The 10 HARDEST Nintendo DS Games
advertisement
VOICE OVER: Geoffrey Martin
WRITTEN BY: Geoffrey Martin
Prepare for a nostalgic journey through the most punishing Nintendo DS games that will test your gaming skills! From tactical RPGs to horror experiences, these titles will push you to your limits and challenge even the most seasoned gamers. Our countdown includes brutal classics like Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor, Contra 4, Trauma Center: Under the Knife, and Dementium: The Ward. Get ready to relive the most challenging moments from this iconic handheld console!
The 10 Hardest Nintendo DS Games
Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re counting down our picks for the ten hardest, most punishing Nintendo DS games that are certainly worth your time if you are up for the challenge.
Before we begin, we publish new content all week long, so, be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.
“Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor” (2009)
If you happen to be looking for a tactical RPG that infuses horror, demons, and the occult into its story and gameplay then look no further than Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor. This game demands a lot from its players. Your group of protagonists must deal with hordes of demons during a supernatural infestation amidst a Tokyo lockdown. As you might imagine from a tactical RPG, patience and skills are needed in equal measure in order to deal with the challenging and ominous grid-based, turn-based battles. Heck, even outside of battles, you need to worry about an in-game clock which is linked to many hard-hitting story moments. It’s a rewarding game for those with the tenacity to face its many horrors.
“Advance Wars: Dual Strike” (2005)
For many of us, strategy games can often come across as quite impenetrable given the sheer depth of gameplay that you need to contend with. While Advance Wars: Dual Strike might have a cartoony facade, its story is often harrowing and its strategic, turn-based gameplay can be downright brutal at times. Set in Omega Land, the Allied Nations and the Black Hole Army are at each other’s throats and it’s up to you and your squad to quell the chaos. The DS is actually a perfect place for a strategy game such as this one since more information equals a better chance at survival. The top screen highlights specific intelligence related to the map whereas the bottom screen is the battle screen. Managing your troops on the battlefield takes a lot, especially if you want to achieve victory.
“Trauma Center: Under the Knife” (2005)
As the old adage goes when talking about challenging things; “it’s not like it’s brain surgery.” Well, in the case of Trauma Center: Under the Knife, it basically is since you will be up to your ears in surgical cases, all while utilizing the DS’ touchscreen and stylus. Part anime, part simulation, Under the Knife might as well require a full-on medical degree to get through its campaign. In this game, a manmade disease known as GUILT is being spread about the land. But, you and your medical comrades can help put a stop to it, with, as you might have guessed, oodles of surgery cases. If you thought the board game ‘Operation’ was stressful then good luck with Trauma Center: Under the Knife. It’s a real doozy!
“Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift” (2007)
Thrust back into the world of Ivalice via a magical book, Luso Clemens must claw and fight his way back home amidst all manner of battles and monstrosities. If you didn’t already guess from the game’s title, Grimoire of the Rift is a tactical RPG. Set in a sort of 3D isometric world, Luso and his newfound party of companions need to strategically battle others via intense and harrowing turn-based battles. Like many other tactical RPGs, this one also utilizes a grid-based system which means unit positioning and placement are critical to success. You can grow stronger via story quests, side quests, and training missions; but, you will still need to be hyper prepared in order to achieve victory and make it back home.
“Mega Man ZX” (2006)
It’s Mega Man…yes, it’s super duper challenging. What did you expect? For the uninitiated, ZX is set hundreds of years after the Zero series of games. In this futuristic world, there is a new robotic threat known as Pseudoroids. These Pseudoroids are up to no good and must be stopped at all costs. Your male or female protagonist, either Vent or Aile respectively, must join up with other Guardians to quell the nefarious deeds of the Biometals and their makers. ZX is a more open-ended affair when compared to previous Mega Man games. You can choose various missions to take on where you then get thrust into Metroidvania-esque levels. Vent or Aile are quite powerful, even more so when they harness Bio-metal powers; however, the game always throws a new challenge your way that needs to be met with heavy resistance and skill.
