, is the absolute top DS game which hasn't been released in North America yet. A game by Square Enix, it is expected to be released in North America this year on September 29th, and it's going to be the first Kingdom Hearts game that does NOT revolve around Sora! For a new twist, it's all about Roxas, and Organization XIII! It has multiplayer action, up to a total of four players, with each player taking on the role of one of the Organization XIII members! This great game is already available in Japanese, and so if you wish to import it over, and can read Japanese, then you should do so!

The DS Gamer

Hey there everybody, and welcome to the newly created blog! This is The DS Gamer, a blog which is all about the DS and it's games. We will be updating this blog with new information all the time, so keep checking!