A couple of years ago, I started testing a customised DSi on this blog and my other platforms. Since then, I’ve tested around five games in each part, with genres of games including Adventure games, Platformer games and RPG Puzzle games etc, and overall, I’ve been able to play games that were largely locked away from me when the DSi was at its height.
In this review, I’m going to give you part 10 and the final part of my review, before giving my overall thoughts on whether or not it has actually made any games easier.
Nancy Drew and the Mystery of Clue B
An Adventure game that was published by Gorilla Sys, ‘Nancy Drew and the Mystery of the Clue Bender Society’ is rated 7+.
It follows the story of Nancy Drew, who in this game, is among three candidates to be invited to join a group of top performing detectives, the Clue Bender Society. However, after a secret tome containing the secrets to history’s greatest mysteries goes missing, you have to help Nancy and the other candidates recover the books.
The controls include:
- The X Button: for starting conversations or interacting with objects.
- The A Button: for accelerating snowmobiles or boats, as well as advancing text.
- The B Button: for making Nancy run.
- The START Button: for pausing the game.
- The Touch Screen: for playing Mini games, navigating the journal or asking questions.
- The D-Pad: for controlling where Nancy walks or controlling where snowmobiles or boats go.
So what do I think about Nancy Drew and the Mystery of the Clue Bender Society overall?
Well, although I’ve found it disappointing that you need to press a button to accelerate, I’ve still found the game easy enough to play. Yes, I had to look up how to perform certain actions before I got into it, but I was able to get further into it than I was in the beginning.
And for that reason, it might be a game I’ll write more about later, instead of just giving my overall thoughts now.
Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars
‘Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templers’ is an Adventure game published by Ubisoft for the Nintendo DS family of consoles and developed by Revolution, which is rated 12+.
A remake of the classic 1996 point-and-click game, it opens in Paris, and follows journalist Nicole Collard, who has been sent to Palais Royal to interview Pierre Carchon, one of France’s richest men. But moments after she arrives, the man she was sent to interview is shot dead!
Throughout the rest of the game, you have to help Nicole investigate the case, while touring around different places and engaging with different people.
The game is technically playable with a stylus on the touchscreen, but it also includes traditional button controls.
So what did I think about the game overall?
Well, although I did find some aspects of the game slightly more difficult to get the hang of, I was able to complete certain challenges eventually, even though — as of the time of writing — I’m still only at the start of the game.
And while I did start by testing it out on the Customised DSi, I still appreciate that I’ve been able to play without accessibility switches so far.
Mays Mysteries: Secret of Dragonville
An Adventure / Puzzle game published and developed by V5 Play Studio, ‘May’s Mysteries: The Secret of Dragonville’ is rated 3+.
You can play it completely with the touch screen, so it is yet another game that doesn’t require a customised DS to play.
However, that said, it didn’t recognise the letters I was writing very well, and I am someone with VERY good mouth writing skills.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of time
Part of the Pokemon Mystery series and rated 3+, ‘Pokemon Mystery Dungeons: Explorers of Time’ lets the player play directly as the pokemons in the game, as you prepare for an adventure to a fantastic land untouched by humans!
The controls include:
- The D-Pad or Touch Screen for moving the cursor and moving a character.
- The A Button for selecting a letter on the keyboard, talking to other Pokemons, advancing text or attacking enemies.
- The B Button for deleting a letter you’ve entered on the keyboard, advancing text quickly or opening the Treasure bag.
- The B Button and the D-Pad for running.
- The A and B Button for passing your turn without moving.
- The X Button for opening the menu or selecting detail in item explanations.
- The Y Button for selecting details in item explanations and sorting items in the Treasure Bag etc.
- The L Button for selecting multiple items in the storage area etc.
- The L Button and the A Button for using a hero’s set move.
- The L Button and the B Button for checking the message log.
- The L Button and the R Button for throwing set ammo such as rocks.
- The R Button for talking to a partner, although you can also use the A Button.
- The R Button and the D-Pad for advancing item lists by 10, moving diagonally and sorting moves on the move list.
- The START Button for reading a description of moves or items when the list is displayed, to display a grid while turning on the spot or to display more info on certain menus.
- The SELECT Button for sorting certain items when the list is displayed, displaying the map or setting moves in the Moves List.
So what did I think of the game overall?
Well, although there are some actions you have to hold two buttons at the same time to perform, they haven’t in anyway stopped me from being able to play the game.
For the most part, you can play it with just a stylus, which will be easy for some. However, it might still be easier for some to play with clamps at times, even if you’d need a version with different controls on the adapter.
Mario and Luigi: Bowser’s inside Story
A single player Role-playing game for the Nintendo DS, ‘Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story’ is rated 3 (or E for Everyone) and was published by Nintendo.
Following Mario and Luigi after they’ve been inhaled into the body of their long-term nemesis, Bowser, who is unaware of their presence, throughout the rest of the game, you have to help the trio complete puzzles in order to return to reality.
The controls include:
- The A Button (or X Button): to accept an action or scroll through a message.
- The B (or Y Button) for cancelling actions.
- The D-Pad: for choosing menu options, moving, and choosing commands.
- The L Button: for cancelling during battles.
- The R Button: for changing the action icon.
- The START Button: for opening the Star Menu.
- The SELECT Button: for displaying the map.
So what did I think about the game over all?