“Dementium: The Ward” (2007)
The Nintendo DS has pretty slim pickings when it comes to horror games. Fortunately, the stellar (if incredibly challenging) first-person horror experience, Dementium: The Ward, came along to fill the void. Now, I’ll be honest right up front…most of the challenge in this game comes from its controls, which, to put it lightly, take quite a bit of time to get used to. However, once you do get used to moving your character, aiming, swapping weapons/items, and exploring the decrepit, derelict horror-festooned stages with the stylus, it’s clear this is a solid horror game. Protagonist William, who happens to have amnesia, must survive the frightfest that is this game’s central locale; a creepy hospital brimming with monster-like aberrations. The puzzles will break your brain and the monsters will have you running in fear. Just keep your flashlight on and you should be fine…hopefully.
“Etrian Odyssey” (2007)
Ya gotta love a good ol’ fashioned 3D fantasy-based dungeon crawler; and that’s just what you get with Etrian Odyssey. But, good golly this game is brutal. It may not look like it based on its quirky, cartoony art style, but don’t let that veneer fool you. Exploring the maze-like Yggdrasil Labyrinth taking part in turn-based battles, finding oodles of secrets, and growing your cast of characters is a lot of fun but isn’t without its grind and serious challenge. One of the more unique aspects of Etrian Odyssey is that players need to create their own maps to keep track of the labyrinth by using the stylus. On paper this sounds great, but in practice it’s quite cumbersome to say the least. Add in random enemy encounters and tougher dungeon monsters known as FOEs and you get a game that never takes it easy on you.
“Contra 4” (2007)
Ah, yes…Contra, how you love to punish us gamers. This 2007 DS iteration of the venerable run and gun side-scrolling action game is not for the faint of heart. Serving as a prequel to Contra: Hard Corps and a follow-up to Contra 3: The Alien Wars, this fourth outing sees you step into the gruff boots of Bill Rizer, Lance Bean, Mad Dog, and Scorpion. Contra 4 is a traditional, by-the-books 2D action shooter where you must survive a series of brutal onslaughts set across myriad diverse stages. While our four heroes have plentiful weapons and power-ups, including a handy grappling hook to deal out serious punishment, the arcade-style nature of gameplay will often have you tear your hair out in frustration, death after death, restart after restart.
“Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow” (2005)
Following up from GBA’s Aria of Sorrow (a truly top-notch Castlevania game), Dawn of Sorrow once again sees players take on the role of Soma Cruz. Soma and his companions must quell a new cult who plan to nefariously use Soma to reincarnate a new dark lord in the form of Dracula. Dawn of Sorrow blends the iconic action-platforming and labyrinthian exploration with stellar RPG elements to craft the Soma that you desire, replete with plentiful weapons, abilities, skills, and powers. Soma gains new powers via soul absorption after defeating baddies via the Tactical Soul system. Interestingly, Dawn of Sorrow also uses the DS’ touchscreen and stylus to break Magic Seals all throughout the castle. The challenge in this Castlevania outing comes from the tough-as-nails bosses and exploring the gargantuan castle, one brimming with secrets in spades.
“Donkey Kong: Jungle Climber” (2007)
Yep, you heard that right…the absolute toughest game on the Nintendo DS just so happens to be a Donkey Kong game, one with the simple subtitle, Jungle Climber. So, why the heck is this DK game just so tough? Well, it mostly comes down to controlling DK or Diddy via the L and R buttons respectively. By swapping between or holding each button at certain intervals, our Kongs can grab or let go of certain pegs and parts of the level in order to clamber and scamper around successfully, with each Kong spinning wildly between movements. Now, this may not sound all that hard on paper, but in practice it’s an exercise in frustration more often than not. It’s a quirky and inventive premise to be sure, especially since this game acts more like a vertical platformer. However, it just takes a really long time to get used to if you hope to have any chance of jungle climbing success.
