Best of DS: Graphics (as of 2011)

   The 3DS has been in the market for almost seven months now, and its predecessor, the DS, is gradually starting to kick the bucket. However, that doesn't mean the DS is to be forgotten altogether.

Oh nooes!!!

In fact, I've even decided to write an 'article' on what seems to be the the graphically-best games for the DS.   

    When you say the word “DS”, many things come to mind – the awesome gameplay, the tons of RPGs, the huge game library, the small screen, the “it prints money!”, the super long battery life that doesn’t die after 3 friggin’ hours, the PSP (Ha!), and last but not least…

Crappy graphics. Period.

What the guys at Nintendo think.

But don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying the DS has crappy graphics (well, okay, some of its games do), it’s just that ‘CRAPPY GRAPHICS’ is one of things that comes to mind when you talk about the DS.  Well, actually the crappy graphics (or whatever you would like to call it, mind you) is subject to opinion. Some games may look beautiful to me but look like garbage to you.  It’s all in the head.

So, putting my yapping aside, here’s my take on what I THINK should be the best graphics you can squeeze out of the DS. Some of these games look really nice, even better than the best looking N64 and PS1 games.
You really need to see these games in motion to do them justice.

And please note, these aren't ranked in any way what so ever. It's just randomly ordered.

And yes, I do by all means know that the DS is all about gameplay and not about graphics (so don’t call me a graphic-whore, please), but hey, there’s no harm in showing what this money printing machine is capable of, right?


Note: Click on the images to make them grow BIGGER

Dragon Ball Kai: Ultimate Butouden


Why'd this game make the list? It's freakin' DBZ!!! Oh, and it has pretty graphics.

Naruto Shippuden Shinbi Retsuden II


One of the best looking games for the DS, fighting-game or not. The graphics are just impressive. Too bad the same can't be said for the controls and the gameplay. Just imagine how amazing this game would be if it had the controls of the PS2 naruto games. 

Zelda Spirit Tracks


Cell shaded graphics at its best. Spirit Tracks really manages to literally take the looks and the feel of Wind Waker, which , for your information, was on Gamecube.

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

"Am I watching a cartoon?" "Am I really alive?" "Do I like turtles?" and so many other questions will pop up in your head when you see this game in motion. The animation and the movement is so smooth, I wouldn't really care if they ported this to the friggin' Xbox 360 and PS3 without even changing the graphics AT ALL. It's just that amazing.

Okamiden


Painting has never been this fun before. Wait, wait, this isn't a painting! This is a friggin' game!
On the serious note, Okamiden's art style really stays true to its former prequel, Okami.

Ninja Gaiden dragon sword


Are you a ninja? Oh...You're not? Then be prepared to be blown away by the truly spectacular graphics of Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword

GTA: Chinatown Wars


When Rockstar announced that GTA was coming to the DS, many were sceptical on whether it was going to work or not. The good news? It worked - awesomely.

The World Ends With You

The art style of this game is truly awesome it'll drop the freaking moon! Other games will are only able to drop apples.

Metroid Prime Hunters


"How'd they do that?" and "It's impossibru!!!"  Were the only thoughts that came to my mind when I played this game. I really had no idea how Nintendo could pull of these type of graphics from a so called a weaker-than-N64 machine. That shining glare when Samus morphs into a ball still amazes me to this day.

RIZ-Zoawd (The Wizard of Oz)


Really great graphics for the DS. And, it's an RPG, meaning it should also have a great story-line, meaning it's a win for us.

ASH – Archaic Sealed Heat


You really won't believe that you're playing a DS with this game (for the most part). The pre-rendered models are 100% certified awesome looking.

Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2

Is that Dragon Ball Z?!! No, it isn't. Although the main character main look the same, it isn't a DBZ game. But of course, that can only mean that it's a good game; graphic-wise and gameplay-wise!

Final Fantasy - Echoes of Time


Why did this game make it on the list? It looks exactly like its Wii counterpart. 'Nuff said.

Final Fantasy 4


Anyone would be stunned (or perhaps paralysed?) by the opening of FF4. It's just truly that phenomenal. Oh, did I forget to tell you that all the characters are in chibi form? A numbered Final Fantasy game is in chibi form?!! Cuteness. 

Final Fantasy - The 4 Warriors of Light

RPG? Check. Final fantasy? Check! Cute, customizable, lovable, chibi anime characters? Check!

Tales of Innocence


This game packs a whole lot of punch in it. The gameplay, the audio, the graphics, the story, the lovable characters, all is magnificent. One of my all time favourites.

Sigma Harmonics


Never tried this game actually. However, judging based the trailers and gameplay I've seen, I can only wish that this graphically impressive game came state side. 

Super Mario 64 DS

Remember playing this on the N64? Remember how the graphics were so revolutionary at that time? It's quite impressive the DS version actually manages to look much better than its N64 counterpart.

 

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days


Simply stunning graphics. Even I was fooled , thinking that this was on the PSP, when I first saw it in motion.

Think any games are missing? Or think some of these games shouldn't be in this list?
Feel free to hit me up in the comments section.