Nintendo DS Ports of Console Games That Were Actually Great

The Nintendo DS may not have been as powerful as its competitor, the PlayStation Portable (better known as the PSP), yet it outsold it exponentially. Its dual-screens, one with touchscreen capabilities and a stylus to go alongside, was a big selling point that resulted in some very clever uses for both. It’s no wonder that there were so many great games for the console.

Among those great games were some great ports. It may not have been the most graphically powerful platform, but developers still pulled off some impressive feats with all sorts of classic titles that were carried over to the DS, from RPGs to a remixed version of an instantly-recognizable survival horror title.

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1 Resident Evil: Deadly Silence

Metascore: 71%

The original Resident Evil was a gem of a title that still holds up today. Sure, the tank controls make it a little tricky for newcomers to get used to, and the voice acting is laughably corny, but it has all the features of a great survival horror game: scarce supplies, effective weapons, a memorable setting, puzzles galore, and a genuinely threatening roster of foes.

While the original game was carried over to the DS version in Resident Evil: Deadly Silence, a brand new ‘Rebirth Mode’ was packaged as well, utilizing the touch-screen, dual-screens and microphone for new puzzles and melee combat. What was unique is that it remains the first ever title in the series to feature local co-op multiplayer on a portable console.

2 Ultimate Mortal Kombat

Metascore: 73%

Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 was released on the DS in late-2007 under the not-so-radically-different name Ultimate Mortal Kombat. The port retained all the fast-paced combat, bone-crunching combos, eye-catching digitized actors, and over-the-top fatalities.

It threw in some other intriguing content and updates, like a 2-on-2 mode, an 8-player tournament mode, improved fighter AI, additional combos, and the return of Puzzle Kombat from Mortal Kombat: Deception. A parody of Super Puzzle Fighter, it combines Tetris-like puzzles with special moves based on the Mortal Kombat cast, and its addictive gameplay became a fan-favorite mini-game. Ultimate Mortal Kombat very much corrected everything that went wrong with the abysmal Game Boy Advance port of the game.

3 Kirby Super Star Ultra

Metascore: 76%

The SNES was chock-filled with classic titles, like Kirby Super Star. Not only did its adorable protagonist have the ability to absorb enemies to copy their abilities, but it also contained numerous entertaining mini-games scattered throughout as well. Everyone loved it, and it found its way onto the DS as Kirby Super Star Ultra.

This version contained more sub-games that were paired up with new cutscenes, a boss rush arena, and a new mode called ‘Meta Knightmare Ultra’, which allows players to play as the titular Meta Knight. He uses his sword, instead of copying abilities, yet he comes with some powerful moves of his own that can be activated via the touch-screen. It’s a cracker of a port that enhances the original game greatly.

4 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney

Metascore: 81%

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney was originally a Japanese-exclusive title for the Game Boy Advance, being a visual novel with an up-and-coming lawyer as its protagonist. The titular Wright must question guilty defendants who are insisting on their innocence, and call their bluff. The first game, along with its respective sequels, were translated and re-released on the DS in Western regions, garnering itself a strong cult following and soon-to-be internet meme status.

What was unique about the DS port is the addition of a bonus fifth episode, ‘Rise from Ashes’. Here, the touch-screen controls are put to good use by examining items and set-pieces, applying Luminol fluids to find bloodstains, repairing broken items, and other sorts of puzzles that really put the console’s unique features to good use.

5 Super Mario 64 DS

Metascore: 85%

Super Mario 64 commonly appears in lists of the ‘best Nintendo 64’ games to this very day. With fully-3D missions, numerous challenging locations to explore, and an amazing soundtrack to top it off, it’s easy to see why it rocked the gaming world.

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Its port was called Super Mario 64 DS, bringing its own fair share of additions and twists. Luigi, Wario and Yoshi were included as playable characters and had their own special abilities, and they can be played in the entire cast of missions lifted from the original, alongside exclusive mini-games, boss battles, and such. Topped off with plenty of changes and updates that improve the experience on the whole, the overall charm and brilliance of the base game remains intact here.

6 Chrono Trigger

Metascore: 92%

An all-time classic turn-based RPG from the nineties deserved a modern port, and that’s exactly what happened with Chrono Trigger. Avoiding predictable tropes like over-sized overworlds and random, unexpected combat encounters, the game was a smash-hit on release with its polished gameplay, brilliant visuals, compelling plot, and more.

For the DS port, it carried over all the bonus goodies that were packed in the PS1 version, alongside a more polished translation, additional quests and dungeons, a dual-screen menu, and the ability to permanently run. The end result was a more-than-optimal entry point for those who never had the chance to try the original on the SNES.

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