So, do you agree with our picks for this list? There are plenty of challenging Nintendo DS games out there. Which ones do you think are the toughest? Let us know in the comments.
Thank you for watching this video from MojoPlays. If you want to see more from us then be sure to subscribe and ring that notification bell so you never miss our daily gaming videos.
If you happen to be looking for a tactical RPG that infuses horror, demons, and the occult into its story and gameplay then look no further than Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor. This game demands a lot from its players. Your group of protagonists must deal with hordes of demons during a supernatural infestation amidst a Tokyo lockdown. As you might imagine from a tactical RPG, patience and skills are needed in equal measure in order to deal with the challenging and ominous grid-based, turn-based battles. Heck, even outside of battles, you need to worry about an in-game clock which is linked to many hard-hitting story moments. It’s a rewarding game for those with the tenacity to face its many horrors.
“Advance Wars: Dual Strike” (2005)
For many of us, strategy games can often come across as quite impenetrable given the sheer depth of gameplay that you need to contend with. While Advance Wars: Dual Strike might have a cartoony facade, its story is often harrowing and its strategic, turn-based gameplay can be downright brutal at times. Set in Omega Land, the Allied Nations and the Black Hole Army are at each other’s throats and it’s up to you and your squad to quell the chaos. The DS is actually a perfect place for a strategy game such as this one since more information equals a better chance at survival. The top screen highlights specific intelligence related to the map whereas the bottom screen is the battle screen. Managing your troops on the battlefield takes a lot, especially if you want to achieve victory.
“Trauma Center: Under the Knife” (2005)
As the old adage goes when talking about challenging things; “it’s not like it’s brain surgery.” Well, in the case of Trauma Center: Under the Knife, it basically is since you will be up to your ears in surgical cases, all while utilizing the DS’ touchscreen and stylus. Part anime, part simulation, Under the Knife might as well require a full-on medical degree to get through its campaign. In this game, a manmade disease known as GUILT is being spread about the land. But, you and your medical comrades can help put a stop to it, with, as you might have guessed, oodles of surgery cases. If you thought the board game ‘Operation’ was stressful then good luck with Trauma Center: Under the Knife. It’s a real doozy!
“Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift” (2007)
Thrust back into the world of Ivalice via a magical book, Luso Clemens must claw and fight his way back home amidst all manner of battles and monstrosities. If you didn’t already guess from the game’s title, Grimoire of the Rift is a tactical RPG. Set in a sort of 3D isometric world, Luso and his newfound party of companions need to strategically battle others via intense and harrowing turn-based battles. Like many other tactical RPGs, this one also utilizes a grid-based system which means unit positioning and placement are critical to success. You can grow stronger via story quests, side quests, and training missions; but, you will still need to be hyper prepared in order to achieve victory and make it back home.
“Mega Man ZX” (2006)
It’s Mega Man…yes, it’s super duper challenging. What did you expect? For the uninitiated, ZX is set hundreds of years after the Zero series of games. In this futuristic world, there is a new robotic threat known as Pseudoroids. These Pseudoroids are up to no good and must be stopped at all costs. Your male or female protagonist, either Vent or Aile respectively, must join up with other Guardians to quell the nefarious deeds of the Biometals and their makers. ZX is a more open-ended affair when compared to previous Mega Man games. You can choose various missions to take on where you then get thrust into Metroidvania-esque levels. Vent or Aile are quite powerful, even more so when they harness Bio-metal powers; however, the game always throws a new challenge your way that needs to be met with heavy resistance and skill.
