The simplest fun DS games

[Azazel]

OK so one of my co-workers asked me today about DS games, which is just about the only current-gen ga,e hardware that I know very little about.

Her sister has ABI (Aquired Brain Injury) and so has the general intellectual ability/coordination/etc of a 6-year old. The people around her in her care centre as well as her nieces have DSes and Ipods and stuff, so my workmate wants to get her sis a DS and a couple of games so she can fit in with her friends. (She already has an iPod).


So, we're looking for simple stuff, that's also fun. Learning software is potentially ok but it's not a priority. Only other thing would I guess be more female-oriented, but if something is a lot of fun anyway without being, say, boy-stuff like Advance Wars or Assassin's Creed or CoD4..

Thanks.

[Margalis]

Nintendogs?

[ezrast]

Pokemon?

[schild]

This sounds like a serious case of ABI, considering that can range from so much as minor short term memory loss to complete regression.

Can she play RPGs? Pokemon might be perfect. Cooking Mama may do well also.

Maybe even Animal Crossing. When I was six things were either ridiculously simple (Mario) to needlessly complex (Romance of the 3 Kingdoms), so honestly, I'm not much of a judge.

[Hindenburg]

Oh ffs.
The Legendary Starfy
Kirby: Canvas Curse
New Super Mario Bros
Sonic Rush
Meteos
Elite Beat Agents
Animal Crossing
Mario Kart DS
Puchi Puchi Virus
Cooking Mama
WarioWare
Gardening Mama

[schild]

I thought about most of those, but we're talking about an adult here with massive mechanical loss. I can't really say Mario Kart, EBA, Canvas Curse, or Meteos are good recommendations. Especially not Meteos.

[Yegolev]

Maybe not Elite Seizure Agents.

Here's the one time anyone will find me suggesting Drawn to Life.

[Azazel]

This sounds like a serious case of ABI, considering that can range from so much as minor short term memory loss to complete regression.

Can she play RPGs? Pokemon might be perfect. Cooking Mama may do well also.

Maybe even Animal Crossing. When I was six things were either ridiculously simple (Mario) to needlessly complex (Romance of the 3 Kingdoms), so honestly, I'm not much of a judge.

From what I understand (and asking this morning) we're talking about socially about a 6-year old, but a loss of pretty much all literacy - might be able to recognise (rather than read) simple stuff like Yes and No - RPGs and complexity are right out. I'm not sure how old she was when it happened, and don't especially want to ask.

Stuff that's more intuitive visually might work. I had a look at a kid's copy of Catz 2 yesterday and when I descriped it to my cooworker she sounded like it might work - all the instructions have visual cues as well.

Oh ffs.

Thanks for the recommendations - but I seriously do not know the DS' catalogue.

[schild]

Honestly, when I was six, I liked Legos more than games. I think that counts for something maybe?

It wasn't til I was 9 that I really gave a shit about games. Of course, I played games all the time, but 9 was when it all got serious, I guess you could say.

[Azazel]

Sure, but apparently this person really likes using other people's DSes. I've also suggested that they find out what she likes from other people's DSes and add those to the list.

[Nazrat]

Honestly, when I was six, I liked Legos more than games. I think that counts for something maybe?

It wasn't til I was 9 that I really gave a shit about games. Of course, I played games all the time, but 9 was when it all got serious, I guess you could say.

My 6 year old loves the Lego:Star Wars games; Lego:Batman, Lego:Indiana Jones.  Of course, he is literate.  Other favorites are New Super Mario Bros, Mario and Sonic Olympics, and Mario Cart DS.

Your mileage may vary.

[Azazel]

Necro-ing this thread as I've got a new question that's broadly similar.

Today one of the semi-regular temps at work came and asked me for advice for DS games for his 5-year-old son to play, and games that he can play with him. He purchased a DS a month or so ago, and so far they have two games. Sonic All-Stars Racing and some other racing game.

He wants games that his son can play, but wants to avoid violence and/or combat of all kinds at this stage. He asked about the Lego games (Indy, etc) and when I described the combat it was more than he wants for his son to be playing at this stage. I explained Pokemon as very "low-impact" combat with thinking and RPG elements and he said that it might be good for when his son gets a couple years older, like 7. Some reading is ok, but not too complex. he was asking about Spongebob games as well, but I have NFI what is out there currently with that licence and if any of it is any good.

He likes the idea of games like Portal (his request) - or other spatial/physics puzzle games - but of course he's got a DS. He's looking for good "dad games" as he's started to spend his Saturday nights playing games with his kid. I will of course put him onto http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/ (aka Gamerdad) as well, but it's always worth asking for gaming suggestions here as well.

