DS 2009 Awards
Quick note: Only games that I’ve played / am excited to play soon will be eligible to win awards.
Best Action Game – GTA Chinatown Wars
GTA Chinatown Wars on DS is an impressive game. It fitted more action gameplay into a single cartridge than certainly I thought possible. I had fun Dealing drugs and escaping the cops among other things. It feels like a game that shouldn’t be able to fit on DS, but somehow defies that belief.
Best Puzzle Game – Scribblenauts
Scribblenauts is a game so huge in its concept that I can’t believe that it even works as a game. Making a game where you can summon almost anything and still make a working game is so impressive. The only real downside is the fiddly controls, namely not allowing you to move Maxwell with the D-pad rather than by the stylus. It’s still a game that a lot of DS owners will enjoy.
Best Visual Quality – GTA Chinatown Wars
GTA is technical marvel. Rockstar Leeds did a great job on not only fitting a full GTA experience on the handheld, but making it run well and look great as they have done.
Best Story – GTA Chinatown Wars
I’ve never been so engrossed in a DS game before that doesn’t have Pokemon in the name.
Best Multiplayer – GTA Chinatown Wars
I played some local multiplayer with my brother one time and we had fun. It’s a bit basic but they do have quite a few modes to choose from. It’s definitely worth trying out at least once if you can.
DS Game of the Year – GTA Chinatown Wars
For all the reasons stated above, GTA Chinatown Wars on DS is an exceptional game ad pushed the system seemingly to it’s limits. It’s a shame it hasn’t sold up to expectations so far but since Nintendo’s games tend to have a longer lifespan than most, there’s still time for that to change.
Also notable: Scribblenauts
Up next: PSP