The Nintendo DSi became publicly available worldwide starting in April 2009, with the handheld console bringing a range of updates, including internet access, a music creation app and cameras. But despite the updates it did bring, it still wasn’t a highly accessible console, especially if you were a disabled gamer who required additional input mechanisms, as I was throughout its fame.
And that is why, in 2021, I had the idea of requesting a customised DSi, which I wanted a switch interface to be included in, so that it would help me play games that required me to press the L and R buttons.
In this blog, I’m going to summarise how easy it has been for me to play another selection of games on it, and whether or not this Customised DSi makes these games easier to play.
Game 1: Princess Isabella Witch’s Curse
A single player Puzzle game by Gogii and rated 7+, ‘Witch’s Curse’ takes place among the background that Princess Isabella’s castle has been cursed by an evil witch, trapping her loved ones behind mirrored walls.
Throughout the rest of the game, you’ll have to journey through the castle, solving puzzles and battling unnatural beings, in order to banish them and rescue your family.
The controls for the game include:
- The Touch Screen (for moving, tapping and receiving hints)
- The D-Pad (for moving, if you don’t want to use a stylus).
- The R Button (for loading the journal).
- The START Button (for returning to the main menu).
And since I had an accessibility switch plugged into the R port, the game worked perfectly. Although the R Button isn’t necessarily needed for anything important, I was able to access the Journal easily by just tapping it, so it’s definitely an accessible title.
Game 2: Escape the Museum
Another single player Puzzle game that was also made by Goggi but that is rated 3+ instead of 7+, in ‘Escape The Museum’, you’ll find yourself playing as Susan Anderson, who, after bringing her daughter Caitlin to work for the day at the National Museum of History, is separated from her after an earthquake takes place and destroys the city.
Throughout the rest of the game, you have to help Susan rescue her daughter who has been trapped inside the museum, even if, at times, it is difficult.
The controls for the game include:
- The SELECT Button (to access the Advanced Dialogue Page).
- A stylus or finger on the DSi’s Touch Screen (for navigating and selecting objects).
- The D-Pad (for navigating).
- The X Button (for scrolling up).
- The A Button (for scrolling right).
- The B Button (for scrolling down).
- The Y Button (for scrolling left).
- The R Button (to receive a hint).
- The START Button (to pause or return to the main menu).
So does the customised DSi make this game easier to play?
Well, after trying it out again recently, I can categorically say that the answer to this question is yes.
Giving that it only requires you to use one shoulder button, the fact that it only need to tap it once makes it immensely easier, especially after you plug an accessibility switch into the R Port. However, you also don’t need to hold whichever switch you have mapped to the R Button down, which makes it an even easier feature.
For that reason, I have found ‘Escape The Museum’ highly enjoyable, and I might even add it to my list of games to play a bit more of soon.
Game 3: Emily Archer & The Curse of Tutankhamun
A single player Puzzle game by FlyWheel Games that is rated 3+, ‘Emily Archer and The Curse of Tutankhamun’ has you playing as Lady Archer, who has been invited to Egypt by her friend, Lord Carnarvan, to see the treasures of Tutankhamun. But after she arrives two months after her initial invite, she discovers that her dear friend has been murdered, but even worse, the mask of Tutankhamun has also been stolen.
Throughout the rest of the game, you have to help her solve the murder or decide whether or not everything is taking place as a result of the long-held belief in the curse of Tutankhamun.
The controls for the game include:
- A stylus or finger on the Touch Screen (for navigation and selecting objects).
- The D-Pad (for Scrolling).
- The START Button (for pausing and loading up the main menu).
- The L or R Buttons (for loading the inventory).
- So like ‘Escape The Museum’ and ‘Witch’s Curse’ I would say I’ve really loved playing it, and whichever switch you have plugged in.
So like ‘Escape The Museum’ and ‘Witch’s Curse’ I would say I’ve really loved playing it, and I don’t think there’s anything I’ve found extremely difficult.
Game 4: Animal Crossing Wild World
‘Animal Crossing Wild World’ is a Strategy game by Nintendo rated 3+ and that allows for 1-4 players (or at least it did until Nintendo discontinued online services for it, unless you’re willing to get into something that we’re not going to discuss here).
