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E308: DS Fanboy reacts to the Nintendo keynote

Alisha Karabinus
Updated ·5 min read


Though you got our live reactions as the Nintendo conference was actually happening, now that we've had a few moments to jump around, fume, and generally compose our thoughts, we present you with the formal reactions of the DS Fanboy staff to today's Nintendo briefing from E3.

Alisha Karabinus: I'm having a really hard time seeing past Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars. That could be just beyond awesome... and, of course, it could be crap. I guess we'll find out. It's surprisingly missing from the media round-ups I've seen so far. I think I'm surprised by the lack of a redesign, even though I have been against the possibility of it for so long. By now, I just assumed it was going to happen. Of course, it still could!

I'm excited about the Cooking Guide, even though I just got a copy from the UK (thanks, Chris!), and I don't think it's as good as it could be. Still, it's interesting and novel ... but speaking of novel, I'd have rather seen DS Novel. All I can really say about Guitar Hero is that I'm not surprised at all that we'd see another version already.


JC Fletcher: I'm not a GTA person -- I'm that guy, I guess -- but it's certainly good for my "team" (that team being the DS Sales Force). So much of the presentation was about how awesomely the DS is selling, and now we get GTA!

Personally, I was super excited to see Cooking Guide. It looks and sounds exactly like the Euro version, which is good news. Nintendo of America cheaping out on localization means it won't get delayed for too long! Odd that there wasn't any other non-game stuff this time -- or really that much more game stuff! Pokemon Ranger 2, strong Japanese sales notwithstanding, isn't a flagship title. It just isn't!

I was also surprised that Nintendo didn't show some new hardware. But not upset, because I don't want to have to buy anything!


Chris Greenhough: Lamesville, USA, I'm afraid. Whereas the Wii received plenty of love in the form of Wii Music, Wii Sports Resort, and Animal Crossing: City Folk, DS offerings were awfully meager.

GTA: Chinatown Wars was an interesting and surprising announcement, but after that the surprises really dried up. I wasn't exactly desperate for a redesigned DS or anything, but still, where was the North American date for Layton? Or news on DS Novel? Or maybe some connectivity between Animal Crossing: Wild World and the freshly announced City Folk? 4/10, Nintendo.

Dave Hinkle: Okay, seriously? GTA on DS? I'm pretty shocked by that one. JC mentioned that he thought it would be 3D and I'm not so sure I believe that. Still, it's a big AAA title on the DS, which is just what it needs to push it from being a world phenomenon to the most popular thing in all of existence.

Oh, what's this? A new Guitar Hero for the DS? I guess when that bundle sold over 300K in its first week, this is something to be expected. Personally, I'm not too crazy over the first game and doubt this next installment will get me on board. It's pretty interesting that you can share songs, though!

And FINALLY we get Nintendo's cooking guide game! No longer will I be forced to sustain my life on saltine crackers and crumbs from under the toaster. I can't wait to start making some meals!

Phil Larsen: I won't say that the DS lineup impressed me ... it didn't impress me, so I won't say it. By default, the biggest announcement was easily GTA: Chinatown Wars -- Cammie casually let it slip as she went about her business, which made it even more surprising. After rambling on about "core" titles to be unveiled at E3, this is the closest Nintendo came to delivering on a massive name for the DS. Well, Pokémon is a massive name too, but do non-good games actually count?

The lack of New Super Mario Bros. 2 made me a sad panda, and the inclusion of Guitar Hero: Decades shows commitment to the "Yeah, that actually hurts!" portable guitar peripheral. Aside from that, the DS department was lacking -- though I didn't expect much in the first place. Honestly, the DS lineup is incredibly strong as it is, so going all-out at E3 with premature announcements -- just because everyone else is doing it -- simply wasn't necessary.

Candace Savino: Where's my Fire Emblem DS announcement? Sad blogger is sad.

The only DS announcement that even slightly makes up for that E3-sized hole in my heart is Rhythm Tengoku (or as it'll be called here, Rhythm Heaven), and that wasn't even mentioned in the keynote. The rest of it just didn't do anything for me -- no, not even GTA: Chinatown Wars. I'm just not sure yet that the DS is the right platform for GTA (although I'm very, very ready for Rockstar to prove me wrong). As for Guitar Hero? I didn't even get On Tour, so I'm not exactly looking forward to On Tour Decades (and I won't be unless this iteration has a better track list).