“Dementium: The Ward” (2007)
The Nintendo DS has pretty slim pickings when it comes to horror games. Fortunately, the stellar (if incredibly challenging) first-person horror experience, Dementium: The Ward, came along to fill the void. Now, I’ll be honest right up front…most of the challenge in this game comes from its controls, which, to put it lightly, take quite a bit of time to get used to. However, once you do get used to moving your character, aiming, swapping weapons/items, and exploring the decrepit, derelict horror-festooned stages with the stylus, it’s clear this is a solid horror game. Protagonist William, who happens to have amnesia, must survive the frightfest that is this game’s central locale; a creepy hospital brimming with monster-like aberrations. The puzzles will break your brain and the monsters will have you running in fear. Just keep your flashlight on and you should be fine…hopefully.
“Etrian Odyssey” (2007)
Ya gotta love a good ol’ fashioned 3D fantasy-based dungeon crawler; and that’s just what you get with Etrian Odyssey. But, good golly this game is brutal. It may not look like it based on its quirky, cartoony art style, but don’t let that veneer fool you. Exploring the maze-like Yggdrasil Labyrinth taking part in turn-based battles, finding oodles of secrets, and growing your cast of characters is a lot of fun but isn’t without its grind and serious challenge. One of the more unique aspects of Etrian Odyssey is that players need to create their own maps to keep track of the labyrinth by using the stylus. On paper this sounds great, but in practice it’s quite cumbersome to say the least. Add in random enemy encounters and tougher dungeon monsters known as FOEs and you get a game that never takes it easy on you.
“Contra 4” (2007)
Ah, yes…Contra, how you love to punish us gamers. This 2007 DS iteration of the venerable run and gun side-scrolling action game is not for the faint of heart. Serving as a prequel to Contra: Hard Corps and a follow-up to Contra 3: The Alien Wars, this fourth outing sees you step into the gruff boots of Bill Rizer, Lance Bean, Mad Dog, and Scorpion. Contra 4 is a traditional, by-the-books 2D action shooter where you must survive a series of brutal onslaughts set across myriad diverse stages. While our four heroes have plentiful weapons and power-ups, including a handy grappling hook to deal out serious punishment, the arcade-style nature of gameplay will often have you tear your hair out in frustration, death after death, restart after restart.
“Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow” (2005)
Following up from GBA’s Aria of Sorrow (a truly top-notch Castlevania game), Dawn of Sorrow once again sees players take on the role of Soma Cruz. Soma and his companions must quell a new cult who plan to nefariously use Soma to reincarnate a new dark lord in the form of Dracula. Dawn of Sorrow blends the iconic action-platforming and labyrinthian exploration with stellar RPG elements to craft the Soma that you desire, replete with plentiful weapons, abilities, skills, and powers. Soma gains new powers via soul absorption after defeating baddies via the Tactical Soul system. Interestingly, Dawn of Sorrow also uses the DS’ touchscreen and stylus to break Magic Seals all throughout the castle. The challenge in this Castlevania outing comes from the tough-as-nails bosses and exploring the gargantuan castle, one brimming with secrets in spades.
“Donkey Kong: Jungle Climber” (2007)
Yep, you heard that right…the absolute toughest game on the Nintendo DS just so happens to be a Donkey Kong game, one with the simple subtitle, Jungle Climber. So, why the heck is this DK game just so tough? Well, it mostly comes down to controlling DK or Diddy via the L and R buttons respectively. By swapping between or holding each button at certain intervals, our Kongs can grab or let go of certain pegs and parts of the level in order to clamber and scamper around successfully, with each Kong spinning wildly between movements. Now, this may not sound all that hard on paper, but in practice it’s an exercise in frustration more often than not. It’s a quirky and inventive premise to be sure, especially since this game acts more like a vertical platformer. However, it just takes a really long time to get used to if you hope to have any chance of jungle climbing success.
So, do you agree with our picks for this list? There are plenty of challenging Nintendo DS games out there. Which ones do you think are the toughest? Let us know in the comments.
Thank you for watching this video from MojoPlays. If you want to see more from us then be sure to subscribe and ring that notification bell so you never miss our daily gaming videos.
