Ever find yourself feeling a bit underwhelmed by today’s gaming consoles? I certainly do. They seem to have lost their charm, don’t you think? Apart from the Nintendo Switch, which admittedly stands out with its unique hybrid design, there’s little that’s peculiar or inviting about most consoles now. Sure, playing anywhere is a game-changer, quite literally, and very Nintendo-like—unorthodox but hugely influential. Yet, I can’t help but crave something more.
Interestingly enough, Nintendo checked that box for me two decades ago with the DS. What a gem of a console that was! From the moment I laid eyes on it as a kid, I sensed its uniqueness. And I wasn’t alone—considering it became the second highest-selling console ever, it evidently struck the same chord with many others.
If you’re wondering about the DS name, yes, it indeed stands for dual screens. This was not Nintendo’s first dance with dual screens, thanks to the Game & Watch proving long ago that they’re always ahead of the curve. The DS boasted far more power compared to the Game & Watch and even the Game Boy Advance, paving the way for grander adventures. Yet, it’s that extra screen that piques curiosity and makes you ponder, “What’s going on here?”
Adding a second screen instantly expands gameplay possibilities, especially when that screen is touch-sensitive. The DS offered countless examples of innovative uses, often with Nintendo titles leading the charge. Take Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time for instance, a terrific sequel to its GBA ancestor. You could navigate adult and baby Mario and Luigi across separate screens, flipping between them to tackle clever puzzles.
Consider The World Ends With You, where battles unfolded on both screens with different characters, requiring seamless coordination for success. Hotel Dusk took it further by switching to a book-like portrait mode, perfect for its text-heavy style. Even in Pokémon games, the simple act of freeing the top screen from interface clutter and focusing the action makes for a more vibrant experience.
Although I discovered some of these gems later, they collectively transformed my perception of gaming and how we engage with it. That extra screen interaction offered an involvement no console has managed since, making games feel vaster and inviting exploration beyond what preceded it.
The DS framed gaming as dedicated, playful spaces—a philosophy I perhaps didn’t grasp as a kid but deeply appreciate now. Nowadays, consoles feel homogenized, with controllers being pretty much replicas of one another. Even the home menus don’t try anything new; they’re just there to quickly launch you into the game.
These days, my old DS has retired somewhat, giving way to my 3DS. Yet, the spontaneous playfulness of the DS that shaped my gaming preferences is still evident. It’s fascinating how, even 20 years down the line, I continue to think about this trailblazing console—a testament to it being one of the finest handheld devices ever crafted.