Throughout the game, you move into a village and live life, extend a home, interact with your neighbours and explore the village, as days and seasons pass in real-time and you basically do whatever you like, whether that means fishing, shopping or visiting friends.
The controls for this version of the game include:
- Touch Controls or Button Controls for basic controls, such as walking and running, using an item or picking up an item.
- Keyboard Controls.
- Button Controls for other actions in the game, such as START for Save; SELECT for opening or closing the keyboard window, the A BUTTON for talking to someone, going inside a house, shaking a tree, to read a board or to use an item; the B BUTTON for picking up an item, picking up furniture, picking up a flower and cancelling an option, the X BUTTON for opening and closing a map, the Y BUTTON for opening or closing the item screen and the L or R BUTTONS for cycling through screens from the item screen.
So does the Customised Nintendo DSi make it easier to play this game?
Well, before answering this question, I just want to say how excited I was to try out an Animal Crossing game.
I remember being a teenager, hearing a new Animal Crossing game had just came out, begging someone to get it for me and my disappointment and absolutely distraught emotions when discovering that I couldn’t completely finish the game. Therefore, I knew that an Animal Crossing game would definitely be among the games I wanted to test out on the Customised DSi when I started trialing it, so I just want to put that forward first.
And since starting ‘Animal Crossing: Wild World’ twice, it definitely didn’t disappoint.
I’ve enjoyed walking around the world and had an easy time shaking trees, and although the L or R buttons haven’t really played a part in the parts I’ve played through at this time, I think it will definitely come in handy.
The only unsatisfactory thing about it is the lack of internet connectivity in the modern world, in which case I may retest it when publishing content about 2DS gaming.
But yes, for the most part, ‘Animal Crossing: Wild World’ is made significantly easier thanks to the customised DSi, or at least better than it was for me.
Game 5: Mario Party DS
A Party DS Game developed by Nintendo and rated 3+, ‘Mario Party DS’ is a multiplayer and single player game, which also offers five exclusive boards full of traps and fun, including Donkey Kong’s Wild Jungle, Princess Peach’s Music Room, Bowser’s Pinball etc.
But what made this Mario game different than most other Mario titles in Nintendo’s catalog, whether back then or in the current day, is that it was the first Mario game to blend touch screen controls and buttons, not something that everyone was a fan of, but something that may make it easier to play for some physically disabled gamers.
The overall controls of the game include:
- Touch and Sliding With a Stylus (for a range of functions, such as choosing menu options or selecting options etc).
- L and R Buttons (for scrolling through lists in the game).
- D-PAD (for controlling character movement and the finger curser).
- The START Button (for pausing menus).
- The B Button (for cancelling selections or returning to the previous screen).
- The A Button (for confirming actions and jumping).
- The X Button (for selecting mini games on the mini game screen).
So how much easier does the Customised DSi make this game to play?
Well, compared to older games, the touch controls on Mario Party DS does make it easier to play. But it only does so as long as it doesn’t blend jumping into it, which, after a few minutes into trying it out, I found out it eventually does.
Therefore, while the info on the box and CEX’s website claimed otherwise, I didn’t really have a good time playing this. I was lead to believe that even jumping would have been swapped to a movement with a stylus, which, unfortunately, it didn’t do in the end.
I also feel like a tap with the stylus on the Touch Screen took over too much movement at one point, which I have to admit, I would have preferred to do with a stylus.
So although it was ok for the most part, I would have preferred to use Touch Screen control for character movement and jumping, or at least have had the option of using the stylus in settings, and I hope this is something that Nintendo can implement with their handheld games in the future (even though the Switch and Switch 2 are now the latest Nintendo consoles).
Game 6: Crime Lab Body of Evidence
A single player Adventure game by CITY Interactive and rated 12+, ‘Crime Lab: Body Of Evidence’ is another investigation game, similar to the titles in my earlier blogs on the Customised DSi.
Throughout the game, you play as FBI agent, Nicole Bennet, who finds herself hunting down a coldblooded serial killer who leaves playing cards near his victims, while completing over 300 puzzles and riddles, mixed with FBI equipment which has been mixed into the game as well.
The controls for the game include:
- The D-Pad (for scrolling).
- The Stylus and the Touch Screen (for tapping and selecting objects and activating actions).
And while this does mean that it isn’t a game you have to play on a customised DSi, it’s nice having another investigatory game that doesn’t require any added switches to play.