Well, unlike most other Mario games, I’ve actually been able to play this one, which is a good starting point. Like a couple of the other games in this list, I have only managed to play a tiny bit of this game so far. But from what I’ve experienced, I’ve really enjoyed it, so it’s definitely one I’ll be revisiting in the future.
Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force
A single player multi-genre game by Disney Interactive Studios, ‘Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force’ is rated 3+.
It treated the Club Penguin generation of kids who grew up with the popular online game to a version of it that could be played off a cartridge, while also being able to play online with friends (or at least you were, while online services were actually available). And while, for a large proportion of the game, you just have to waddle around and compete in challenges, you also get to gain new gadgets, accessories, vehicles and locations.
And although, in this circumstance, I’ve played it on a customised version of the DSi, it is perfectly playable with just a stylus, as the only controls you’ll need to use are:
- The Touch Screen: for moving and selecting.
- The D-Pad: for looking around and moving.
- The START Button: for pausing.
This makes it perfectly easy to play, and although you’ll have to ask someone to turn the DS on its side at times, you’ll still have a good time playing it.
Carnival Funfair Games
A multi-genre game by 2K Play and Cat Daddy, ‘Carnival Funfair Games’ is rated 3+, and brings the joy of a real life funfair to your hands.
Whether you’re playing Alley Ball, Frog Leap, Dunk Tank, RC Raceway or Clown Hammer, you’ll be able to play everything with just a stylus and just two switches, though it may seem slightly harder to complete certain mini games in it than it is with others. But nevertheless, I really enjoyed it, and I look forward to playing more in the future.
New Carnival Funfair Games
A sequel to ‘Carnival Funfair Games’ that is still rated 3+ but that now allows 2 players, ‘New Carnival Funfair Games’ is also a multi-genre game by Cat Daddy and Take 2.
Much like the first game, you’ll find yourself wondering around a funfair, while completing mini games such as Go Fishing, Shooting, Road Racer and Pole Race, as well as a lot more.
The controls for the game include:
- The Touch Screen: for tapping, dragging, flicking and spinning objects across the touch screen.
- The A Button: for accelerating in some games and starting mini games.
- The B Button: for pausing the game.
- The L and R Buttons: for breaking your car in Road Racer and steering your horse in Pole Race.
- The D-Pad: for controlling your character, although you can also control your character using the Touch Screen.
So what did I think about the game overall?
Well, although I haven’t played through the Road Racer and Pole Race mini games yet, I have found the game easy to play on the customised DSi so far, but I do know I’ll have to use the clamps to play it at some point.
At the time of writing, I don’t know how easy it will be to go between accelerating and using other buttons during Mini Games that require those functions, but so far, it’s easy enough.
However. something else also worth mentioning is that, when it comes to Shooting games, you will have to be able to move your stylus from one part of the screen to another quickly, which will be easier for others to do than it will be for others.
Mystery Case Files: Millionhair
An Adventure-Puzzle game by Big Fish Games and Griptonite Games for the Nintendo DS, in ‘Mystery Case Files: MillionHeir’, you are hired to investigate the disappearance of an eccentric millionaire named Phil T. Rich. After you are hired, you have to spend the rest of the game finding the rightful heir to Mr Rich’s fortune, by exploring his estate and questioning twelve suspects.
The controls include:
- The D-Pad: for scrolling.
- The A, B, X, Y Buttons: for scrolling.
- The L or R Buttons: which you’ll have to hold down while using a stylus on the touch screen, but clamps should make it easier.
- The Microphone: for blowing, which is required for certain puzzles.
So what did I think about the game overall?
Well, like many of the other games I’ve tried, I’ve found it easy to play so far, but I can’t say anything about whether or not it’s easy enough to hold switches down yet with clamps while using the Touch Screen, because I haven’t got to this point in the game yet.
So it might be another one I revisit in the future.
Mario VS Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis
A single player Puzzle-Platform by Nintendo, ‘Mario VS Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis’ treats us to a game that involves Donkey Kong kidnapping Pauline, and tasking the Mini Marios with rescuing her.
And although it is mainly controlled by the Touch Screen, you can still use the L or R buttons, or switches plugged into those ports, if you want to receive help, just like you were able to do in the previous game.
So what did I think about the game overall?
Well, although it took me a while to get back into the controls that these games include, I found it easy to play once I got back into it.
The switches I had plugged in reacted well with the game, and although I didn’t need them much, they still didn’t stop me from playing the game.
By all means, there have been some levels it’s taken me a while to pass, and it may not be a game you should play if you struggle with playing games quickly, but it is easy to play on the customised DSi if you’re able to keep up with everything otherwise.
Conclusion: What Have I Thought About the Customised DSi Overall?
So how good have I found the customised DSi overall and should you consider getting one customised?
Well, although there have been some games that I was not able to play, I have enjoyed how much the customised version of the DSi I’ve been testing and loaning over the last few years has enabled me to investigate games that I hadn’t been able to play before, and some of these were made a lot easier.
Out of the games I have tried and that have worked well, a lot of them belong to the Puzzle category, and although I will be moving onto 3DS games now as I move on to testing out a customised 2DS, I am excited to test more of these games out.
However, I have still found it hard to play a lot of Platform games, with a lot of Mario games still not working perfectly for me, and this is definitely still a disappointment, but mainly more so in regards to how a lot of these games were developed.
If you’re considering finding someone to customise a DSi for you and you think you could put up with the lack of online connectivity, it is, by all means, still workable. But you may want to make sure you’re someone who can hold a couple more buttons down, unless you want to rely on a customised version of an Old 2DS instead.