Exile`90

So.. It’s finally here..

Btw. I suck BIG TIME when it comes to operating a camera so just forgive me for some low quality shots. Maybe one day I’ll redo them.

Here’s a look at the back of the box:

Inside of the retail box:

1x Nintendo DS unit
1x Power Adapter
2x Stylus (yes, 2!)
1x Nintendo DS strap
1x Instruction Manual
1x Health and Safety Precoutions Booklet
1x Nintendo Power Subscription card
1x Registration card
1x Metroid Prime Hunters demo (more about it below)

Not included in the picture above power supply (basically the same as GBA SP):

Here’s a closeup of your ‘input’ devices, stylus + the thumb strap:

The stylus is SMALL.. and I mean TINNY.. Here it is against it’s big brother from Palm:

And here it is next to the DS unit:

And finally the Nintendo DS itself:

Bottom of the unit:

And the top side:

And the back:

The unit itself is BIG and HEAVY..
It’s about the size of the old GBA:

GBA SP was much smaller:

Now to the boundled demo of Metroid.

1st big dissapointment here.. The demo came in a lame cardboard cover instead of a proper box:

Inside you find the game card in a plastic cover and the manual:

Now about the cards. They’re SMALL..

With the console I picked up Super Mario 64 DS

The box is pretty big if you compare it to the size of the card:

Inside you’ll find the card itself, the manual, health and safety booklet and NP subsctiption card.

Like I said above the box is pretty big, but still smaller than the GB/GBC/GBA USA box and almost as wide as the japanese GBA box:

The thicknes of the box is about the same as the other boxes:

Later today I also picked up Asphalt DS. The content of the box is about the same as the Mario one so there is no point in taking pix of that.

Now first impressions:
DS looks cheap.. Sorry, but maybe I got spoiled with the SP but the plastic they used to make the DS case looks cheap.. It’s BIG and HEAVY.. I’m a geek.. I don’t need to excercise my muscules just to play a damn game.. I remember Nintendo fanboys dissing XBOX for having a big and heavy controller.. And now Nintendo pulled this crap..

Anyways.. The DS is NICE.. The sound is amazing.. Stereo == r0×0rZ!!! And it’s pretty loud too for a build-in sound. Waaaay louder than GBA.. The graphics.. Well.. I can’t really base my opinions on the 1st generation games.. And we all know they were rushed anyways so they’re not as polished as say titles coming out after X-Mas.. But from what I’ve seen so far this system seems to have lots of potential to kick PSP’s ass when it comes out..

Mario DS:
I’ve never played the N64 version so it’s a completly new game for me.. Dunno what to make of it yet.. Kind of weird to play it in ‘3d’..

Asphalt DS:
Nice racing game.. The colision detection sucks at few ocasions but otherwise it’s a pretty decent launch game.. I’d preffer Initial D but.. I guess this will have to do ’til I get Ridge Racer..

What games I’ll be getting:
Prince of Tennis 2005 (!!!)
Tiger Woods (golf + 2 screens = PWND!)
Ridge Racer (not too sure about this one yet)
Mario Cart (still unsure)
Final Fantasy
Tecmo announced Team Ninja produced game so.. DOA?
NFSU2 (just to keep me busy)

Well.. That’s all for now.. Back to playing the DS..