He didn't specify DS/DSi/3DS, but it's a recent purchase, so it could be any of the above (and it's too late to ask) so any suggestions are all good.

[Sjofn]

Tetris.

[DraconianOne]

Necro-ing this thread as I've got a new question that's broadly similar.

Very timely - I've just bought my 5yo son a DSi for his birthday. So far he's getting one game which is Club Penguin: Elite Agents as he has a sub for that online. I'll be getting him Lego Star Wars because he's played it on the PS2 and I think his friends have some variation of Mario Kart but other than that, I also have NFI what to get him. Probably Moshi Monsters: Moshling Zoo as that's the other online game he plays.

I am daunted by the range of Pokemon and Mario games so any recommendations to that effect are welcome. He also loves Ben 10 but I suspect the licensed games are a bag of shite.

[Margalis]

Rhythm Heaven, Kirby Canvas Curse maybe. WarioWare?

[Cyrrex]

Necro-ing this thread as I've got a new question that's broadly similar.

Very timely - I've just bought my 5yo son a DSi for his birthday. So far he's getting one game which is Club Penguin: Elite Agents as he has a sub for that online. I'll be getting him Lego Star Wars because he's played it on the PS2 and I think his friends have some variation of Mario Kart but other than that, I also have NFI what to get him. Probably Moshi Monsters: Moshling Zoo as that's the other online game he plays.

I am daunted by the range of Pokemon and Mario games so any recommendations to that effect are welcome. He also loves Ben 10 but I suspect the licensed games are a bag of shite.

The regular Mario games have almost no stickiness with either of my boys (6 and 9)...but Mario Kart is played quite a lot.  For pokemon, any and all of the RPG ones are hits.  Just beware that they are basically all the same damn game (green, red, gold, platinum, etc.) with different pokemon to collect.  Both of my boys, and even my damn wife for some reason, have spent hundreds of hours in those games.  The action oriented Pokemon games blow and are played almost never.

You are also right about the licensed games, they are shite.  The exception is the Lego games, all of which are popular with my boys.

[Margalis]

Cars for DS (not Cars 2) sold a shit ton and is supposed to be pretty good.

[DraconianOne]

Cheers guys - gives me a good place to start.  I suspect I'll probably rent some of them first and see how he takes to them.

[Azazel]

Cars for DS (not Cars 2) sold a shit ton and is supposed to be pretty good.

Actually, yeah - that's the other racing game they have. Can't remember if its one or two.

[Ingmar]

7-7-7 

On a more serious note, the Professor Layton games, if he's advanced for his age puzzle-wise.

[Cyrrex]

7-7-7 

On a more serious note, the Professor Layton games, if he's advanced for his age puzzle-wise.

For a 5 year-old?  Don't the Layton games require some reading skills?

[ghost]

Sure, but apparently this person really likes using other people's DSes. I've also suggested that they find out what she likes from other people's DSes and add those to the list.

I would suggest some things that might be a little challenging then, as well as simpler stuff.  Not over the top challenging, but say moderately so.  Maybe at the 8-10 year old level. 

[Ingmar]

7-7-7 

On a more serious note, the Professor Layton games, if he's advanced for his age puzzle-wise.

For a 5 year-old?  Don't the Layton games require some reading skills?

I would expect a 5 year old to be able to read, that's kindergarten age! But yeah for that you'd probably need to participate in it with the kid some rather than handing off the DS and saying have at it.

[Valmorian]

I would expect a 5 year old to be able to read, that's kindergarten age! But yeah for that you'd probably need to participate in it with the kid some rather than handing off the DS and saying have at it.

My son is in Kindergarten, is 5 years old, and I know of none of his classmates that can read.  You start to learn reading around that time, sure, but expecting a 5 year old to read sentences, particularly the kind of ones in video games, is unrealistic.

[DraconianOne]

My son is in Kindergarten, is 5 years old, and I know of none of his classmates that can read.  You start to learn reading around that time, sure, but expecting a 5 year old to read sentences, particularly the kind of ones in video games, is unrealistic.

All the five year olds in my sons class can read. Some very well, others not so well - but they can all read.

And Ingmar, thanks for the suggestion of the Prof Layton games - they sound exactly like the sort of thing my boy loves! 

[Azazel]

There is of course a huge difference between "just hit 5", "five-and-a-half" and "almost six". That first year of school especially is like dipping a sponge in water for most kids.

Of course, I have no idea just how five the temps son is, and even if he's on the early side, he'll be on the later side in the blink of an eyelid, so all suggestions are good.