shooters on the ds weren't comfortable for me either. I had to hold it on a way where my pinky and sometimes ring finger were wrapped behind the top screen keeping it balanced while I held the pen. I didn't get hand cramps, but it wasn't as nice as just being able to use my thumb like on the iphone touch screen or just having a second stick. I do have that thumb cap thing that came with launch units I used on occasion.
I'd imagine it is worse for lefties now.
In general I preferred DS games that are either touch screen or regular button layout. I hated that in early DS games there were gimmicky touch screen controls like in Viewtiful Joe or Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow. I like the touch screen and couldn't imagine playing games like picross 3d without it, but the 'obligation' to have touch screen controls was stupid.
and on the topic of DS failings that won't carry on to the 3DS, the uneven screen ratios, as well as different screen purposes (one 3D, one touch) means no more games like Yoshi or Contra where they make one tall screen.
well to be fair i had problem playing with starfox... it's just a pain having to press the shoulder button constantly AND touching the touch screen
I just used the d-pad in star fox. I actually didn't have a problem with it because I was able to get a solid grip with my left hand.
did the DS launch in the states before Japan? I remember importing band bros a few weeks after I had my DS. the multiplayer was like rock band before rock band was rock band...in beeps and boops.
Yep, it launched in the US first.
So really, its launch titles were:
* Asphalt Urban GT (Gameloft)
* Feel the Magic: XY/XX (Sega)
* Madden NFL 2005 (Electronic Arts)
* Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits (Namco)
* Ping Pals (THQ)
* Ridge Racer DS (Namco)
* Spider-Man 2 (Activision)
* Sprung (Ubisoft)
* Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt (Nintendo)
* Super Mario 64 DS (Nintendo)
* The Urbz: Sims in the City (Electronic Arts)
* Tiger Woods PGA Tour (Electronic Arts)
Either way, there have definitely been worse launches than both of them, particularly in Japan. What is missing from both the DS and 3DS's launch titles that many worse launch line-ups have had is that one stellar, play-it-til-shit-gets-better title, which on Nintendo hardware is usually provided by Nintendo. Unlike the DS, Nintendo couldn't even be arsed to put a half-effort like SM64 DS forward this time for launch.
ok, that makes sense. I bought Mario 64 and Ridge Racer (

) at launch. First playing Ridge Racer on the PSP after my time with the DS version was like stepping out of a time machine.