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 I’m sick and tired of people complaining about the “Console Wars.” Sure, it was good and fun when I was seven, but hearing people write off the Wii as a “child’s toy” or say that there isn’t anything worth buying on the PlayStation 3 is annoying and I am sick of the ignorance. So I have taken it upon myself to go through all of the current generation (consoles and handhelds) and give the ten best reasons each one is worth owning.



The list isn't in any real order, more of a "loose order," so before you're at my throat about something being number two when it should really be number three realize that these aren't in any real order, just sort of ascending in importance. Oh, and before anyone calls me a fanboy for this, here is the Top Ten Reasons to Own a PS3, Top Ten Reasons to Own an Xbox 360 and the Top Ten Reasons to Own a Wii.


10. Pokemon

I may not be a fan (and I’m not), you may not even be a fan, but there’s no shortage of people who are.  Without question, the Pokemon franchise has proven to be one of gaming’s most beloved and profitable series.  Say what you will about the characters’ goofy names and designs, but they sell, and you know damn well that at least a few of  you’ll be lined up around the block when Pokemon Amethyst and Topaz, or whatever the hell they’re going to be called, are released.


9. Homebrew

R4 cards and their ilk are good for only one thing – homebrew games.  Right?  Sure, there may be tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of unsavory gamers out there ripping game ROMs from the internet and playing them illegally on their DS’, but really, what’s the appeal of playing whatever game you want for free?  Hmmm, okay, when I write it like that, it actually sounds pretty cool.  But it’s illegal, so I can’t condone nor approve of it.  Anyway, I’m sure there’s some decent homebrewed stuff out there somewhere to justify a legal reason to buy an R4.  But seriously, go get one.  They’re awesome.


8. Price

If you’re looking for a legitimate gaming system for a reasonable price, you can’t go wrong buying a DS.  A brand new DS Lite will run you about $130, which is the same price as a new PS2.  For the less picky, a used DS Lite fetches $110 and a refurbished original DS will only run you about $80.  Even the games are cheap, with most new titles costing only $29.99; about half the price of a 360 or PS3 game.


7. Tactics

Between the Advance Wars titles, Final Fantasy Tactics Advanced 2, and Civilization Revolution, the DS may have the best library of tactics games of any platform to date. Tactics Advanced 2 alone could be worth the console’s purchase, as it is easily one of the best handheld games in general. Advanced Wars 2 also has online play, which takes the tactical game online for even more ways to play. Hell, even Star Fox: Command has its own share of tactical features.  I guess developers just feel the need to throw in as much as they can that takes advantage of the touch-screen.


6. Square Enix

There was a time when Square Enix and Nintendo simply didn’t get along.  Sure, the beloved developer released the occasional title for the Gamecube, but for the most part, the love affair once shared by the two Japanese companies was pretty much gone.  Then came the DS, and everything changed.  Suddenly, we’re seeing the re-release of every single Final Fantasy game, a revival of the Dragon Quest franchise, a couple of Mana games and even the start of a promising new franchise in The World Ends With You.  The future is even more bright for the collaboration with the highly anticipated Chrono Trigger DS set for a November release.


5. Professor Layton and the Curious Village

Nintendo’s handheld boasts a sizable library of excellent puzzle titles, like Meteos, Puzzle Quest and Picross DS, but none of these simple puzzlers can match the sheer charm and challenge of Professor Layton and the Curious Village.  The combination of delightful characters, a deep and involving murder-mystery storyline, and an incredible variety of mind-bending puzzles make this title way more than just another Bejeweled clone or Brain Age rip-off.  It’s one of those games that grows on you, finds its way into your everyday thoughts and even infects your dreams.


4. Non-Traditional Gamer Appeal

Many hardcore gamers are probably sick and tired of hearing about the non-traditional gamer markets, but the fact of the matter is that the DS serves this massive demographic better than any other console or handheld on the market.  Crossword puzzles, Word-Jong, pet simulators and Brain Age are a lot more interesting to senior citizens and ”tween” girls than the next great FPS, and Nintendo realizes this, putting heavy resources into these genres.

3. Portability

In comparison with the PSP, the DS is tiny.  It’s light, it folds up to a true pocket size, and with its stylus slot, it’s entirely self-contained.  There’s also the battery, which lasts just short of forever, especially when in sleep mode.  You can literally leave a game paused for weeks without losing your place.  It’s the most portable system out there, making it the ideal choice for plane or long car trips.


2. Classics

Nintendo obviously owns the best library of classic games and characters, and the DS has made the most of it with remakes of older titles and new games with some very familiar characters.  Mario, Link, Samus and Yoshi have all seen excellent titles based on their classic series, and more are sure to come for at least three of them.  There’re also plenty of NES and SNES ports to choose from.  For the DS, the past is as bright as the present.  Which brings us to number 1…

1. The Future

In all honesty, the next few months aren’t going to be the kindest on the Nintendo DS.  Even so, the future is incredibly bright, with Square-Enix’s support growing and Nintendo pledging to release even more AAA titles on their handheld.  Bioware’s Sonic RPG is also on the horizon, and Grand Theft Auto and Mass Effect will soon see handheld incarnations. It’s the best selling system of all time, so of course everyone wants in, and the more people that buy it, the more developers will start shifting their focus to the portable powerhouse.

Related Articles:

Top Ten Reasons to Own an Xbox 360

Top Ten Reasons to Own a PS3

Top Ten Reasons to Own a Wii

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