Top 10 Lists : The Top 10 Games That Would Benefit From A DS Remake Or Sequel.

A fun, yet sometimes frustrating classic. The arcade experience is also hard to recreate at home unless you've got room for an arcade cabinet. And as good as analog sticks are, it's no substitute for a rollerball. However, the DS touch screen is a little closer in nature. You could control the marble by pushing the stylus (or your finger, which would give the game a more authentic feel) across the screen in the direction you want to move. You wouldn't be able to blame the controller, since the marble on the top screen would be mimicking your movements on the touch screen. Add the tight controls and even tighter time limits of the original and you've got yourself a fair but difficult game.

Another one that's been asked for over and over, and with good reason. Lots of great SNES RPGs have been remade in the last few years, and this is one of the glaring omissions. Without this, we probably wouldn't have the Paper Mario series or the amazing Mario & Luigi RPGs that appeared on the GBA and DS. Not only that, this game is also hard to find unless you are willing to part with a lot of cash on eBay or are happy to settle for the Virtual Console download. Nintendo took a big risk the first time around when they made this with Square, and they ended up with an absolute classic as a result. It would be a guaranteed big seller on reputation alone, and it would give those who missed it the first (and second) time around a chance to play something special. It would be amazing if Nintendo and Square Enix could work something out and give us another version of this.

No, not WoW, the original RTS series. The DS has lots of turn-based strategy games and their RPG offshoots, but where are the real-time strategy games? There's a couple of them out there, but there's definitely room for more. Warcraft wasn't the first RTS game by a long way, but it's certainly one of the most recognizable. It also happens to be one of the best. The combination of gameplay, narrative and those other qualities that go into making a great game can all be found in the series. Again, this is another game that would be well-suited to a dual screen system and wireless capabilities, so the potential is definitely there.

I know, I know. It has been talked about and asked for ever since the first remakes started to appear. It's understandable that people want a DS version of this all-time classic. Of course, there's more potential here than just a flat-out remake. The x-ray scope could be used on the touch screen. The ability to switch from map to inventory to game on the lower screen could give the player lots of options. Imagine being able to switch weapons on the fly without having to stop the action. You could see where you're going on the map without having to stop and check all the time. It would even take some of the guesswork out of shinesparks! And, possibly best of all, it could make those boss fights even more epic - a two-screen high Kraid? Running around while Ridley swoops down on you from the top screen? An even bigger Mother Brain to battle at the end? I don't know about you, but I wouldn't say no to any of that!

The classic casual flight sim is overdue for a sequel, so why not a handheld version? The DS has just enough horsepower to produce a good-looking version, and the second screen also gives the opportunity to add new features: maps that you can access mid-flight without pausing, possibly even using the stylus to zoom, scroll and mark points of interest on them. There's even the potential to add a few fun extras. If you're going slightly off-course and need a sudden gust of wind to put you back on track, why not have the ability to give yourself a little push by blowing into the microphone? There's so much that could be done with this game on this hardware, it makes you wonder why it hasn't been done already...

It's one of the most influential racing series of the last 20 years, so where's the latest installment? Again, there's so much that could be done on a handheld version: wifi or local multiplayer, downloadable tracks, a simple track editor... the list goes on! And, as proven by Mario Kart DS, a portable racing game can be just as good as a console version if done right. As for speed, one of the qualities that the series is renowned for, have you played Sonic & Sega All Stars Racing? The hardware is more than capable of handling a fast racing game in the right hands.

The design of the game lends itself to a two-screen console perfectly - the top screen for above ground, the bottom screen for underground. Add local wireless and wi-fi connectivity to the mix and you've got tons of multiplayer options available so you'd never have to play alone. And, as the original wasn't exactly full of cutting edge graphics, it's not as if a lot would need to be sacrificed to bring it to the smaller screens. The DS and FSA would be a perfect fit for each other.

Cliff Johnson's classic metapuzzle game would be right at home on the smaller screens: lots of puzzle types that would translate perfectly to touch screen control. The devious puzzles are also good for pick up and play sessions. Imagine a Professor Layton game with more challenging puzzles, all of which need to be solved in order for you to complete an even bigger puzzle. The low-tech visuals could be updated to match the upcoming (eventually...) The Fool and His Money. The original is available as freeware, so try it for yourself and see what I mean. If you like a challenge and something to tax the brain cells, a remake of this would be absolutely perfect for you.

I doubt this would ever happen, but I'd be so happy to be proven wrong here. This is another legendary RPG that didn't get the audience (or sales) that it deserved. However, now that time has passed and its reputation has grown, the time is right to revisit Ness's incredible adventure. Given some of the talk a few years ago about wanting a localized version of Mother 3, the demand and the audience for Earthbound are definitely there. It may be a risky move to remake it after all this time, but the rewards definitely outweigh the risk involved in remaking another SNES RPG.

The game that gave us stealth, Solid Snake and "I feel asleep!" is in need of an update. The MGS series probably wouldn't be possible in its current format, so why not go back to where it all started? As demonstrated ten years ago on the Game Boy Color, the gameplay works amazingly well in a handheld form, and the second screen could add so much to the experience: radar, maps, the ability to literally knock on a wall by tapping the touch screen or attract a guard's attention by shouting into the microphone... there's tons of potential in an old-school version on this handheld. How about adding wi-fi co-op or downloadable virtual missions as well? There's a ridiculous amount of potential when it comes to updating this classic game.

I hope you enjoyed reading this list! While you probably guessed at least a couple of the games before you even clicked on the link, I hope I've also thrown out a couple of titles that have given you something to think about. Who knows, maybe we'll get lucky and one of these will be made one day... we can dream, can't we?

List by col74 (03/17/2010)

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