The Five DS games that you should get this Christmas

There are plenty of games that you can ask for, buy (or offer) in this time of the year, but not all of them are actually worth your money. In case you want to get the best experiences that money can buy, be sure to look for the following titles:

Chou Soujuu Mecha MG
Available only in Japan, this is a game where you get to play as giant robots, used not only to perform simple tasks but also to fight enemies. You’ll be protecting houses, moving statues and, more often, destroying other robots, in a fun (and filled with replay value) title.

Knowledge of the Japanese language is required if you want to know the objectives of each mission, but since there are already some translations available online, such issue is easy to solve.

Jump! Ultimate Stars

Anime and manga fans will rejoice with this game, which allows them to play as tons of their favourite characters, but other players will also like it. Overall, it plays with several different missions, which enable you to unlock tons and tons of extra content. If that’s not enough for you, you can always go online and fight other players from all over the world.

As you possibly know by now, this is a game which is not available in English, and you’ll have to import it, but there are also translations available online for the most important parts of the game, if you’re worried about that.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trials and Tribulations
If you want a game with a deep, and generally unpredictable, storyline, this is the product for you. As the third part of the series that presents Phoenix Wright as the hero, you’ll find out the truth behind the events that took place in the last two games ( “Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney” and “Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Justice for All” ) and finally understand it all. The game hasn’t got any replay value, but I’m sure you’ll enjoy every moment you spend playing it.

Even thought this game can be enjoyed as a single product, it is better enjoyed if you get the whole series, and be aware that some of the previous games can be hard to find.

Pokemon Pearl
Even if you’ve played the past Pokemon games, this latest title comes with more monsters and online play, finally allowing you to trade beasts and fight against players from all over the world, provided you have a wireless connection at home. If you have the latest games, like “Pokemon Emerald”, you’re also able to transfer your previous party to this one, which is enjoyable and makes it all nicer for those who spent limitless hours creating their perfect team.

Unfortunately, apart from these aditions the game appears to follow the general storyline of the series – beat all gyms, defeat the Elite 4 and capture all the monsters – which may end up being unappealing to those who have played most of the past games. If, having that in mind, you still want to get this game, I suggest you pick “Pokemon Pearl” over “Pokemon Diamond”, since there are all less people who have that one.

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Zelda fans may dislike it, since it is a lot easier than other parts of the series, but you should be aware that this title takes fully advantage of the many unique features that the Nintendo DS has to offer, which is rather pleasant. Apart from the usual action RPG, there’s an online mini-game, which adds to the replay value, along with several sidequests, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it all, unless you’re hoping to find a portable conversion of your favourite Zelda game – something which you won’t find here.

Apart from these games, there are many others currently available, either in your local store or via import. Games such as “WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2008″, “Dragon Quest IV” or “Super Robot Taisen W” may appeal to a very particular group of people, but the ones stated here are gaming experiences that are sure to impress and amuse most players. If you’re walking around, looking for a present and come across one of these titles, I strongly suggest you pick them up – you won’t be disappointed.